Page 100 of No More Secrets

“You’re staying with him this summer?”

She nods again. “In the apartment next door.”

“Tell him to bring you to visit. I’ll give you a tour of my studio. You can show me your work.”

Shiloh’s mouth falls open. “For real?”

“Definitely,” Lily says, but she’s looking at Lucas. “My brother and I have a lot of catching up to do.”

He nods. He gets it. He feels the same.

Beside him, Josh fidgets, smoothing his hair. He pets his chest like he’s trying to iron his shirt’s wrinkles with the sweat on his palm.

“Nervous?” Lucas teases. Josh’s eyes haven’t left Shiloh.

“Shut up,” he says out of the corner of his mouth.

Lucas chuckles. He grasps the back of Josh’s neck. “Relax, dude. Shiloh.” He feels Josh tense under his hand. “This is my nephew, Josh.”

Shiloh waves, shyly. “Hi.”

“Hey.” Josh’s voice cracks, and his cheeks flame red. Lucas holds in a smile. He’s been there, and he won’t dare laugh.

Someone runs through the entrance, and they all turn toward Tyler, Josh’s father. “Hey,” they say collectively.

“I didn’t think you’d make it in time,” Lily says.

“Almost didn’t. Traffic was insane.” He drops a kiss on her head and gives Josh a fist bump. Then his gaze swings to Lucas, and his eyes widen. “Dude, been a long time.”

“Sure has.” Lucas gives him a man hug, slapping his back just as Olivia and Blaze join them.

After another round of hugs and introductions comes another announcement that the movie is starting.

“Should we go in?” Blaze asks.

Tyler agrees and Sophie turns to Lucas. “We’ll see you inside?” He appreciates that she senses he wants a moment with his sisters.

He nods.

“We’ll save you a seat,” Shiloh says.

“Thanks, Sunshine Girl.”

She snorts at the nickname but doesn’t complain. The endearment’s apparently growing on her.

Everyone disperses to take their seats, leaving Lucas alone with Olivia and Lily.

“So.” He shoves his hands into his pockets.

“So,” Olivia echoes.

“Here we are.” Lily swings her arms.

“Anyone hear from Mom?” Lucas asks. He’s been thinking about her a lot lately, the lies she’d told him. How she’d manipulated him. She was far from an ideal parent, but she was his mother. He loved her, often worried about her well-being given how his father treated everyone in the family, his mom included. Their arguments had been explosive. He’s had a difficult time choking down her betrayal. Confronting her the other week hadn’t been easy.

“As if she’d call me.” Lily removes her sweater and folds the garment over her arm.

Olivia shakes her head. “Unless St.John’s case makes its way to court and they need us to testify, we won’t hear from her.”

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