Page 18

Lux

J uliette didn’t work on Thursday. She had to talk to her roommates about moving into my house, and I told her she could have the day off.

I acted in her stead for the day, taking Bella to and from school for the first time. Something my niece was more excited about than I anticipated. She even asked me for help with her math homework.

I wouldn’t admit it to Juliette, but I was having trouble grasping some of the concepts. So awfully, in fact, that Bella huffed and finished the rest herself, making me think that she didn’t truly need my help. She just wanted the company.

It made me want to do better. And even with my jam-packed schedule during the day, I couldn’t keep my mind from wandering back to Juliette.

For some reason, I was scared that they would try and talk her out of it. Maybe they had more sense than either of us did.

I waited all of Thursday and Thursday night for her to give me an answer, but there wasn’t so much as a text. My eyes had grown tired from looking at my phone for hours in the darkness.

On Friday, I was on edge.

I didn’t want to admit how fast I ran from the kitchen to the front door when I heard her car pull up or how I had waited an extra few seconds at the door, taking a deep breath before I opened it.

I watched as she unloaded a box of stuff from her trunk, multiple boxes already around her. My heart felt like it was going to explode.

She is actually moving in.

“I’ll bring the rest in after work and tomorrow,” she said as she attempted to haul three boxes inside the house. They were all cardboard, all looking a little worse for wear. Stains, holes, and being held together by two rolls of duct tape at least.

She’ll be lucky to make it inside before one of them crashes to the ground, taking her with it.

Juliette hadn’t taken more than two very wobbly steps up the stairs before I was rushing to her and grabbing the boxes from her. I don’t know if my heart could take an accidental fall when just watching her like this had it pounding in my chest.

Not to mention the images my mind made up of her face-planting on the stairs.

A shiver ran up my spine.

She might be doing a hell of a good job taking care of Bella, but it seemed like she didn't care too much about herself or what happened to her.

Or maybe she’s just not used to asking for help. Or having any.

I grabbed the bottom of the boxes and lifted them with ease.

I was almost surprised that they caused her so much trouble since they were light.

Judging by the noise they made, I was guessing there were some knickknacks in there, maybe some personal items that went on her nightstand, and a few clothes, but nothing extremely heavy.

At least not for someone who worked out regularly like me. It would be a waste of an in-home gym if I didn’t. Even with Bella around, I tried to do some lifting before bed.

The look on her face as I held the boxes with ease did not get past me, and boy, did it make my ego soar. I might have flexed a little bit more.

“Hey, you don’t have to?—”

“And let you fall and hurt yourself and then sue me for improper workplace safety protocols? I think not.”

I caught the ghost of a smile before I turned and walked into the house.

Maybe I was being a little bit too obvious about my feelings for her, no matter how many excuses I came up with for treating her differently. But today, I didn't have to worry about being seen because there was no one in the house except for the two of us.

Bella was already at school, begrudgingly and after complaining about Juliette not being here again.

She had perked up when I told her she might be moving in, though—because I hoped she would, which was why I was working from home today.

Both Gina and Marci got the hint that they didn't need to hang around and had gone shopping.

Which meant the two of us were completely alone.

The knowledge of that weighed on me as I walked through the house.

“It’s the bedroom right across from mine,” I said, trying to fill the silence of the house. “It has a queen bed, dresser, and closet; the only thing it doesn’t have is an attached bath.”

“That’s okay.” Her shoes squeaked against the hard floor as she followed me. “I don’t have one now either. Actually, I never had one. Growing up, my brothers and I shared one.”

I turned to look behind my shoulder at her. Well, that’s something I didn’t expect.

“I didn’t think you had brothers,” I commented, pausing at the door.

She leaned against the wall, looking up at me with a smile.

“Don’t seem like a middle child, huh?”

“No,” I admitted and went inside, placing the boxes on the floor. “More like an only child or the eldest.”

