Page 80 of The Love Interest

And I know the descent is coming.

CHAPTER

TWENTY-FOUR

I’m staring at the mirror in my bedroom. I’m wearing a white shirt, black slacks, and dress shoes. I fiddle with the top button.

How much man-cleavage should I show, Kaylee?

None, obviously. Button it all the way up. And wear a tie. You need to be the best-dressed boy in the room.

It was a joke.

Well, it was very funny, Caden. Now hurry up, I want you to be early. It’s sweet, like you’re excited about this party.

I do up the top button.Hey, I have a question. What happens to our relationship if Juliet chooses me?

Well, we won’t talk as often, because they’ll remove your implant. You’ll still have my mobile number, though, and you’re always welcome to call me if you have a question. So I become a free, always accessible relationship counselor. It’s a pretty great service. Lots of people would benefit if they had someone like me in their life. They really would.

Good to know. And hey, thanks for helping me through all this.

It’s my job, Caden. I had no choice. But that’s sweet. Thank you.

Once I’m dressed I leave my room and head toward my truck. When I reach it I open the door. Sitting on the passenger seat is a bouquet of pink tulips.

For me? How sweet.

Kaylee doesn’t respond, so I slam the door and turn on the engine. Then I drive to Juliet’s house.

Juliet and Natalie are sitting on the front steps of Juliet’s house. Juliet is wearing a frilly white dress. It’s cute, and she looks great, but it’s nothing compared to her space dress. Natalie looks characteristically stunning in a skintight green number. I park in front of them and they both stand and walk to the car. Their heels click against the driveway.

“You look beautiful,” I say, handing her the tulips. Juliet presses them to her face and inhales deeply.

“Thank you, Caden. They’re lovely.”

They climb into the backseat and clip on their seat belts.

“Do you know the way?” asks Natalie.

“Sure do.”

“Then let’s go.”

I turn the steering wheel and pull onto the road.

Juliet turns to me. Her face is covered with simple makeup, making her skin paler than usual, and her lips are glossy. “So you’re comfortable with driving now? Before you weren’t.”

“Yeah, I am. Now that I’m doing it, it’s not so scary.”

She looks out the window. “Yeah, and it’s freeing, right?”

“More than anything in the world.”

She closes her mouth and I grip the steering wheel. My palms are slick with sweat, which makes the plastic slippery. This kind, lovely girl is going to kill someone today. She’ll never know what she’s done, but that won’t stop it from being true. And, if I win, I’ll have to spend the rest of our life together knowing that her choice killed Dyl.

“How are you doing, Natalie?” I ask, in a lame attempt to stop thinking about how much everything is going to change tonight.

I flick my eyes up and look at her through the rearview mirror. Her arms are crossed and her shoulders are slouched. She moves her eyes up and meets my stare. “I’m doing about as well as you’d expect, Caden. But it doesn’t matter. Tonight, I’m going to win him back.”