started with a lie ➳ raura revised

Chapter Thirty-Four

"And if you see Zac, kick him out of the house. Kick Rachel out, too," Joel says to me. He adjusts his carry-on backpack on his shoulder. "And no boys over. I don't care if they own the world or own shit; no boys. You hear me?"

I roll my eyes. "It's Ross, Joel. And yes, you've made it clear I am not to come in contact with any males for the rest of my life."

"Good." He pulls me into a hug—well, his version of a hug. To me, it's him choking me with his strong arm around my neck and my face pressed to his chest. He pats my back hardly and it doesn't help me breathe any easier. "Be careful, Laura, okay? And if you need anything, call me. I'm only, like, ten states away."

I push against his chest, gasping for air. "Only ten, of course. And I'll miss you, too, ugly." He releases me and I back up. "Jeez, you need to ease it on the headlock hugs." I rub my neck that starts to prickle with pain.

He grins and then he turns to my right where Tess is standing. This is the calmest I've ever seen her. When I returned, I almost mistook Tess for a lamb because she was so quiet and just...unlike herself. You'd think she'd be ecstatic but she was the opposite. It's like Joel had told her that her grandma died or something. Joel had been talking to her and she had been softly smiling. I still haven't grilled on her yet on what's happened.

"Uh, Tess," Joel starts saying, scratching his head, "I guess—"

She doesn't wait for him to finish his sentence. She lunges into his arms and hugs him fiercely, her arms wrapped around his neck. Joel freezes for a second before slipping his hands around her waist and buries his head in her shoulder.

I know I should feel strange or weirded out. I mean, this is my brother and my best friend and that's basically illegal but I don't find it peculiar at all. In fact, I almost wish they had gotten together faster. I'm not sure if Joel really is changing his stupid ways but I hope he treats Tess right. She deserves the best. They both do.

"Take care, Joel," she says when she pulls away. Her frown is long and depressing. "I guess I won't see you until August because of your stupid summer school program."

"Wait, what?" I ask. When did this happen?

Joel turns to me, grinning sheepishly. "Yeah, about that..." "You're not coming home this summer?"

"Just not till August," he answers. "I have to make up some classes and do some extra work for credits. And there's this cool summer football program that Mom wanted me to get into and I finally got in! She'd be—" His smile fades momentarily before picking up, realizing how the conversation was taking a turn. "But I'll be back for graduation definitely."

I frown. "Okay, but I wish you could come back earlier."

Tess chimes in, "You better come back in one piece for graduation then."

Joel grins at her and I squint my eyes watching them. It's too dazzling. I feel like I'm standing in front of the sun with their mushy lovey-dovey smiles at each other. Is this how everyone else feels when I'm with Ross?

"Flight B30 is leaving in two minutes, I repeat flight B30 is leaving soon," a voice over the intercom announces, cueing my brother's departure.

He sighs one last time and grabs his suitcase. "Bye, ladies." Joel smiles at us and then turns, walking towards the security again. But then he changes his mind last minute and turns back, walking towards us. Okay, let me correct myself. Joel comes back, walking to Tess. He swoops her up and kisses her on the lips before breaking away. "Just returning the favor," he says before jogging away.

Tess stands there motionless for several moments, watching my sneaky brother jog away. I watch her, not even sure if she's breathing or not. I'm not even sure I'm breathing or not. Joel doesn't do romance and airport kisses. Guess a lot has changed.