Circle of Friends, Part 2 by Susan Mallery Read Free Book Online

sister’s back. “When you didn’t pick up here, she called me at work.”
    Tiffany stepped back. “I hate my life. I hate it so much. I hate living at home. Mom and Dad are so awful. I don’t want to live with them anymore. I want to come live with you.”
    Because they needed one more thing, Noelle thought, trying to see the humor in the situation and failing.
    â€œI’ll be good,” Tiffany said, wiping the tears from her eyes. “I promise. It’s just they don’t understand anything. Please, Noelle, don’t make me go back.”
    Dev motioned for her to follow him down the hall.
    â€œWait here,” Noelle told her sister, then followed him into their bedroom. “I can’t believe this,” she said when he’d shut the door.
    â€œIt’s a surprise,” he admitted. “Your mom called and said Tiffany was running away. Apparently a friend picked her up. Your mom said if we could stand to have her stay for a few days, it would be a big help. She thinks Tiffany needs a dose of reality.”
    â€œShe needs more than that,” Noelle muttered, then waited for Dev to announce that there was no way he was letting her kid sister move in with them. Only he didn’t.
    â€œAren’t you upset?” she asked.
    He shrugged. “I’m gone most of the time. She’s your sister and you’re the one who would be home with her. It’s your call.”
    She blinked. Never would she have guessed those words would come out of his mouth. Something was wrong, but she couldn’t figure out what.
    * * *
    D EV WAITED WHILE Noelle considered her options. What he wasn’t about to admit was that he saw Tiffany as an unexpected distraction. Things had been tense between Noelle and him. A third person might improve the situation, or at least keep them so busy that they’d forget to be painfully polite all the time.
    He knew he’d hurt her and he hated that. He’d been so damn careful to spell out all the rules so that wouldn’t happen, only he’d forgotten to address the possibility of feelings and sexual desire.
    He’d known making love with Noelle was a mistake. The shared intimacy had convinced her she had feelings for him. He didn’t consider that her feelings might be real. How could she know what he’d done and still care about him? Still, he’d upset her and caused her pain, when all she’d done was surprise him in the best way possible, over and over again.
    â€œIf you don’t mind, then let’s tell Tiffany she can stay,” Noelle said. “Although it’s not going to be the cushy vacation she’s expecting.” She squared her shoulders. “Okay, I’m ready.”
    They returned to the family room. Tiffany stood anxiously by her piles of luggage. “What?” the teenager asked. “Noelle, you have to let me live here.”
    Noelle stared at her. “You can stay.”
    Tiffany shrieked and jumped in the air. “Really? That’s so great! I’m going to be so incredibly fun to have around, you’ll beg me never to leave. Can I live in the pool house? It looks fabulous.”
    â€œIt is, but you’ll be in the house, staying in the guest room.”
    The one Noelle had recently vacated, Dev thought, knowing this would be a lot more awkward if she hadn’t already moved in with him.
    â€œThere is also a condition,” Noelle continued.
    â€œI’ll do anything,” Tiffany promised.
    Noelle didn’t look convinced. “Okay—the condition is you follow my rules.”
    Tiffany shoved her long, blond hair off her shoulders and sighed heavily. “What rules?”
    Noelle smiled. “You’ll like them. Some of them will even be familiar. One, you will have a list of chores to be completed on a daily basis. Two, you will have a curfew and be home by nine.”
    â€œNine?” Tiffany shrieked. “Nine at