Page 58 of Love Me Not

Juliette

Why don’t I just pick up Bella and bring her back and we can all eat?

My heart dropped into my stomach.I only had a few hours to prepare.But there was something else to consider.

I raced out to the front, catching Juliette starting the car.

“Wait a minute,” I said, motioning for her to step out of it.She turned to look at me with a raised brow, but I ducked back into the house and grabbed the key to my car.

“Your car’s shit—no offense—so it’s safer if you take mine.”

Her mouth was agape as she looked over the keys in my hand.Slowly, she came back up the steps, grabbing them from me.I didn’t miss the way her hand lingered against mine.

“As much as I’d like to fight you, you’re right,” she said, then a small smile pulled at her lips.“That’s very thoughtful of you, Lux.”

Warmth spread throughout my chest.Praising Juliette was one of life’s greatest pleasures, but being praisedbyher?It gave me a whole new sense of pride.

“Drive safe,” I told her and watched as she made her way to my car instead.I waited until she drove off, basking in the warmth of her words.Then pulled out my phone in a panic.

I quickly canceled all my plans and dialed Gina’s cell.She answered after two rings.

“Yes, Ms.—”

“You need to bring more food.We have guests tonight!”

Chapter16

Juliette

Itapped my fingers against the steering wheel, my eyes cutting to my brother in the front seat, who kept looking at his phone.

It was supposed to be a celebration dinner where I told him that I was paying for his entire college tuition, but we’d somehow changed our plans and were now waiting in the pickup line for Bella.

“So they’re, like, rich,” he said, his eyes critically analyzing the car I was currently driving.

“Yeah,” I answered with a sigh.“They’re pretty well-off.”

“Good for you,” he said.“The pay must be good.Hopefully enough to get you out of that shitty living situation.”

My face burned.How will he react when he finds out I moved in with them?I debated telling him but ultimately decided it was best not to.

I turned to him.

“How have you been lately?”I asked.“Has she been treating you well?Do you need anything?Clothes?Money?Food?”

He dropped his phone and sent me a smile.

“You can stop worrying about me.I’m almost eighteen.I can take care of myself now.”

I chewed my bottom lip.

“I know you can,” I said.“But I just want to be there for you.Just because you can take care of yourself doesn't mean you have to do it alone.When it’s hard, you can lean on me.”

The movement of kids behind him caught my eye.

“Listen, I have some good news.I was going to tell you at dinner, but since we will be with them, I think it’s better I tell you here.”

He lifted a brow.

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