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“Where is Juliette?”she asked, looking around the food court of the mall, no doubt hoping she’d be coming around the corner any minute now.
“She's meeting her brother,” I said.
Bella's face twisted, and she took another sip of her drink before whispering, “Uh-oh, should we… go save her or something?”
If it were any other time, I would have laughed, but I was just as concerned as she was.Just because I loved Juliette didn’t mean I felt the same about her family, no matter how much she cared about him.He had been awful to her last time, and I didn't want her to have to go through it again.Especially alone.
But I knew that he was probably there becauseIhad done something I shouldn't have.
Something I would definitely be hearing about later.
But right now, it was about me and Bella.About coming clean to her that I was in love with her nanny, and I wanted to be in a relationship with her.
I took a deep breath, nerves racing through me.My heart was pounding in my chest.My palms were sweaty.
Facing the eight-year-old was more nerve-racking than most of the things I did on the daily as a CEO.
What if she likes her fine as a nanny but can’t accept her as my girlfriend?What if she gets mad at Juliette for taking her aunt away from her?
Bella didn’t have many stable people in her life, which was why I wanted to keep the lines between me and Juliette clean.So she could have me, her aunt, and Juliette, her nanny and confidante.
I wanted her to be able to tell Juliette anything she couldn't tell me.For her to lean on Juliette without worrying that she would instantly come running to me afterwards to spill her secrets.
At least until she feels comfortable coming to me herself with anything she needs, I instantly thought.Because I wanted to be that for my niece too.
“Bella, I have someone to talk to you about.”
Her eyes went wide.Shit.“Did something bad happen?”
“No, no,” I said quickly.“It’s actually a very good thing.”
She perked up at this and leaned forward as if to say,What is it?I'm all ears.
I swallowed thickly, nerves acting up again.It's now or never, Lux.You're a grown woman.You got this.
“I really, really like Juliette, and I want her to be my girlfriend.”The words tumbled out in one breath.Too fast.Kind of low.Bella looked at me for a long moment, and I realized she probably hadn’t heard me.
Shifting in my chair and taking another deep breath, I tried again.
“I said that I really, really like Juliette, and I?—”
“I thought she already was your girlfriend,” she said with a confused look.
I sat up straight, palms on the table in front of me.
“Why would you think that?”
“Because you guys look at each other like my friend looks at her boyfriend.”The grimace on her face was kind of cute.“All googly-eyed and gross.”
I opened my mouth to say something, but nothing came out.I didn't really know how to respond to that.
Okay?You're right?I guess the cat’s out of the bag?
I guess Juliette and I weren't as secretive as we thought.
“Wow.I didn’t see that coming.”She giggled, and her smile radiated happiness, which had a weight lifting off my shoulders.
“I also saw you kissing one morning when you thought I wasn’t around,” she said, taking a sip of her drink.