Page 55 of Love Me Not

“It’s the bedroom right across from mine,” I said, trying to fill the silence of the house.“It has a queen bed, dresser, and closet; the only thing it doesn’t have is an attached bath.”

“That’s okay.”Her shoes squeaked against the hard floor as she followed me.“I don’t have one now either.Actually, I never had one.Growing up, my brothers and I shared one.”

I turned to look behind my shoulder at her.Well, that’s something I didn’t expect.

“I didn’t think you had brothers,” I commented, pausing at the door.

She leaned against the wall, looking up at me with a smile.

“Don’t seem like a middle child, huh?”

“No,” I admitted and went inside, placing the boxes on the floor.“More like an only child or the eldest.”

“My older brother is much older than us.He was already in high school when I was born, and as far as I can remember, he was never around.I don't think he ever really got along with my parents, given that he was kind of the guinea pig,” she said from the doorway.“We don’t know him well, so for all intents and purposes, I am the eldest.”

I let out a hum.I couldn't think of anyone not wanting to be around Juliette.Moving away from your parents, I could totally understand, but even as a younger sibling, I always wanted to be with my sister.

I don't know how someone could just look at her and not want anything to do with her afterwards.

“And your other brother?”I asked.“How’s he?Are you close?”

I don’t know why I asked.I probably shouldn’t pry.It wasn’t necessary for our work relationship.

But a part of me wanted to know her better.Wanted to know how she came to be such a soft, caring person.Who was she close to?When did she have her first kiss?Did she go to prom?Did she like school?

All of it.I wanted to know all of it.

Juliette was somewhat complicated for me to understand.No one had ever drawn me to them the way she had.No one ever had me this obsessed.

I could fuck.I loved it.I loved being with women.I might not have been with anyone in a long time, but no woman ever outweighed my love for working and making money.

None of them had ever been able to tear me away from my job.Yet all I could think about every day was her and Bella and how to get back to them sooner.

I would never admit it to anyone, but the time between when Juliette went home and when she came back in the morning was the longest twelve hours I've ever endured.

Even considering the possibility of her moving in had a buzz of excitement running through me.Every time I lay down in my bed, I imagined her being in the room right across from me.

I imagined what it would be like to wake up and have her in bed with me.

This was the first time I openly cared about what had made her into the person she was now.But I didn’t just care, I didn't just want to know; Ineededto know.Needed to understand how someone like her could so thoroughly change the course of my life.Changeme.

“We’re pretty close.Even closer after our parents died.”

Her confession hit me like an arrow to the chest.Shit.Of course.It made sense why she and Bella got along so well.How she knew what Bella needed before she even knew it herself.

I suddenly saw the woman in front of me in a different light.

It made me hurt for her in a way I couldn't fully understand myself.I had never gotten along with my mother.If I were being honest, I thought she was the devil incarnate.She didn't care much about anyone except for my sister and herself.And oftentimes, even though she favored my sister, she would put herself and her image first.

I couldn't get out of the house soon enough when I turned eighteen.

But I had a feeling Juliette’s case was completely different.It felt like she had had two parents who loved her and lost them.

She was caring.She was kind, and she loved easily.I could see it in the way that she took care of Bella.And even though she had been in a traumatic situation, she never treated Bella like she was a broken doll.

With caution, yes, but never with fear that she might break.

Maybe because she knew she wouldn’t.

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