Page 54 of Love Me Not

“Making her happy.”

Chapter15

Lux

Juliette didn’t work on Thursday.She had to talk to her roommates about moving into my house, and I told her she could have the day off.

I acted in her stead for the day, taking Bella to and from school for the first time.Something my niece was more excited about than I anticipated.She even asked me for help with her math homework.

I wouldn’t admit it to Juliette, but I was having trouble grasping some of the concepts.So awfully, in fact, that Bella huffed and finished the rest herself, making me think that she didn’ttrulyneed my help.She just wanted the company.

It made me want to do better.And even with my jam-packed schedule during the day, I couldn’t keep my mind from wandering back to Juliette.

For some reason, I was scared that they would try and talk her out of it.Maybe they had more sense than either of us did.

I waited all of Thursday and Thursday night for her to give me an answer, but there wasn’t so much as a text.My eyes had grown tired from looking at my phone for hours in the darkness.

On Friday, I was on edge.

I didn’t want to admit how fast I ran from the kitchen to the front door when I heard her car pull up or how I had waited an extra few seconds at the door, taking a deep breath before I opened it.

I watched as she unloaded a box of stuff from her trunk, multiple boxes already around her.My heart felt like it was going to explode.

She is actually moving in.

“I’ll bring the rest in after work and tomorrow,” she said as she attempted to haul three boxes inside the house.They were all cardboard, all looking a little worse for wear.Stains, holes, and being held together by two rolls of duct tape at least.

She’ll be lucky to make it inside before one of them crashes to the ground, taking her with it.

Juliette hadn’t taken more than two very wobbly steps up the stairs before I was rushing to her and grabbing the boxes from her.I don’t know if my heart could take an accidental fall when just watching her like this had it pounding in my chest.

Not to mention the images my mind made up of her face-planting on the stairs.

A shiver ran up my spine.

She might be doing a hell of a good job taking care of Bella, but it seemed like she didn't care too much about herself or what happened to her.

Or maybe she’s just not used to asking for help.Or having any.

I grabbed the bottom of the boxes and lifted them with ease.I was almost surprised that they caused her so much trouble since they were light.Judging by the noise they made, I was guessing there were some knickknacks in there, maybe some personal items that went on her nightstand, and a few clothes, but nothing extremely heavy.

At least not for someone who worked out regularly like me.It would be a waste of an in-home gym if I didn’t.Even with Bella around, I tried to do some lifting before bed.

The look on her face as I held the boxes with ease did not get past me, and boy, did it make my ego soar.I might have flexed a little bit more.

“Hey, you don’t have to?—”

“And let you fall and hurt yourself and then sue me for improper workplace safety protocols?I think not.”

I caught the ghost of a smile before I turned and walked into the house.

Maybe I was being a little bit too obvious about my feelings for her, no matter how many excuses I came up with for treating her differently.But today, I didn't have to worry about being seen because there was no one in the house except for the two of us.

Bella was already at school, begrudgingly and after complaining about Juliette not being here again.She had perked up when I told her she might be moving in, though—because I hoped she would, which was why I was working from home today.Both Gina and Marci got the hint that they didn't need to hang around and had gone shopping.

Which meant the two of us were completely alone.

The knowledge of that weighed on me as I walked through the house.

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