After Death, Love Unveiled

Chapter

14

Daphne and Asher hopped onto the bus together. Asher leaned in close and said under his breath. I'm not seeing you off today."

He couldn't tutor Elara for extra money anymore-he'd picked up a part-time job instead.

Jefferson was buried in debt, and for too long. Asher's earnings had gone straight into covering his father's mess. Now, he had no choice but to fend for himself. Daphne gave a slight nod. "Alright"

on

Meanwhile, Barrett had taken Elara out to get a new phone and then grabbed dinner together. When they got to the restaurant, Lysander was already there, waiting at the table.

Lysander lived in Brookfield with his uncle, Steven Clark, who just so happened to be one of Barrett's close friends. This little dinner was a thinly veiled setup-a meet-the-family type deal that Barrett had been scheming for a while now. Elara had been dead-set against it at first-she only had eyes for Asher-and that threw a wrench into Barrett's plans. But today, she'd finally agreed, and Barrett was feeling pretty pleased. His girl was growing up and, for once, seemed willing to go along with his ideas.

At the table, Barrett and Steven were in the middle of some animated conversation. Elara, sitting across from Lysander, brought up her little bet to jump up a hundred places in the rankings.

Lysander just gave her a nod-cool, unreadable-and Elara wasn't sure what to make of it. "Do you think I'm being reckless? Like, maybe I bit off more than I can chew?"

Lysander's expression softened a bit as he looked at her. "Nah, not at all."

"Really? You think I've got a shot?" She leaned in a little, sounding more eager. I've actually started getting the stuff you've been explaining to me lately."

"Don't stress," Lysander said, his tone calm but steady. "You're smarter than people give you credit for."

By "people," he meant Asher. Asher had once made some snide comment about Elara being slow, and while Lysander hadn't said anything at the time, he'd clocked it.

Elara's face lit up with a relieved smile. That's a huge weight off my shoulders! I was starting to worry I'd be nothing but dead. weight to you."

Lysander smiled back, his voice gentle. "It's no big deal. I've got your back."

smoothly until Elara noticed the room had gone

and Steven both staring at her with these

she asked, "Uh, Dad? Why are you both looking at me

chuckled, brushing it off. "Nothing. Carry on. He turned back to

continued his conversation with Steven, Barrett felt a surge of satisfaction. Elara

there was this nagging feeling that his little girl was already on the verge of slipping away from him, swept up in something beyond his

and Steven had some stuff to talk about, so Elara and Lysander

home, they stopped by a café to chill for a bit. On a whim, Elara decided to get herself

Chapter 14

she sat down next to Lysander, and they picked up where they left off, talking about their

challenge, which was honestly stressing her out-more

a

than Asher. She stared at him, completely caught off guard. "What the

did you come here to mess with me on purpose?" He seemed convinced that, despite her cool act, Elara still had feelings for him and was just

but didn't say a word, just turned and walked off without looking back, clearly not interested in continuing the

but

who smiled and shook his head. "Nah, you have it. He kindly picked up her backpack as they

stay a little longer,

next couple of weeks, Elara buried herself in her studies, with Lysander frequently stopping by her

resist throwing shade. "Elara, having second thoughts? It's still not too

just frowned, jammed her headphones in, and tuned

pretty good about how she'd done.

she found Lysander lounging around, sipping coffee, with Cotton-who was looking plumper by the day-chilling

squeeze, then grinned at Lysander.

at her with that easy smile. "I come

look. "Don't you have other stuff going on

at school, right up there with Daphne. Both of them had crazy-packed schedules, constantly swamped with one thing or another. Then there was Lysander, the complete opposite. Every time Elara came back, she'd find Lysander just chilling, like he didn't have a care in the world, taking life at his

don't do any school activities either?" she asked, trying to dig a