Page 46 of Now and Again

‘I do,’ Riley said, picking up her next slice.

Juliet would do her best to keep that promise. Though that didn’t mean she could simply delete what Riley had said, nor her shock about it. Riley had always seemed so solid. ‘But I kind of think that it would be OK if youdidsay something real,’ Juliet said.

‘Well, I’d love that, but….’ Riley stuffed nearly a whole slice of pizza into her mouth. ‘…I caammm eaaly ‘alk.’

Juliet decided to let it go; she had to. But she wished Riley would talk to her. She wanted to know her. She really did.

Twenty

Riley shouldn’t have said that. She shouldn’t have even thought it. She didn’t evenknowthat she thought it. It just came out. And of course, it had to come out in front of Juliet. It was always Juliet.

Thankfully, Juliet knew how to make things easier on her. ‘You know, my mum’s a bit like that. She’s not exactly cold or anything. Just a bit… dismissive. She sold the house like it shouldn’t even matter to me.’

‘That’s harsh. But I bet she’s secretly really proud of you,’ Riley said, finishing another slice.

‘It’s a very well-kept secret, then. I’m not sure even she knows it.’

‘But you’re Super Nanny.’

‘I’m not,’ Juliet said glibly.

‘I don’t want to speak ill of Mia, but trust me, she wasn’t like she is now. She was a bit of a nightmare child,’ Riley admitted, wiping her greasy hands on a kitchen towel.

‘Don’t say that,’ Juliet said, though Riley saw that she didn’t completely disagree.

‘Don’t get me wrong. She’s my sister, and I love her however she is. But you made her… She’s really… I think…’ Riley paused to find the right word. ‘You made her happier.’

Juliet went to respond to that, but then paused, and Riley realised she was tearing up. ‘Oh god!’ she exclaimed, slapping her forehead. ‘Ibrokeyou.’

Juliet laughed as a tear slipped down her cheek. ‘No, it’s… it’s probably the best compliment I’ve ever been paid.’

Riley blew out a sigh. ‘Whoa.’

Juliet laughed. ‘Is that sad?’

Riley shook her head. ‘That’s not what I was thinking at all. I just meant… Most people think a compliment is about how they look. For you, it’s that you take good care of my sister.’

Juliet gave a small shrug, looking at Riley. ‘Well, you found my soft spot.’

‘I guess so,’ Riley said, feeling abruptly nervous.

‘You always have,’ Juliet said quietly.

Riley couldn’t find a smart-arsed response to that. They were just here, looking at each other, alone. Riley began to feel shaky, scared. She had to move fast, or she was gonna do a stupid thing. ‘Hey, I’m tired, I think I’m gonna go to bed.’

‘Oh, sure,’ Juliet said, looking at her last bit of pizza in the box. ‘Long day.’

‘Yup.’

‘Would you want to go to the park with Mia and me tomorrow afternoon?’

Riley was thrown. ‘Oh, er…’

‘Sorry, you’ve probably got plans,’ Juliet said quickly.

Riley pretended to think about it. ‘No, I don’t… I don’t think I’m up to much.’ She stood and did an extravagant yawn.‘K ‘night!’she said, practically running.

As she tried to sleep that night, she thought about tomorrow. Going to the park with Juliet and Mia. Spending even more time alone with Juliet. Racking up nice moments and cute exchanges.

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