Page 200 of Only With You

“Oh God.” Now the tears pour down her cheeks, and she pulls away from my hold. “I’m going to need you to get out, because I’m about to ugly cry. How can you stand there, look at me like that, and say all of these things to me?”

I wish she could see herself through my eyes because she looks breathtaking.

“I’m sorry about yesterday and I’m sorry I didn’t talk to you sooner.” She tucks a wisp of her hair from her bun behind her ear. “They just showed up unexpectedly and I froze. It’s always been easier to make myself?—”

“Invisible.” Taking her hand in mine, I sit on her bed and tug her onto me until she’s straddling me.

She nods dejectedly, fiddling with the chain around her neck. “Yeah, and to just go along with it all because it makes everything easier. I’m less of a burden to them when I agree, when I say nothing.”

“I know. I know how that feels…”

“I’m sorry I didn’t stick up for you and got mad. I know you were just trying to defend me.” She gives me a half smile, but it’s a sad one. “I’ve never had anyone do that for me.”

“Don’t thank me. I’m just?—”

“Doing the bare minimum.” She finishes off for me, and this time her smile is livelier. “But as much as I hate how it all happened, it helped me realise that you weren’t wrong.”

“What are you saying?”

“I saw my parents this morning…” She inhales a deep breath and tells me everything that happened earlier today. I listen and I hate that she was there alone, but I know it’s what she needed. “That’s why I’m packing because I’m going to send back everything they’ve bought me. If I don’t, they’ll have all of that stuff in there to hold against me. I’ll have to get another job to pay for rent and bills, because I know they’ll cut my allowance soon. I might even have to cut my lease, but I’m going to try tohold off for as long as I can. I hate to do that to Gabby and Polly, but there’s no way I’ll be able to afford all of this and pay for an Uber because I don’t have a car now.”

“Don’t worry about anything.”

She blanches, lips pursed. “You’re not implying that?—”

“I’m not implying. I’m going to help you.”

Julianna gawks in disbelief. “You can’t do that. That’s five months of rent and bills.”

“I’m aware, but I don’t want to hear it. I’m going to do it, so don’t argue with me.”

She hesitates. “I just need to ask, where are you getting this money from? It’s not illegal, is it?”

I smile because if only she knew all my money is coming from YouTube. “No, it’s very much legal. I promise.”

She narrows her eyes, but then they soften. “I won’t press, but are you sure you want to take on this responsibility? I can get another job. It’s not a big deal.”

“I’m sure. I just want to take care of you. Okay?”

“Okay.” She bashfully smiles. “I’m sorry about the misunderstanding. I should’ve spoken to you earlier, but after I talked to them, everything went blank and I didn’t think. I wanted to get it all done and I didn’t want to bother you. And you had the game and I didn’t want you to worry about me, but I realize now, I made a mistake. I’m sorry, Lan.”

I smile at the nickname. “I know they’ve made you feel that way, but you don’t bother me. I want to help you. I want to be here for you. I need you to let me, so next time, you call me and I’m here, okay?”

“Okay.” She smiles.

“So we’re okay?”

“We’re okay.” She loops her arms around my neck. “I love all of you, and I mean all. All the parts you consider messy and broken, I love them too, but I want you to know that’s not howI see them. I just see someone who went through so much, and all of those parts just became thicker. Fireproof, protecting you from all of the bad.”

I’ve never believed in luck or fate, not until now.

I rest my forehead against hers. “Thank you for grounding me.”

“Thank you for listening to me.”

56

LANDON

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