Chapter 176

Juniper’s lips parted, her voice husky with sleep. “I was bored. I must have fallen asleep playing games.”
“Mr. Schwartz, you’re finally back!” Dana exclaimed, emerging from the kitchen with a cheerful laugh. “Ms. Payne has been waiting for you in the living room all
evening.”
Juniper’s face instantly flushed with heat, a flicker of guilt in her eyes. That wasn’t true. She hadn’t been waiting for him at all.
“Is that so?” Shanley gently stroked the girl’s hair. “Don’t wait for me next time. It’s too cold in the living room; you should sleep in your room.”
“Okay.” Juniper pushed the blanket aside and struggled to sit up. But having been in one position for so long, her legs had gone numb, and her body tilted uncontrollably to the side.
“Careful.”
In that critical moment, Shanley’s arms shot out, catching her securely.
Juniper stumbled into his embrace, her cheek pressing against his chest, where she could feel the frantic thumping of his heart. For a brief moment, their eyes locked, and an unspoken, electric current passed between them, charging the air with a palpable tension.
“Are you okay?” Shanley asked, his voice laced with concern, thinking he might have hurt her.
“I’m fine.”
The moment of clarity came quickly. Juniper pushed him away and, with her head down, mumbled, “I’m going to bed. Good night.”
She then scurried into her room, and he heard the distinct click of the lock.
Shanley stood frozen for a second, then a slow, meaningful smile spread across his face as he watched her adorable retreat.
…
That night, Juniper tossed and turned, unable to sleep. When she woke up, there were dark circles under her eyes.
“Oh my!” Dana exclaimed, her voice rising in alarm. “Ms. Payne, what happened to your eyes? Did you have trouble sleeping?”
Juniper, who was sipping soup, nearly choked.
She glanced up guiltily at Shanley, who was sitting opposite her. He was watching her, a playful smirk on his lips.
What was he so happy about?
“I didn’t she started to deny, but his phone rang, interrupting her.
“It’s your brother,” Shanley said, answering the call and putting it on speakerphone before calmly peeling an egg for her.
“Juniper,” Jimmie’s voice came
through, uncharacteristically “How ha
e you been late genet
Shanley taking good care of you?”
Juniper glanced at the small mountain of breakfast piled on her plate and poked at it
with her spoon.
“He’s taking good care of me,” she mumbled.
Jimmie was pleased. He hadn’t
expected this old friend of his to be
so good at looking after a kid. “I’ve bought you lots of snacks,” he continued, having packed several suitcases full, as if he wanted to bring her the entire world.
“Oh,” Juniper replied listlessly. “Thanks, bro.”
“You’re welcome.”
Hearing her call him ‘bro’ was music to his ears. Jimmie flipped through his script, his voice growing even softer “Don’t worry, I’ll be back next
week When i get home, I’ll bring you home to live with me.”
Shanley was an outsider, after all. And it would be better for the siblings to live together to bond.
Bring her home? Did that mean leaving Cloudscape Community?
At the thought, Juniper instinctively looked up at Shanley.
He met her gaze, a deep, knowing look in his eyes. A small smile played on his lips
as he asked softly, “Do you want to leave, Juniper?”
Juniper’s lips moved, but no answer came out.