Page 33

I let Bella ramble on, listening to the gossip of her year.It became more obvious that while she knew people and had a few friends, she was pretty lonely with only one semi-close friend.She even admitted to spending a lot of lunch times alone, reading or playing in the jungle gym by herself.
I tried not to outwardly show just how much I felt for her, instead smiling along and chiming in until we pulled up to the school.She grabbed her backpack, hesitating when she opened the door.
“You promise we will get the bows after school?”she asked.
I nodded and gave her my biggest smile.
“Promise!”I said.“Do you want me to go with you?”
She shook her head.
“I know the way.”She hesitated for a second, almost taking a step forward before she said a quick bye to Marci, got out, and made her way into the gates.
Was that… Did she want to hug me?
“I see what Gina was saying.She likes you,” Marci said as we drove away, pulling me from my stupor.“She had all the others wait at home.It was just her and me.”
I frowned as she disappeared inside and we pulled away.I didn’t really have experience with grief and loneliness at her age, but I knew the best thing I could do was just be there for her.
“So where can I take you?The mall?A bookstore?”Marci asked.
I met her gaze in the rearview mirror.
“Do you have time for a coffee?”I asked.“I was wondering if I could pick your brain for a bit.”
Her eyes lit up.“I thought you’d never ask.I know just the place.”
* * *
Just the placeseemed to be a hip-but-quiet café filled to the brim with plants that only sold overpriced matchas and specialty coffees.There was a small loft upstairs where we chose to sit down and have our chat.
Marci seemed all too excited to share everything she knew about Lux and Bella.
“No, I was hired just for Bella,” she said as she swirled the coffee in her hand, the ice slushing together loudly.“Lux likes to drive herself for the most part.A control thing, if you ask me.”
I hummed and sipped my matcha.
“How has Bella…” I paused, looking for a word.
“Been coping?”she supplied, and I nodded.She let out a heavy sigh.“Honestly?I don’t think she has.I’ve never seen her cry, though I’ve seen her throw fits like no one’s business.I think it’s her way of letting the emotions out.Anger is one of the last stages of grief, right?But the issue is that no one can really help her through it.You’ve seen Lux, it’s like talking to a brick wall.”
I chewed the inside of my cheek, not bothering to correct her about the grief stages.
“She’s not that bad.”
“Because she wants to fuck you,” she replied with a grin.“To everyone else, she’s like an unfeeling block of ice.”
Heat rushed up my neck.
“She does not,” I lied, remembering her admission that morning.I could still feel how her words washed over my skin.How she felt when she was close enough to touch.
The promise of it all… but also the threat.
She’s right.Bella wouldn’t be able to handle it if we had a falling out.And more importantly, I’m here forBella.Not to be Lux’s new toy.
“Oh, yeah,sure,” she said with a snort, and just as she was about to put her cup down, she paused, her eyes going wide.“Oh my God, you want to fuck her too, don’t you?I don’t know why I didn’t see it.”
I gave her a glare and sipped my matcha.