Love the Second Time Around

Chapter 60 House Guests

I turned to look at Louis, who was seated next to me, and asked, “Have you ever had any head-on conflict with that Hayden fellow?”

I closed my eyes and rubbed my temples in slow circles. My head hurts! What is all this childish nonsense? I don’t know what to say about Hayden Stone! So what if the girl he likes doesn’t like him back? It isn’t that big a deal! When I was in school, countless girls were into Dominic. If every single one of them had come after me, I would have been murdered a long time ago!

Dominic and Benjamin listened gleefully to Louis’ account of the love drama.

I ignored them and said solemnly to Louis, “People like Hayden are usually impulsive and quick-tempered. You must be more careful in school. Don’t let yourself be bullied, but don’t go starting any trouble either! Do you hear me?”

Frankly, Louis himself is at fault too. He’s only a freshman. Yet, he goes out and parties so hard… He even got himself black-out drunk! If he had not been so reckless, he wouldn’t have gotten into trouble!

“Yes, I understand. From now on, I’ll avoid him at all costs, okay? I’ve never wanted to be around him much anyway,” Louis promised.

This incident had scarred my brother deeply; it was a lesson that he would not be forgetting so quickly.

We sat at the café waiting for about twenty minutes before Mitch could be seen crossing the road to join us.

“So, how was it? Did you manage to meet her? Was she willing to speak to you?” I asked anxiously as soon as Mitch had sat down.

“Don’t worry about it. It’s settled. She was only in it for the money. I told her what was at stake, so she knows what she should do now,” Mitch replied in a reassuring tone.

I stared at him in disbelief. Was it really so easy to deal with that girl?

I was about to ask him about Hayden when my phone rang. It was Xavier from the police station calling.

“Queenie has dropped the charges against Louis. Apparently, there was a misunderstanding. Anyway, please bring Louis over to the police station for us to go through the proper procedures and clear him of the charges. The matter will be settled after that,” Xavier’s voice sounded through the phone.

I was overjoyed when I heard those words and immediately dragged Louis to the police station.

police officers on all the administrative matters. No trace of this

gratitude for all of them. If they had not hurried over to help, I may not have been able to get Louis out of trouble

not have been able to save my brother

physically and

I suddenly began to talk about

school and help him explain his absence. After all, he had missed two days of classes without asking for any

to Dellmoor with him. His holidays will

rest also decided to stay with

Mitch offered to Louis. “Anyway, don’t

a halo over his head. He really went above and beyond for

sent Louis to school, explained the circumstances of the past few days to his teachers, and after that,

Jadeborough, but it was my first time there. I

ready to leave them behind. Those three grown

invited them over to our house

shoes, I wouldn’t have wanted to impose on Louis’ hospitality, but these three men just said yes without thinking twice! They really

Benjamin and Mitch

to

at that moment, looking at the four men walking ahead of me without a care

with my arms outstretched, blocking their way. The

my throat and pulled Dominic aside, saying,

sure they had not followed us. Then, I turned to look at Dominic with

can’t come over to my parents’ house. I don’t want there to

could there possibly be

believe how thick-skinned he

my parents had loved him like their own son. It was only natural that they would jump to

had spent the past few days trying to save Louis; I definitely did not