Page 122 of Love Me Not

“She's been here for a few hours,” she said.“I tried to keep her at home, but she wasn't having it.”

“I wanted to see you!”Bella said as she pulled away.“When Auntie Lux said you were in an accident, I was so scared.”

I frowned and wiped the tears off her face.

“I know how scary that must've been.”She was no doubt comparing it to the day when she’d lost her parents.“But I know you were brave for me, weren’t you?”

“Not even a little bit.I cried the entire time,” she answered with a pout.

I couldn't help but laugh and pull her back in for a hug.

“I'm okay, Bella.Don't worry.I'll be out of here soon.”

“Will you come back home with us?”she asked, her voice muffled.

Lux was staring at me as if she wanted to hear the answer to that question too.I reached out and grabbed her hand.

“Just try and stop me.Yeah, I'm coming home.”

The smile Lux gave me was blinding, and she stood up, pulling us both into a hug.

“Juliette, my God!”

With a sigh, we looked to the door, which now held Harmony, Erin, and April.All of them looking like I quite literally ruined their day.

They rushed to me, not caring that Bella was still in my arms.

“Are you okay?When I saw you bleeding out, I had no idea what to do!I thought you were going to di?—”

“Let's not talk about that when there's a child present,” Erin said, shoving Harmony out of the way.

April's hand made its way to my shoulder, and she squeezed.

“I'm okay, guys.Thanks for coming.”

Harmony jumped into her recount of the night while Bella cuddled into me, not ready to let go yet.I didn't mind; I enjoyed the cuddles.

Lux stayed by my side, listening to my ex-roommates, even smiling every now and then.

But just when I thought it couldn't get any more crowded in the hospital room, Lucas popped his head in.

“How… Was this you?”I asked Lux.

“I sent him a text.Sorry, I took your phone.I didn’t have Lucas’s number.”

Everyone made way for Lucas.

“Who's that?”Harmony asked in a hardly concealed whisper.

“The brother, I think,” April whispered back.

Bella turned to glare at Lucas.

“Juliette, are you okay?Does anything hurt?”He then paused to look at Lux.“Who sends a goddamn message saying my sister is in the hospital without?—”

Lucas stopped when he noticed us holding hands.When he looked at me, I just nodded.He nodded back and gave me a small smile, and I knew he got it.

Lux, Bella, and I were together, and he needed to get with the program.

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