Page 88 of Love Me Not

The thing that had been bugging me all day was how did she find my aunt?Or was it my aunt who found her?Either way, it felt icky.It felt like an invasion of privacy, and I definitely didn't want those two talking.Who knew what kind of havoc they could wreak if they were together?

“What are you thinking about so hard over there, Angel?”

“I don't think it's a coincidence that she found my aunt,” I said after a moment.

Lux exhaled.“There's no such thing as a coincidence with my mother.”Annoyance filled her tone.She reached up to brush her hand over my back, soothing me.There were still tingles every time we touched, but this time I could actually revel in the comfort it provided.“I have someone working on it, don't worry.She's gone too far, and I am not going to sit still this time.”

I nodded and let out a long breath.I could trust Lux.She was a good person, and even if she didn't like to show it, she cared a lot.

“Who is thissomeone?”I asked, unable to help myself.“Sounds mysterious.”

I could feel her laughing.“I may or may not have averyreliable information broker who can look into things like this for me.”

I paused for a second.Maybe I shouldn’t ask, but I needed to know.If we were to fight whatever this was together, I had to know all the facts.

“Lux, I don’t mean to pry or make you tell me things if you’re not ready to, but what happened?Why is your mother being such a?—”

“Gigantic bitch?”

A smile tugged at my lips.

“Exactly.”

She hugged me closer with a sigh.

“She should never have had children,” she said after a short pause.“She hated me for some reason and made it known as I was growing up.Part of me worked so hard in high school and college to spite her.I was thinking that if I was successful afterwards, she’d finally have no choice but to respect me.”

“People like her don’t change,” I murmured, thinking of my own aunt.

“No,” she agreed.“They don’t.But I was young and naive, thinking that if I could justprovehow useful I was to her, maybe she’d rethink everything.But she’s still the same mother who chose my sister over me.The one who obviously loved only one of her children.It’s why she wants Bella so badly.She doesn’t care about her.She’s just the last part of my sister left in this world.”

My hand found hers and squeezed.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered.“You deserved better than that.”

Poor Lux.I hated imagining how she was neglected like that as a child.She didn’t deserve it.

“Bella deserves better.”

There was another pause.

“But you do too.You know that, right?”My thumb ran circles over her wrist.“Past Lux, a child unable to fight for herself, and present Lux, an adult forced to protect her niece against her own mom… Both of them are worthy of love.”

I could feel her swallow and her chest catch, but I didn’t move.I let the words simmer between us.

“Thank you, Angel… for always knowing what to say.”

“Just being honest,” I whispered and placed a small kiss on her skin.I ran my hand over her heart, feeling it beat in her chest.“I wish I could help somehow.”

“You help more than you’ll ever know.”Her hand came to grab mine again.“Since I met you, my life has only changed for the better.”

Maybe it was the darkness that gave us the ability to talk like this.To spill our deepest worries and secrets.But it also made me worry.Worry about our future.Worry about what would become of us.

All of us.

“I don't want Bella to know how we met,” I said quietly.“I don’t regret it at all, but that's not for a little girl to know.On top of that, I don't even know how we’ll explain our relationship to her.”

Lux’s other hand went to my chin, making me look at her even though I could barely see her in the dark.

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