Page 31 of The Love Interest

He puts his knife and fork down and turns to me. “No offense, Caden, but this is a conversation I need to have with my daughter right now. Juliet, if the streets aren’t safe, you aren’t going to go out alone. It’s that simple.”

“Richard,” says Daphne. “It’s fine. Trust me.”

Juliet thumps her fist down on the table. “Why amIbeing punished when they attacked me?”

“You aren’t being punished, you’re being kept safe.”

Juliet scrunches up the napkin she was holding. “Dad, drop it. Let’s have dinner.”

“Fine.”

“Fine.”

Daphne turns to me. “See,” she says. She’s smiling fondly. “Even though you’ve been gone for so long, some things haven’t changed. These two are still fighting the same old fights. It’s kind of comforting, isn’t it?”

I chuckle. “Yeah, it is.”

Juliet lets out a little burst of laughter, and the mood of the entire room lifts. Her dad passes me a helping of chicken, two potatoes, and half a carrot. I pour a splattering of gravy out of a jug with a cow on it over everything and serve myself a huge scoop of cauliflower casserole. Then, to finish everything off, I grab a roll and bite into it. It’s soft and fluffy and the best thing I’ve ever tasted. Obviously, bread wasn’t allowed at the LIC. We practically lived on steamed chicken breasts and green veggies.

Whoa, Caden, watch those carbs.

Do you expect me to not eat? That’ll look weird.

Fine. Just be careful with your portions.

Juliet’s plate matches mine, and she’s eating with such ferocity I feel it’s okay to ignore Kaylee and do the same. I cut off a big slice of chicken and stuff it into my mouth. It’s so freaking delicious I’d smile if my mouth weren’t so full.

“My God, look at the two of them,” says her dad. “It’s like they’re never fed. I promise we do feed her, Caden.”

Juliet and I glance at each other, grin, and dive right back in.

After dinner, I’m leaning back on the chair with my hands on my stomach. Kaylee is yammering on about something, but I’m so full and dreamily content that I don’t listen.

Juliet’s hands are resting on her extended stomach. She actually does look slightly pregnant.

“Dad, I have something to tell you.” She snorts.

I extend my own stomach. “Well, Juliet, I have something to tellyou.”

We burst out laughing. Both her parents roll their eyes in exactly the same way.

“I’ll go get dessert,” says Daphne. “Although let it be said that I don’t think giving either of you sugar is a good idea if you findthatjoke hilarious.” But she’s smiling a soft smile, so I know she doesn’t mean it.

Juliet keeps looking at me, and every time I catch her looking, she turns her head away and pretends she wasn’t watching.

Sorry, Dyl.

Your play didn’t work. You hit me.

But you’re the one on the ground.

CHAPTER

TEN

After dinner, Juliet invites me for a tour around her house. Obviously I accept, so I’m following her as we walk on the sandstone edge of her pool. There was no script, so I’ve had to improvise. Kaylee’s in my ear in case I get stumped by a particularly tough question, but for the most part, I’m on my own. I decide I should pretend to be an excited guy who is stunned by her affluence. So far, I think I’ve pulled it off.

I dip my hand into the water.