Page 35 of Beyond the Lines
A familiar voice echoes down the stairwell, cutting my thoughts off. I look up at the landing above us and see Mike, carrying a bag of trash, his expression quickly shifting from confusion to recognition.
“Mike?” Lea’s hand freezes midair, tissues still clutched between her fingers.
I feel like I’ve been dumped in icewater.Andy?
As in…LeanndraisAndy?
Mike’s sister?
Oh shit.
“What happened here?” Mike asks as he comes down the stairs, his gaze darting between us. “Dec? What are you doing talking to my sister?”
“Your sister?” I repeat stupidly, like maybe if I question it enough, reality will reshape itself into something less catastrophic.
Lea’s expression darkens as she looks between us. “Do you two know each other? Mike? Declan?”
“He’s on the hockey team,” Mike says, descending the stairs. “Meet my teammate, Declan Andrews.”
“Your teammate.” Lea’s voice has gone flat, and she takes a step back from me. Her eyes, so warm moments ago, have cooled to ice.
My stomach drops. “I?—”
“So when we were at the diner last night, and I asked if you played sports, and you said—” Her voice rises. “What was it again? Oh right, ‘floor hockey’, right?”
“Wait, wait,” Mike interjects, stepping between us. “You were at Marie’s last night? Withmysister?”
“It wasn’t a big deal,” I say, which is both the truth and a complete lie.
“It clearly was to her.” Mike’s protective brother mode is in full swing now. “What exactly happened here?”
I turn from Mike, knowing the wrath that will bring down upon me, and look to his sister. “Lea, I can explain?—”
“You know what? Don’t bother.” She shakes her head, anger visibly building. “I can’t believe I fell for this again?—”
“No kidding.” Mike snorts. “One day on campus, andyou’re letting guys cut you up again, Andy? Seriously? You need to show better judgment?—”
“Better judgment?” Lea’s laugh is bitter, hollow. “You mean like you do? Showing up hungover to practice? Skipping classes?”
Mike’s face darkens. “That’s different.”
“Right. Because you’re the golden boy who can do no wrong.” She swipes at her eyes. “God, I’m such an idiot for trustingbothof you!”
“Lea—” I step forward, but Mike blocks my path.
“You’ve done enough.” His voice is low, dangerous. “Stay away from my sister.”
Lea doesn’t wait to hear my response. She turns and strides away, her hair bouncing with each angry step. The sound of her boots on the stairs echoes through the stairwell until it fades completely.
“What the hell were you thinking, Declan?” Mike rounds on me. “My sister, man? Really?”
“I didn’t know she was your sister.” The Marsala sauce is starting to dry in my hair, making it stiff. “And for the record, I wasn’t trying to?—”
“To what? Play her? Because that’s exactly what it looks like from where I’m standing, pressing the art buttons you knew she’d respond to.” He jabs a finger at my chest. “I need you to focus on Princeton, not trying to get in my sister’s pants.”
The words hit like a body check I’m not prepared for. “That’s not what this is about, Mike, come on…”
“No? Then what is it about?” His eyes narrow. “Because from what you were saying, you were all overSiennaat the diner last night…”
