Don't Mess with the Girl with Candy novel Chapter 1348

"I have no problem with you two dating, but Luella's identity absolutely cannot be exposed right now..." Juniper warned seriously. "You can't tell anyone else. Not even our parents."

There was no such thing as an airtight secret.

If the truth got out, Luella would be backed into a corner. Juniper absolutely refused to let her friend be put in danger.

"I understand," Jimmie said, tightening his grip on Luella's hand. He nodded firmly. "No one else will know."

"Good."

Juniper let out a soft sigh. She reached out, her thumb gently brushing Luella's cheek. She hesitated for a moment before saying, "Stay safe."

Those were the two words she told her most often.

In her heart, Luella had been family for a long time.

"I know." Luella's eyes grew misty, and she leaned forward to pull Juniper into a tight hug. "Ugh, Juniper, why are you so good to me!"

Shanley's expression instantly darkened, and his first instinct was to pry the two of them apart.

"She's a girl."

Jimmie caught Shanley's arm, dropping his voice to a low murmur. "They are both girls. Let them hug."

Shanley froze, pinching the bridge of his nose in exhaustion.

Luella's 'playboy' persona was simply too deeply ingrained in his psyche.

***

Later that night.

Since it was getting late, Shanley drove the e-scooter back, with Juniper sitting behind him.

Her arms were wrapped securely around his waist.

Glancing in the rearview mirror, Juniper noticed Shanley couldn't stop smiling.

"Are you really that happy finding out Luella is a girl?"

"Yeah." Shanley chuckled helplessly. "I'm happy for them, sure. But mostly, I'm just thinking about all those times I was genuinely fighting for your attention against her. I feel like an idiot."

"You were kind of an idiot," Juniper teased, resting her chin on his shoulder. Her voice softened. "But I really liked it."

"Good." Shanley's smile widened, a thoroughly smug look spreading across his handsome face. "As long as my girl likes it, I'll happily play the idiot."

Juniper didn't say anything else; she just held onto him a little tighter.

The night breeze swept past them, ruffling their hair.

"Your mom?!" Luella's eyes shot open. She scrambled off Jimmie's chest, frantically grabbing her clothes and pacing around the room like a trapped animal.

"What do I do? Where do I hide? The bathroom?"

"Should I jump out the window?"

"No, we're too high up. I don't want to die!"

"Can I hide behind the curtains?" Luella pulled at her messy hair, absolute panic setting in. "Wait, no! All my clothes and shoes are scattered all over the living room sofa!"

The living room was a disaster zone. Anyone with eyes would know exactly what had happened here last night.

"Jimmie, what do we do?! How am I supposed to face your parents?"

Luella ran back to the bed, her eyes red with panic.

She deeply cherished his parents.

But right now, there were too many secrets she simply couldn't tell them.

"Hey. Deep breaths." Jimmie pulled the frantic girl into his arms, pressing a calming kiss to her cheek.

"I'm right here. Don't panic," he said softly.