Page 51 of Never Going to Care

Justice’s eyes get big and round the moment I claim Celeste out loud. Her surprise is totally warranted because I haven’t brought a woman home to meet my family since Maria. I didn’t see the point then, but everything is different with Celeste.

Fuck; I’m different.

Celeste eyes me, the look on her face unreadable and for a man with my training that is…unsettling. She focuses on Justice, her expression open. “It’s nice to meet you too. Is this your bakery?” She glances at me out of the corner of her eye. “I wasn’t aware we were coming to meet you.”

Justice teases me, “Oohhh, you’re in trouble.” When she turns back to Celeste, she grins. “It’s our bakery actually, my sisters and I, I mean.”

Celeste blinks a few times. “All three of you?”

“Yup,” Justice pops the p and then gives me a sly smile. As if she doesn’t know that if I was in ‘trouble’ for not telling Celeste about one sister, it won’t be worse when adding in two more. “Everyone is here today too.”

I let out a little groan. “Stop trying to get me into more trouble, Justice.” I teasingly tut at her, “So childish.”

Justice shrugs one shoulder and winks at Celeste. “Middle child syndrome is a real bitch.”

I scoff, “You aren’t even the middle child. There isn’t one. Or there’s two, depending on how you look at it.”

“Of the girls,” she reminds me as if I don’t know that shit already.

Justice turns back to Celeste. “Can I get you an éclair?”

I swear Celeste drools a little. I can’t blame her. I’ve been a tester on new recipes more than once and they were always delicious. Maybe that’s why they haven’t asked my input lately since everything is good to me.

“Yes, please.” Celeste moves closer to the display case. “They all look so delicious.”

Before moving around the counter, Justice gives me one more look, this one holding a little more hurt in it than I was expecting. I’ve seen it there before and I’ve only seen it when it’s been found out I wasn’t sharing things with my family and was shutting them out. I’ve been working to get better about it, but it’s difficult sometimes.

When Justice comes back to the counter, she has a plate ready to start filling up. I might drool a little as well.

I lean into Celeste and whisper in her ear, “They taste even better than they look and smell.”

“I’m sure they do,” she grumbles.

When I look at her, I can see her nervousness underneath the pulled together exterior. I wrap my arm around her shoulders and pull her against my side, tucking her right where she belongs. It still blows my mind sometimes how well she fits against me. It’s like finding the right puzzle piece.

I didn’t think I’d ever find it. I wasn’t looking for her. Then this spitfire filled with moonlight and sass stood up to me. I was a goner before I even realized it.

I kiss the top of her head and whisper, “Don’t be mad at me, Starlight.”

She makes a scoffing sound which has an angry bend to it, but she still melts into my side. There’s sass in her voice, “Were you trying to make me jealous?”

I look down at her in horror. “What?”

Celeste peeks up at me from underneath her lashes. “Did you bring me here knowing I wouldn’t know it was your sister? Were you playing with me? Trying to make me jealous?”

I can’t help it, my lip twitches and the question slips from my lips before I can think about it. “You were jealous?”

She rolls her eyes and starts to take a step away from me, but I don’t let her go. I won’t be letting her go anytime soon. She’s going to have to get used to it.

“Not the most important part,” she mumbles mulishly.

I grin down at her, but the sliver of hurt in her brown eyes strikes me right in my sternum. I shake my head slowly, my voice low and lulling, “I wasn’t trying to make you jealous at all. I didn’t think about the fact that you wouldn’t know it was my sister.” I glance away and then back at her. “Well, that’s not entirely true. I mean, I knew you wouldn’t know my sisters own this bakery.”

“Then why didn’t you tell me?”

Justice calls out, “Why don’t you both go take a seat? I’ll bring you an assortment to try.”

I flash my sister a grateful smile and lead Celeste away to one of the tables by the windows. I know it’s only a matter of time before Raegan and Isabella comes out to meet her, but I want to put her mind at ease first.

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