Page 174

Whoosh!
That smile was a memory.
And again, my chest felt funny.
“Who is it?” I asked tentatively.
“No one,” he answered, turning from the door without answering it, and there was a funny look on his face. One I did not like. “I’m gonna go grab my bag from upstairs.”
The doorbell rang again.
Javi was moving to the stairs.
I moved to the door.
“Lolita,” he called.
I kept moving to the door.
“Harlow, leave it,” he bit off.
I looked out the peephole.
And my head exploded.
Austin Atherton was standing out there.
And he wasn’t alone.
Julia and Catherine were with him.
“Harlow!” Javi clipped as I unlocked and threw open the door.
“You are joking, right?” I demanded of Javi’s dad.
“Ohmigod,” Julia breathed. “Harlow?”
I felt Javi at my back.
“Oh my God,” Cath whispered, her eyes going up to her brother.
And, dang it, tears filled them.
Please tell me this wasn’t happening.
Javi grunted, and it was in pain as he looked at his two sisters.
It was happening.
Ever wanted to know if heads exploding could strike twice?
Let me tell you, it could.
I whirled and pointed in Javi’s face. “You. Upstairs. Pronto.”
“Baby,” he said softly, but he didn’t move, and his attention was glued out the door.
Going back and forth.