Page 56 of Love Me Not

“He’s with my aunt now,” she said nonchalantly, like she didn't dump the biggest bomb on me.“Not the best situation, but he’s turning eighteen and going to college soon, so there’s not much to say about it.He actually just got his acceptance letter.”

She was beaming at that last part.Her eyes lit up, and her smile was wide on her face.It made even my cheeks ache.

She loved him like an older sister was supposed to, and I wondered if my sister ever looked like this when she talked about me.

“That must have been hard,” I blurted out as I took a step forward.

My mind was telling me it wasn’t a good idea to get any closer, but all I could imagine was little Juliette crying at their funeral while holding onto her younger brother, immediately turning into the caretaker.

No one deserved to lose their parents so young, but especially not Juliette.She was still smiling, and pride was still bursting out of her when she looked up at me.

“What age were you when they died?”I asked, and my question had a little bit of that light dulling.

“Sixteen,” she answered with a forced smile.“I was with my aunt for a bit, but taking care of two kids was a lot, so I left my brother there and bounced around from relative to relative before I graduated and ended up living on my own.”

My jaw clenched as anger clashed violently inside of me.

Her aunt just left her like that?So young and having gone through so much?

I couldn't believe anyone would do that.Even I—someone who had no experience with kids—took it upon myself to take care of Bella after her mother died.Not just because it was what my sister wanted but because I loved Bella, and I didn't want to see her suffer at the hands of my mother or anyone else who decided to take her in.

I knew she would be safe with me.

It was hard.Many times I had no idea what I was doing, but I tried.For Bella.For my sister.

I could never give her up.

Even if I was completely fucking it up and Bella hated me, I wouldn’t throw out a child in need.Juliette implied that she decided to leave, but it was probably her aunt pushing her out.She would never have left her brother if she didn't have to; that much was obvious just from the look on her face when she talked about him.

“I’m sorry,” she said and let out an embarrassed chuckle.“I don’t know why I’m trauma-dumping on you.”

“It’s okay.I asked.”

I hadn’t realized how close we’d gotten.Or how quiet the world was when we were together, alone in this room.

I felt like she needed comfort.Neededsomething.

Needed me.

I wanted to make her forget everything that happened.I wanted to give her a life she deserved.A soft, abundant life where she didn't have to work so hard just to live.

This is more than just sex.This is about her.About us.

I am so fucked.

My fingers were itching to touch her skin.My hands had a mind of their own, slowly lifting, ready to grab her and pull her to me.Her eyes told me that she was feeling the change too.

They were wide and dilated, her mouth slightly open, giving me a preview of the pink tongue hiding there.

This was a bad idea.Both of us knew it.We needed to leave this room, but I couldn’t move.

“Lux…”

Fuck, my name on her lips was sinful.I needed to hear it again.Craved it.

"Juliette…”

Just as I was about to reach out to her, she jerked back, her hand flying to her pocket.Her eyes widened when she caught sight of the caller ID.

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