Page 9 of That Pucking New Girl

“Jared,” Rachelle groans as he kisses her cheek.

“You know it’s true,” he says. “What do you think, Noor? We can be your foster parents to begin with and then make it official before you turn eighteen.”

“Either way, we’re not kicking you out,” Rachelle hurries to say. “Family is forever, eighteen or not. That’s what my stepdad says anyway.”

Jared shudders while I raise my brow.

“Emil Reyes will scare away every potential date you have if we don’t first,” he snorts. “Okay, we’ll try hard not to scare them away, but Emil doesn’t fucking care. He’s a ball buster.”

“He’s not that bad,” Rachelle says, rolling her eyes. “He adores my mom, me, and his grandkids.”

“We’re still on probation,” Jared says. “Honestly, we probably deserve it. There’s a reason there’s always flowers in the house.”

“I don’t do housework either,” she whispers with a grin. “We’ll pick you up tomorrow if you’re okay with it?”

“Ah, yes,” I say, feeling as if my entire life is about to change.

I just hope it’s for the better. There are days I think I would sell my soul for a handful of pain free days. I can handle the rest of what life throws me as long as I can get control over my migraines.

“I’m good with it,” I promise, looking for Miss Martin. Locking eyes with me, she stands and walks back toward us. She tosses an empty cup in the garbage, and I don’t begrudge her the caffeinated pick me up. “Oh, I do have one question. I work on the weekends, can I still do that in Santa Barbara?”

“I don’t see why not,” Jared says. “We own a shop if you want to work there?”

Rachelle frowns for a second before it clears. “It’s age appropriate,” she decides. “It’s connected to our club and the entrance to their speakeasy.”

“So there’s a password?” I ask.

“It’s exactly like that,” Jared says, standing. Rachelle and I follow his lead, and Miss Martin joins us. “The shop has a manager and she’s been complaining she needs help restocking shelves.”

“Can I sit while doing that? Would she think I’m being lazy?” I worry. Standing and bending down messes with me. I end up getting lightheaded and it can make me faint.

“Accommodations aren’t lazy,” Rachelle says passionately.

Miss Martin hides a smile, and I can see why she likes them.

“You’re right,” I agree. “Then I think my questions are answered for now.”

“We’ll see you tomorrow,” Rachelle says, watching as I walk out of the cafe with Miss Martin.

“What do we think?” she asks.

“I think I’m quitting my job, not serving detention tomorrow, and skipping out on the paper I was going to write tonight,” I say, smirking.

“Very cute.” She chuckles, getting into the car. “I did tell you that the detention wasn’t happening, though. Didn’t I?”

She’s not wrong. Here’s to things changing for the better.

Hopefully.

CHAPTER

THREE

NOOR

“We’re here, Noor,” Rachelle says, gently waking me up from the back seat of the SUV.

Making a noise that reminds me vaguely of a feral kitten, I yawn widely and push myself to sit up. I guess car rides make me sleepy. I’m rarely in the car for longer than a few minutes, so I had no idea. Rubbing the tears from my eyes as I wake up, I look around at the large front yard.