“My older brother is much older than us. He was already in high school when I was born, and as far as I can remember, he was never around. I don't think he ever really got along with my parents, given that he was kind of the guinea pig,” she said from the doorway. “We don’t know him well, so for all intents and purposes, I am the eldest.”

I let out a hum. I couldn't think of anyone not wanting to be around Juliette. Moving away from your parents, I could totally understand, but even as a younger sibling, I always wanted to be with my sister.

I don't know how someone could just look at her and not want anything to do with her afterwards.

“And your other brother?” I asked. “How’s he? Are you close?”

I don’t know why I asked. I probably shouldn’t pry. It wasn’t necessary for our work relationship.

But a part of me wanted to know her better. Wanted to know how she came to be such a soft, caring person. Who was she close to? When did she have her first kiss? Did she go to prom? Did she like school?

All of it. I wanted to know all of it.

Juliette was somewhat complicated for me to understand. No one had ever drawn me to them the way she had. No one ever had me this obsessed.

I could fuck. I loved it. I loved being with women. I might not have been with anyone in a long time, but no woman ever outweighed my love for working and making money.

None of them had ever been able to tear me away from my job. Yet all I could think about every day was her and Bella and how to get back to them sooner.

I would never admit it to anyone, but the time between when Juliette went home and when she came back in the morning was the longest twelve hours I've ever endured.

Even considering the possibility of her moving in had a buzz of excitement running through me. Every time I lay down in my bed, I imagined her being in the room right across from me.

I imagined what it would be like to wake up and have her in bed with me.

This was the first time I openly cared about what had made her into the person she was now. But I didn’t just care, I didn't just want to know; I needed to know. Needed to understand how someone like her could so thoroughly change the course of my life. Change me .

“We’re pretty close. Even closer after our parents died.”

Her confession hit me like an arrow to the chest. Shit. Of course. It made sense why she and Bella got along so well. How she knew what Bella needed before she even knew it herself.

I suddenly saw the woman in front of me in a different light.

It made me hurt for her in a way I couldn't fully understand myself.

I had never gotten along with my mother.

If I were being honest, I thought she was the devil incarnate.

She didn't care much about anyone except for my sister and herself.

And oftentimes, even though she favored my sister, she would put herself and her image first.

I couldn't get out of the house soon enough when I turned eighteen.

But I had a feeling Juliette’s case was completely different. It felt like she had had two parents who loved her and lost them.

She was caring. She was kind, and she loved easily. I could see it in the way that she took care of Bella. And even though she had been in a traumatic situation, she never treated Bella like she was a broken doll.

With caution, yes, but never with fear that she might break.

Maybe because she knew she wouldn’t.

“He’s with my aunt now,” she said nonchalantly, like she didn't dump the biggest bomb on me. “Not the best situation, but he’s turning eighteen and going to college soon, so there’s not much to say about it. He actually just got his acceptance letter.”

She was beaming at that last part. Her eyes lit up, and her smile was wide on her face. It made even my cheeks ache.

She loved him like an older sister was supposed to, and I wondered if my sister ever looked like this when she talked about me.

“That must have been hard,” I blurted out as I took a step forward.

My mind was telling me it wasn’t a good idea to get any closer, but all I could imagine was little Juliette crying at their funeral while holding onto her younger brother, immediately turning into the caretaker.

No one deserved to lose their parents so young, but especially not Juliette. She was still smiling, and pride was still bursting out of her when she looked up at me.

“What age were you when they died?” I asked, and my question had a little bit of that light dulling.

“Sixteen,” she answered with a forced smile. “I was with my aunt for a bit, but taking care of two kids was a lot, so I left my brother there and bounced around from relative to relative before I graduated and ended up living on my own.”

My jaw clenched as anger clashed violently inside of me.

Her aunt just left her like that? So young and having gone through so much?

I couldn't believe anyone would do that.

Even I—someone who had no experience with kids—took it upon myself to take care of Bella after her mother died.

Not just because it was what my sister wanted but because I loved Bella, and I didn't want to see her suffer at the hands of my mother or anyone else who decided to take her in.

I knew she would be safe with me.