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."

was going smoothly until Elara noticed the room had gone

over to find her dad, Barrett, and Steven both staring at her with

embarrassed, she asked, "Uh, Dad? Why are you both

chuckled, brushing it off. "Nothing. Carry on. He turned back to Steven, though his mind was clearly still on

Steven, Barrett felt a surge of satisfaction. Elara and Lysander

husband, there was this nagging feeling that his little girl was already on the verge

had some stuff to talk about,

a café to chill for a bit.

Chapter 14

Lysander, and they picked

to the upcoming six-mile run challenge, which was honestly stressing her out-more of

here," a

was none other than Asher. She stared at

me on purpose?" He seemed convinced that, despite her cool act, Elara still had

didn't say a word, just turned and walked

couldn't help but scoff. What's he so full of himself for,

ice cream to Lysander, who smiled and shook his head. "Nah, you have it. He kindly picked

a little longer, but bumping into Asher had killed the

couple of weeks, Elara buried herself in her studies, with Lysander frequently stopping by her place to help out with homework. All

second thoughts? It's still not too late to quit,

frowned, jammed her headphones in, and tuned

flew home, feeling pretty good about how she'd done. The results weren't out yet, but she knew she'd

got home and stepped into the yard, she found Lysander lounging

up Cotton, giving the cat an affectionate squeeze, then grinned at Lysander. "What's got you here so early

looked up at her with that easy smile. "I come early every

look. "Don't you have other stuff

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

do any school activities either?" she asked, trying to dig a little