I shrug. “Mr Khalid is giving me a commendation letter if I do it.”
I never tell Adam who I'm tutoring, mostly because he's never in the house when the sessions are happening and why would he care? However, I specifically didn't tell him about Juliette because I think subconsciously, I knew he would put two and two together about her mother and then annoy me about it.
His eyebrow arches dangerously high, conveying his disappointment. “So, you're willing to tutor the daughter of a known homophobe?”
Well, actually, I just kissed the daughter of a known homophobe for like the fifth time—but let's not get bogged down to the details.
I roll my eyes at his moral indignation. “I'm willing to do whatever it takes to get into Oxford.” He raises his eyebrow even higher at my casual tone, but I continue. “She's not even as bad as her mother anyway.”
What? I can't believe I'm actually defending Juliette Kingston right now. Although I do have a point, she isn't as bad as Samantha, but that's mostly because she doesn't hold the same power as her. She still holds the same views, yet I keep letting her kiss me anyway. How messed up is that?
How messed up am I?
“She's the person you were talking about, isn't she? The person you hate who kissed you?” he asks like he already knows.
“What, No!” I say, trying to sound convincing. “I told you that was hypothetical.”
I swear I see Olivia stifling a laugh and Adam looks as annoyed as ever, but there's something deeper in his gaze—as usual, it's concern.
“You're usually a good liar, right now? Not so much,” he says, scoffing.
I can't do this right now. I don't enjoy lying to my brother, but what else am I supposed to do? I cannot be bothered to get a lecture from him when deep down, I already know that this arrangement with Juliette is bad.
I can live in denial for as long as I choose to, because as bad as it is, it feels good.
“I don't have time for this, I have to go get ready for Aryan’s match and then I have a shift at Miss Kim's,” I say, ignoring his words; letting him know this conversation is over.
“Fine. I'm going to go put the shopping away,” he grumbles to Olivia, before walking into the kitchen. I roll my eyes at his immaturity, but I'm semi thankful that he's walked away so he can't lecture me anymore.
I sigh, but before I can turn and walk upstairs Olivia begins to speak. “Addie?”
I look towards her. “Yeah?”
“Juliette seems…nice,” she says with one of those fake smiles. I give her credit for trying to act, but she's not very good at it.
Not that it matters anyway, she's acting as if I'm bringing Juliette home as some sort of girlfriend? I can't even fathom something like that. I shudder just at the thought.
I shake my head, stifling a smile. “She isn't.”
She chuckles a little, her expression much more genuine. “Even better.”
***
The next morning I'm already downstairs when I hear the doorbell ring. I feel my hands sweating and my heart racing because I know Juliette is at the door.
I hope it isn't awkward, especially after what my brother said and considering she had me pinned against the wall.
I open the door and she's standing there, wearing a dark brown skirt—which is doing wonders for her long tantalising legs—and a cream, cashmere sweater.
“Your brother isn't here, is he?” she asks, narrowing her eyes in amusement and I exhale in relief.
She's not being weird about this; I half expected her to try and ruin my brother’s life or be terrified to come back here. I'm glad she isn't.
“No, he's at work,” I say, gesturing for her to come in and she does. I close the door behind her and then turn to her.
“Thank God,” she exhales with a groan, “he clearly hates me.”
I chuckle at her dramatic attitude. “No, he hates your mother,” I correct her.
