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

dad, Barrett, and Steven both staring at her with these

Why are you both looking at

back to Steven, though his mind was clearly still on

Steven, Barrett felt a surge of satisfaction. Elara

little girl was already on the verge of slipping away from

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

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

Chapter 14

next to Lysander, and they picked up where they

was honestly stressing her out-more of a battle of willpower

here," a voice suddenly

was none other than Asher. She stared at him, completely caught

icy glare. "I should be asking you that. What, 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 trying to get his attention.. "Get over yourself," Elara replied,

word, just turned and walked off without looking back, clearly not

watched him saunter away, she couldn't help but scoff. What's he

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

longer, but bumping into Asher had

stopping by her place

It's still not too late to quit, you know. Don't say I didn't warn you

just frowned, jammed her headphones in, and tuned him

Elara practically flew home, feeling pretty good about how she'd done. The results weren't

Lysander lounging around, sipping

giving the cat an affectionate squeeze, then grinned

up at her with that easy

look. "Don't you have other stuff

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

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