Somebody Else's Sky (Something in the Way #2)(67)

I blinked a few times, unsure of where to start with that. Why did everyone keep calling him a gentleman?

"He used to like me," she continued.

"You mentioned."

She picked a piece of bacon off my plate. "Maybe he still does, and that's why he took Lake to prom."

There was no way Corbin flew all the way in from New York to make Tiffany jealous, but I wasn't about to argue. I was still wrapping my head around the fact that Tiffany knew about my night with Lake. How much had Lake told her?

"They're a good match, though, aren't they?" she asked, sliding onto Lake's stool. "Corbin and Lake. He's good-looking, smart, rich, and from a good family. Perfect guy for a perfect girl."

During prom photos, Corbin had put his arms around Lake and made her laugh like it was nothing. Like he deserved her. Even her dad approved of him. As if I'd needed the reminder that I was neither deserving, nor approved of. My stomach had churned watching his hands on her, his possessive grip on her shoulders.

"Nobody's perfect," I said.

"Except Lake."

I couldn't really argue that. Lake wasn't without her flaws, but I couldn't name a single one, and I doubted they'd be enough to keep any man away. I shifted gears. I could tell by Tiffany's sharp tone, agreeing with her would be the death of me. "Some people might say you're perfect," I pointed out.

She bit off a piece of bacon, narrowing her eyes at me. "Some people?"

"You're gorgeous. Clever. Funny. Hard-working." I handed her a paper towel when she spilled some coffee on her top. "You have everything going for you."

She patted the stain, glancing up at me. "Plus, I have you."

I nodded a little. "Perfect boyfriend, eh?" I was far from a perfect boyfriend. I wasn't even sure I was a good one, but sometimes, like now, she made me feel like I was, and it made me want to try harder.



       
         
       
        

Tiffany smiled. "Do you ever think about the future?"

I glanced out at the patio, at my pack of cigarettes. It made me anxious when I couldn't be sure if Tiffany was being genuine or angling for something. Instead, I picked up Lake's orange juice and took a sip. "What future?"

"Ours. We've been together a while now."

"Most of our relationship developed in a small room while guards watched." I wasn't joking, but Tiffany laughed.

"I'm just saying. We should start thinking about the next step. I mean, I've already thought about it-haven't you?"

I hadn't really until Gary had brought it up a couple months ago. I'd assumed Tiffany would want to talk about all this at some point, just not so soon. "Aren't you too young to start thinking about that?"

"You're not. And a few girls from my class got married last year."

"What about your dad?" All the times I'd been to his house, and Charles still gave me the cold shoulder. He didn't like me dating Tiffany; he might blow a gasket if he knew we were talking about getting serious. "He'd never go for that."

"He might. Maybe it'd get him to back off a little."

I piled the dishes and pans in the sink. "Or you and I getting married would just send him over the edge."

"Maybe," she said. She took her coffee into the bedroom and said, "Or maybe he'll finally relax a little knowing I'm taken care of."

Taken care of-by me? I barely made enough to put a roof over my own head. With my juice, I went into the living room and shifted the blinds aside to look out the window. Lake sat on the curb of the parking lot, her knees bent up to her chin. Still, at seventeen, her legs were too long for her body. And still, she was perfect. Tiffany was right-Lake had a crush on me, but that would pass. I couldn't take care of her. I brought nothing to the table for a girl who was on her way up.

Who was I to think I deserved perfection? That I even deserved perfection's older sister? If Tiffany was talking about the next step, then she was offering me everything a person could want out of life-to love and be loved. A home, a family, and a life I didn't think I deserved or would ever get.

She did better with me around. She'd gotten her shit semi-together. If I walked away now, she might get off track again and continue to put off school. I'd have to find a new place with no money, no credit, and no car. Living by the beach wasn't an option, it was too expensive, but I couldn't leave county lines, so what did that mean? Roommates?

I waited there until Charles pulled up to take Lake home. Once they were gone, I found Tiffany in the ensuite, taking a shower. Leaning my ass on the bathroom counter, I spoke over the sound of the showerhead. "I'm not even sure I want to get married. To anyone."