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."

conversation was going smoothly until Elara noticed the

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

Why are you both

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

conversation with Steven, Barrett felt a surge of

Lysander as her future husband, there was this nagging feeling that his little

had some stuff to talk about, so Elara and Lysander

by a café to chill for a bit. On a whim, Elara decided to get

Chapter 14

and they picked up where they

run challenge, which was honestly stressing her out-more of a

order's here," a

She stared at him,

did you come here to mess with me on purpose?" He seemed convinced that, despite her cool act,

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

she couldn't help but scoff. What's he so full

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

stay a little longer, but bumping into Asher had killed the

frequently stopping by her place to help out with homework. All that hard work paid

hitting the books, he couldn't resist throwing shade. "Elara, having second thoughts? It's still not too late to quit, you know. Don't say

jammed her headphones

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

found Lysander lounging around, sipping coffee, with Cotton-who was looking

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

that easy smile. "I come early every

you

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 own slow pace. Lysander let out a quiet laugh. "Yeah, I've got a lot of freedom. No one's really keeping tabs on

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