Page 121 of The Other Side of Green

My gaze sought out Jack’s and then I gave Alex a weak smile. “I’m pretty sure it would have happened anyway. And this way’s better. I’m free of your family now.”

I only had half my attention on Jack, but I still noticed his skin paling under the street lights.

Oh crap.

Maybe I did need a backup plan after all.

“You used to busk, didn’t you?” I asked Evan.

“Busk? Hell no. I used to play for the fun of it and then give all the money to the local homeless shelter.”

“Well then you’re an honorable gentleman, and once of these days you are going to tell me your story.” I narrowed my gaze at him and then flicked it to Simon. “Because I think there’s a lot there that you don’t tell people about.”

Evan pursed his lips, but didn’t dignify my assumption with an answer either way. Jack laughed, the best sound I’d heard all evening.

“Tonight, we are going to busk. Eva,” I turned for my friend. “You can record it on your cell, right?”

“Sure, but why?”

“The Collins Foundation didn’t want me to sing. The college want a star.” I stared at them all. “And do you know what. I’m just going to give them whatever the hell I want to be. I’m fed up with being manipulated.”

Rhian whooped loudly and muttered something about Little Miss Green growing a pair.

Damn right I had.

I turned to speak to Evan, to see what we could rustle up in a ridiculously short amount of time, and as I did, I saw Jack’s shoulders drop.

And my stomach dropped with them.

The fight felt very far from being over.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Lyra

Only Evan had a closet full of microphones and varying pieces of equipment. With my declaration of a fight back, simply busking with an acoustic wasn’t going to cut it.

So divide and conquer.

Evan, Simon, and Rhian went to get the equipment. Eva and Alex went to get the violin.

Which left Jack, Luca and me.

And let’s just call it awkward.

“You going to tell me what’s going on?” Luca dug his toe into the asphalt.

“What do you mean?” Jack and I asked in unison.

His lips quirked. “So you’re together. My best friend and my baby sister.”

“At least she’s not my sister,” Jack deadpanned and both Luca and mine’s mouths opened. “Too soon for the sister jokes?” He cracked a smile, but behind it I sensed a fear. Chills swept across my skin.

Luca rubbed the back of his neck. “I feel like a prize douche for letting my jealousy get the better of me.”

Jack met his stare. “Douche is your thing,” he said and he curled his lips into a smirk.

“But I was also trying to protect the both of you.”