Page 114 of The Other Side of Green

“What have you done to be in the doghouse?” He smirked at me and I considered whether to tell him he had a dollop of brown sauce on his chin.

Then decided against it.

“Might have a lot to do with my ex-girlfriend...”

Shaun smirked, running a hand through his thinning hair. “Well, your loss is my gain. I get to work with Lyra. Brownie points to me. She’s Greene’s superstar.”

I grimaced, unable to hide it.

He carried on regardless of my silent response. “I figured you might have been put on the back burner because of the whole racist thing.”

“Whoa, back up there.” I laid a hand on his too soft shoulder. Had he never heard of exercise? He’d be hearing about heart attacks if he carried on this way. “I’m no racist, never have been and never will be. I grew up on New Orleans for Christ’s sake and my best friend was bi-racial.”

Okay, partial truth.

The Lennox genetic curse twisted my statement, but Shaun was never to know that.

“Hey, I’m just saying as a friend and colleague what everyone else is thinking. They have you guilty by association.”

“Thanks,” I grumbled. His attention caught behind me as he glanced over my shoulder.

“There she is, Superstar Lyra.”

“Hey, Lyra.” He waved her over and her cheeks stained pink as she saw me.

“Mr. Parks, Mr. Cross.”

“Shaun and Jack, surely. We know Greene likes all that formal stuff, but we are easygoing and approachable, aren’t we, Jack?”

“Sure.” I smiled, barely lifting the corners of my lips.

“Hey, Lyra, aren’t you from New Orleans too? Jack was just reminding me that he also came from there.”

She nodded, barely meeting our faces, cheeks burning bright-red. “I’m going to be late for English.” She offered him a faint smile, ignoring me.

“Run along.” He waved her away, chortling as she scampered across the green. “I tell you what, Jack. It’s just as well there are rules in place. That is one gorgeous looking girl. I’d definitely tap that if I could.”

“Highly inappropriate comment,” I snapped.

“Oh please, like you can’t see it too.” Whistling, he walked off, his attention lingering on Lyra’s retreating form.

Goddamn bastard. Now I’d have to find a way to make myself available on campus at eight every morning just to make sure he didn’t put his disgusting pastry paws all over her.

I should probably warn Greene. Maybe he shouldn’t be working with young female students…. Or students at all.

I stopped and laughed at myself.

Maybe I shouldn’t be working with students, considering I nearly just fucked one in the practice room. Albeit she was mine, but I think if it came to a complaint about inappropriate behavior, I’d lose hands down.

I really couldn’t let that happen again.

I turned for my car, hating the fact I knew what my next job of the day would be.

My cell rang. Assuming Evan had something to moan about, I pulled it out from my leather backpack. Luca. My stomach dropped. I wasn’t ready to talk to him yet, or maybe ever.

Too many things, too much time. I watched the call ring out and then restarted the car only for it to ring again. Jeez. Stop the fire.

I frowned at the screen; a London area code blinked up at me.