Luna and the Lie

by Mariana Zapata

“I was looking for you to see if you wanted to go to lunch,” I said quickly, aiming my gaze right at Rip. “I owe you for yesterday.” I didn’t miss the confused look that Mr. Cooper sent Ripley, then me. I also didn’t miss the way Rip’s body tightened at my question. He was going to say no, I knew it, and I was going to be fine with it. The only reason why I’d even said anything was to break this up. “So?” I asked, giving him another smile that was as big as he was going to get, trying to tell him with my eyes that it was fine for him to say no. But he didn’t do that. “All right.” He uncrossed his arms and let them drop to his sides. “But you’re not paying.” I pressed my lips together and blinked. Okay, then. All right. “Then I wouldn’t be paying you back for helping me, would I, boss?” I asked him sweetly. Mr. Cooper’s head swung from me to Rip and back again, and I felt bad for leaving him in the dark. I’d tell him as soon as I had a chance. “You don’t need to pay me back for shit.” He took a step forward. “I’ve got it. Let’s go.”

He’s such a sucker