Page 31 of Time Stops With You

If I lacked emotional regulation, I’d be behind bars right now. There are many,manypeopleI would have slapped full in the face if I had the opportunity.

And right now, the pushy, annoying, show-off of a millionaire Ronan Cullen is at the front of the line.

“Nardi,” Josiah squeaks, “slow down! I don’t want to die before I’m twelve.”

A glance over reveals Josiah squeezing his seatbelt for dear life. He slid all the way down in his seat and is bracing his short legs on the floor mat. His expression is one of pure terror.

“I’m not driving that fast… eep!” I gasp. The number on the speedometer is in the triple digits. I had no clue this old clunker could handle that kind of speed. Sheepishly, I ease my foot off the gas. “Sorry,” I mumble, “I have to get back to work. I’m late enough as it is.”

“Nobody told you to pick me up from school today,” Josiah mumbles.

“‘Thanks, Nardi, for rushing over and giving me a ride’. ‘I appreciate you so much, Nardi’. ‘I see all the sacrifices you’re making, Nardi’. Is that so hard to say?” I huff.

Josiah twists in his seat and gives me his back. “I was fine taking the bus.”

“Great. Glad we cleared that up. Next time, I won’t bother.”

“You shouldn’t have bothered this time,” he says under his breath.

“Watch the attitude, Josiah Davis. I’m still deciding on your punishment.”

Immediately, my little brother sits up ram-rod straight and frowns at me.

“Oh,” I say impatiently, “sonowI have your attention.”

Eyebrows knitting in the center of his smooth forehead, Josiah defends, “I didn’t do anything wrong.”

“I have no clue about coding, but I do know that ‘hacking into’ something means you weren’t invited. Youbroke inand invaded someone’s privacy, and now I’m the one who has to pay.”

“Mr. Cullen said I did a good job.”

“Mr. Cullen is a lunatic.”

“You’re just upset because he likes me.”

“You’re right about that.” My fingers flex on the steering wheel. “Men can be dangerous and creepy. Especially rich men. They think that money puts them above the rules.”

“Not Mr. Cullen.”

“Especially Mr. Cullen.”

My brother folds his arms over his chest and glances away.

“Why is he so obsessed withyou, huh?” I reason. “Don’t you think that’s weird?”

“It’s only weird because you’re making it weird.”

“I’m trying to protect you.”

“I want to learn from him,” Josiah insists.

“I’ll get you another teacher.”

He snorts. “With what money?”

My brain misfires.He’s got you there.“I’ll figure something out.”

“It won’t matter who you get. No one’shim. He’s Ronan Cullen.”

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