Page 50 of Never Going to Care

We come to a stop in front of a bakery with a sign above the door which reads Éclair Wishes. I look inside and see trays of glorious deliciousness on display. I wipe my chin because I must be drooling.

My voice drops an octave in ravenous need, “Are we getting éclairs? They look delicious.”

Hale opens the door and leads me inside without saying anything. When I look at him out of the corner of my eye, he seems shifty suddenly. He looks nervous and it only makes me more anxious. Why is he nervous? If he ruins these fluffy pastries, I’m going to kick his shin or something.

Okay, maybe not because violence is never the answer, or whatever, but I’ll figure something out. It would be required.

When we’re inside, I take a deep breath and almost let out a moan. It smells so good in here. I turn toward Hale, but before I can say anything, a dark-haired woman comes rushing over and almost jumps on Hale, wrapping herself around him like a damn spider monkey.

I let out a gasp and take a step back, my eyes filling with tears and rage powered jealousy rushes through me. I don’t know if I should run or stay and gouge her eyes out. I don’t like the feeling at all.

Hale pries the woman off him and then looks over at me. There’s no guilt on his face though, no regret. I don’t know what it means.

“Hi Justice,” his voice is a rumble in his chest but there’s so much love and affection in it that I start to feel my heart cracking a little.

She pulls back from him and frowns with narrowed eyes. “You missed the last family dinner. I was expecting you to show up.”

I wince. It sounds like she’s awfully close to the family. I hate it. Is it family and ex-girlfriend dinner? Or is it still girlfriend? We never had a conversation about being exclusive or if he was even single. I just assumed.

I’m such a damn moron. I should have never assumed something.

Hale huffs out a breath and shakes his head slowly. I take a step back and his head snaps over to mine.

“Celeste,” the warning in his voice is evident, but if my feet could move again now that he’s looking at me, I would be out of here. So damn fast.

Justice looks over at me and her eyes widen. Before I know what the fuck is going on, she’s on me and hugging me as well. She hugs me so tight I’m pretty sure I’ve been attacked by a boa constrictor. Is she trying to hurt me or is this a good thing?

I’m sure my eyes are practically bugging out of my head as I look at Hale. He looks at us with adoration in his eyes. Which makes no fucking sense.

“Starlight,” he urges me to listen to him with the look in his eyes, as if he knows how damn close I was to freaking out and running, “this is my middle sister, Justice.”

I deflate like a fucking balloon, I’m pretty sure I sound like one too with the breath I let out.

CHAPTER 17

HALE

I can almost see the green horns of her jealousy monster as Celeste takes in the fact that the life is being hugged out of her by my sister. When I tell my woman who Justice is, she blinks at me and then she slowly brings her arms around my sister. I can’t even put into words what it means to see my woman with my sister right now.

It feels right. It feels like home.

I can see a future of family gatherings where my sisters and my Starlight not only get along but are close. I know Celeste has some great friends and I think that’s amazing. It doesn’t mean she can’t, also, be close to my sisters.

Justice releases Celeste and shoots me a glare. “Keeping secrets from family isn’t right, Hale,” she chastises me.

I frown and my voice is hard, “I would never keep Celeste as a secret. We needed to find our footing, together, before I exposed her to you and the other two wild things in my life.”

Justice mock gasps and presses her hand to her chest, the movement and sass in the move makes Celeste smile. I can see the worry and fear she was experiencing before leeching away. I’m glad.

I get it. She didn’t know Justice was my sister and that information is kind of critical when the woman you love witnesses another launching themselves at me. I just wasn’t sure how she would react after she was so worried in the car about going to family dinner with me. I didn’t want to stress her out when I knew there was no reason to.

“Wild,” Justice spits, her tone joking. “How dare you?”

I shake my head. “A man who knows from experience,” I deadpan.

Justice blows a raspberry at me and then turns to Celeste. “It’s so nice to meet you. I’m Justice, the middle sister like my super older big brother mentioned.”

I scoff and widen my stance, crossing my arms across my chest as I frown down at Justice. “I’m not old and don’t say shit like that in front of my woman.”

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