Page 51 of Adoration: Isn't What It Seems (Love Isn't What It Seems 2)

“What is it with you and a damn date today?” I spat out irritated, glaring at him. I would have stuck my tongue out at him if it wasn’t so wildly inappropriate. But then, so was his comment.

“I’m just curious,” he replied sheepishly. “I heard you talking yesterday in the kitchen and you said you had to leave on time because you had a date.”

I stared at him with my mouth open.

“You… you eavesdropped on my conversation?” I asked in shock.

“No, no,” he raised his hands in defense. “I was in the kitchen and you came in while talking to Janet. So how was it?”

“I swear, you are the worst,” I avoided Alexander’s and Maxim’s eyes. “But if curiosity is killing you, he ended up bailing.”

“What a jackass,” Maxim spat out, causing me to flush to the roots of my hair. The comment made me feel slightly better though.

The door swung open and I was grateful for interruption. We all looked behind as Janet walked through the door with a worried look on her face.

“Liberty,” she started. “Someone is here for you.”

I raised my eyebrow, not sure that I heard her right. Nobody would be visiting me here. I stood up and was about to ask who it was when Brandon ran past her and threw himself into my arms.

“Brandon,” I asked in shock trying to process it, looking at Janet. “What… how did you get here?”

I crouched down onto my knees, his little body shaking in my arms. “I ran away.”

“What?” I held him tight against me, confused, not understanding what was happening; both men and Janet were forgotten.

“Shhh,” I comforted him. “It can’t be that bad.”

His tears were soaking up my white blouse, but I didn’t care. He was hurting right now and I wanted to make it better.

“Tell me what happened,” I whispered softly against his ruffled blonde hair.

“He said you are going to leave me,” he spoke through sobs. The words didn’t sink in right away.

“Who said that?” I kept rubbing his back, all my attention focused on him.

“Mr. Jackson,” Brandon’s little voice was breaking my heart.

I put my finger gently under his chin. “Hey, look at me,” I told him softly while my heart was breaking for both of us. With the lump in my throat, I tried to clear my throat. “Look at me, sweetie.”

His big baby blue eyes raised to me. “I’m never going to leave you. Ever.”

“He said they’ll take me away.”

“No, they won’t,” I told him firmly. And I meant it, I would never let them take Brandon. “If they try, I’ll move heaven and earth to get you back. But that won’t be necessary because they won’t take you. I promise, they won’t take you away.”

I could see he was trying to work it all out.

“Why would Mr. Jackson say that?” his little voice asked.

Because he is a jackass.

“I’m sure it was a misunderstanding,” I told him instead. “See, I have a normal job. And we have a place to stay together, you will be going to school soon. Everything is great.”

He sniffed a bit. “He said you don’t want me.”

Oh, he is a dead man,I thought furiously.

“Of course, I do. Why else would I get a boring job?” I asked, teasing him.

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