Read Online Perfectly Messy by Lizzy Charles - Free Book Online Page B

she doesn’t want to be part of it, and I’m stuck in it. I don’t have a choice. Two: That Carl dude won’t leave me alone. Everything’s gotten so much worse since I did that interview. I’ve had to attend online Twitter parties, our local paper did two stories on the interview, and some of the guys on the team won’t stop talking about all the action I’ll get if I do the show. And three: I can’t be myself at all. Paul’s always over my shoulder, watching and directing every move. I don’t want Lucy to see me acting like a robotic version of me.
    “Protecting her from that stress is important to me,” I say instead. My words may as well have been a bumper sticker slapped on my forehead that says “Ballless.” Pretty sure I’m the worst boyfriend ever for using “protection” as my excuse. The truth is, I suck.
    She rolls her lips in and crosses her arms.
    “Jen, don’t worry. I’ll see her more, you more, everyone more. My priorities aren’t backwards. The campaign just needs to end. Only one week more until election day. I can do it.”
    “I know,” Jen finally replies. “But should you?”
    I pull into the school lot. Jen hands my phone back as she steps out of the car without another word. Okay, that was a bit dramatic. However, it’s clear that post campaign, I’ll have a lot of repairing to do.

Chapter Seven

     
    Lucy
     
    Three steady knocks on the door and a hoot. Our secret code. I close my laptop as Eric peeks his head in. It’s amazing how much he’s grown in just a few months. Thankfully, he’s still my little brother. It’s going to suck when my little brother suddenly becomes my big brother. I wonder how our dynamic will switch.
    “What’s up, bud?” I ask as I open the door all the way.
    “Want to play trucks with me?” He nods toward the duffel bag that he started using last week to haul all of his vehicles, all the time. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen him without it.
    “Absolutely. That sounds fun.”
    A goofy look overtakes his face as he unzips the giant bag, taking out a new fire truck.
    “Whoa, where’d you get that one from?”
    “The library.”
    “They let you check out toys?”
    “Only if it comes with a book. It’s boring though.” He crawls up on my bed and moves my pillow to build a ramp.
    “I see.”
    “Zoom,” he says and the fire truck flies off the edge of my bed.
    “Be careful with that, Eric,” Mom says from the other side of the doorway. “If that gets broken…”
    Eric holds up his palm. “Okay, Mom. I get it.” Whoa. Attitude.
    Mom’s eyes widen. “I did not teach him that,” I say.
    “Unfortunately, in the last few weeks he’s developed a bit of an attitude. I suspect it has to do with being moved to a new classroom.”
    Eric ignores her, finding another truck of his own to fling off my bed. Mom taps the doorframe. Her lips roll in then part slightly. If I wasn’t looking for it, I would have missed her brief head shake. She plasters a smile on her face for me though. Something’s definitely on her mind.
    “What’s up, Mom?”
    “Did you watch Justin’s interview yet?”
    “Yeah…” My insides squirm. The interview was fine, but I’ve been dreading Mom’s reaction to it.
    “Justin did well,” she says flatly.
    “Okay, Mom. Out with it. What’s wrong?”
    “He shouldn’t be doing that interview at all.”
    “Yeah, I told you that he didn’t want to.”
    “It’s not only that, Lucy. He’s dating you.”
    “He doesn’t have a choice at the moment. It’s a way to help out his dad.”
    “I think his dad is taking liberties where he shouldn’t. Justin should have refused.”
    “Well,” I bite the inside of my cheek, “that’s your opinion. I see Justin as helping his dad. Him doing the interview didn’t bother me. I’m sorry that it bothered you, but Justin made the choice and I support that.”
    Mom nods. “Okay, but be careful, Lucy. I don’t want a hidden life for you. After hearing about how