Page 68 of Unbreakable Love

“I wanted to know his intentions with my sister. Someone has to look out for you. Relax, it was all good.”

“I don’t need anyone to look after me.”

“No.” She pointed her fork at me and scowled. “You’ve never had someone to look after you. There’s a difference. But things are changing. We’re changing and it’s a good thing. I had a talk with him. I didn’t grill him about anything. And now I know it’s not only me that wants you taken care of and looked after, but it’s him too. So it’s all good.”

I gaped at her like a fish. I swore my mouth opened and closed several times before any words sputtered out. “You… I can’t… I can’t believe you did that to me. To him.”

“Like I’ve said, you’ve looked after me long enough. Now it’s my turn.”

It was sweet. Ridiculously unnecessary, but I couldn’t fault her for it. I’d take a man’s measure too if he was interested in her. And Gavin and I had gotten off to a rocky start.

My shoulders relaxed and I tucked into my dinner. Maize relaxed when she saw I wasn’t going to throw my knife at her.

“It was unnecessary but sweet,” I finally said. “Thank you.”

“I have something else for you too, but you have to promise not to return it. And you have to use it.”

There was a devilish gleam in her eye. She was up to something. And based on the teasing she’d given me earlier, I glared at her. “Tell me you didn’t get me a sex toy.”

“No.” She barked out a laugh and pushed from the table. “But now I know what to get you for your birthday present. You probably don’t have one, do you?”

I didn’t, but that was beside the point. I’d figured out long ago how to make things work just well by myself.

“Maize…” I warned and stood from the table, but she was rushing to her bedroom.

“Stay there. Stay there. Only one more surprise for you this weekend, I swear it.”

She returned in a moment with a folded piece of paper in her hand and wore an uncertain expression.

“Sit. Sit. Really, it’s not bad. I mean, you’re going to be mad at first and refuse, but you have to promise you won’t.”

“I’ll do absolutely no such thing.”

“Fine.” She tucked the folded paper under her plate and sat back down. “I’ll keep it to myself then.”

Ohhh… little sisters were unnerving. Absolutely horrendous.

“Maize,” I warned.

“Penelope,” she sassed back.

Ugh. She had me and she knew it. There was nothing I wouldn’t do for her even if it was to my own detriment. “Just please tell me it’s not an arrest warrant for you or anything.”

“As if.” She lifted the plate and tugged out the paper, which wasn’t paper at all but an envelope. “Before I hand this over, I have to confess something.”

“More than dropping out of school and becoming a flight attendant?”

“Equally surprising, I’m sure.”

Dear God. What did she do?

“Fine.” I huffed and held out my hand.

The envelope was light and sealed. So light it could have been empty, which made me think she was playing a trick on me. I’d believe that but for the way she was nibbling her bottom lip and not eating.

“I’ve been working,” she said. “And I know you didn’t want that for me, but I was bored out of my mind when I first went to school, so I got some jobs. I haven’t been the party and dating master I’ve led you to believe. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve done that, too, but mostly, when I’m not in class, I’ve been working. Last summer, I got a job, a good one, at a restaurant inside a ritzy hotel.”

She leaned in, but I was staring at her, blood rushing through my body and a strange whirring sound increasing in my ears. “Maize…”

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