I Didn't Belong to You 3: It Didn't Matter To Me

Book 3: It Didn’t Matter to Me

LAUREN

He was so handsome. Every time my eyes landed on him, my heart started beating faster. When he walked into a room, all the girls turned their heads to look at him. All the boys at school wanted to be him.

Juliet rolled her eyes. “Can you stop staring at him for a second? He’ll notice.” She turned to my cousin. “For Pete’s sake, not you too, Kristen.”

I wanted to make sure that Kristen wasn’t looking at Finn. With relief, I saw that she was looking at his friend.

Phew! That was close.

Finn’s friend turned to look at Kristen as well—with curiosity, I might add.

Why can’t Finn look at me this way?

Embarrassed at being caught staring at Finn’s friend, Kristen’s face turned as red as a tomato. It was funny to watch.

Oh my lord, they are coming this way.

What should I do?

How should I stand?

Finn was coming toward me. I was so excited.

“Hey, gorgeous. My name is Will Harrison. What’s yours?” Finn’s friend’s eyes danced with humor as he waited for Kristen’s reaction.

Unable to look at him, she hid her face behind the book she had in her hands. “Um…Kristen…Kristen Shepherd.”

I glanced at Finn, hoping he would stick around. I dreamed he would greet me the same way his friend had greeted my cousin.

To my disappointment, he never did.

What more could I do to catch his attention?

“Hey, Harrison. Who’s the boy talking with your sister?” Finn asked, looking at a blonde girl.

“Oh, that’s my little brother, Michael,” Juliet informed them. “Don’t worry. He’s harmless.”

Finn raised an eyebrow but continued to keep an eye on them. “I have to go. Nathalie’s waiting for me. See you later, Harrison.”

Will nodded in reply, still looking at Kristen. He only had eyes for her.

Out of nowhere, Juliet grabbed my arm and started to walk away, pulling me along with her. “We have to go too. See you later, Kristen.”

I didn’t have any choice but to follow her. “Where are we going?” I wondered out loud.

Juliet shrugged. “I don’t know. I just wanted to leave the lovebirds alone.”

Tagging along with her, suddenly I felt as if someone was watching me. I turned my head to see who it was, but to my disappointment, it was only Michael, Juliet’s little brother.

Humph!

Poor guy. He would never have a chance with me. First, I didn’t find him attractive at all. He was two years younger than me, and he was Juliet’s geeky younger brother. No freaking way.

That will never happen.

Uh-uh.

Second, I only had eyes for Finn Campbell.

He had a girlfriend, but that was okay. Nothing lasted forever. When the opportunity presented itself, I would make my move, and he wouldn’t know what hit him.

“I know it’s a school night, but do you want to hang out tonight?” I asked once we stopped walking.

Juliet shook her head. “I’m sorry. You know I can’t. I have to look after my brother since my parents are working.” She scratched the back of her head. “You can always come over.”

If I went to her place, Michael would be there as well, staring at me again.

I was not scared of him or anything. I just found his attention annoying. One time I thought I had seen drool in the corner of his mouth. Just the thought of it gave me the creeps.

Poor guy. I didn’t think he would grow into a handsome man.

Okay, I didn’t know what was going on. The girls and I had been having fun in a lingerie store one minute, and the next, Juliet had turned pale as a ghost.

And now, she was in Travis’s arms.

Were they lovers?

Great. If that was the case, I was the only one who was single.

Hooray!

I looked at Jamie, who was standing beside her husband—the man I had dreamed of for so long. I was trying to forget about him. After I learned that they had gotten married, it had taken me a while to accept it.

But I saw now that what they had was true love.

I wanted this. I wanted the kind of love that Kristen and Will shared. I wanted what Finn and Jamie had found. I want someone to hold me the way Travis was holding Juliet.

“He put a mark on my woman, and you expect me to back the fuck down?” Travis’s words interrupted my thoughts.

What? Did someone hurt Juliet? When?

Was this why Juliet seemed so shaken up? She had never said anything. I wondered why.

“Please, Travis, do this for me,” she tried to reason with him.

Travis looked around him and then back at Juliet. “Fine!” He seemed angry, which was understandable.

Juliet wrapped her arms around him. “Thank you.”

He kissed the top of her head, caressing her hair. “You have to promise me you won’t let him approach you in the future, and if he fucking does, call me, or I won’t be able to leave you alone anymore.

“I’m relieved that your brother’s staying with you, that you aren’t alone in your apartment.”

That’s right—Juliet had told me that Michael had moved in with her when he came back.

“Can we please change the subject? I don’t want to think about him anymore,” Juliet pleaded.

Travis rubbed her arms. “Okay. We’ll discuss this another time.”

“No, no, no! Not so fast,” Jamie said lightly.

“Since when has this been going on?” Kristen pointed at Travis and Juliet.

That was exactly what I wanted to know as well.

Suddenly, I spotted a man approaching us. He had red hair, just like Juliet, and was so handsome, with a body to die for. I wondered who he was.

Wait—I think I’ve seen him before, but where?

No, it can’t be him.

“Hey, sis,” Michael greeted Juliet.

Oh my god! It’s truly him!

Why did I feel so nervous all of a sudden?

Stop staring, I snapped at myself. ~He’ll notice.~

That was easier said than done.

“Michael? What are you doing here? How did you know I was here?” His sister seemed surprised to see him as well.

Travis wrapped an arm around Juliet’s shoulders and pressed a kiss to the side of her face.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, I imagined Michael holding me that way.

What the hell is wrong with me? I can’t think of him this way. Even if he is super hot.

“Your boy here called to invite me to your little get-together,” he answered.

Juliet turned her head to look at Travis. “You did?”

He shrugged. “He’s your brother. Besides, I didn’t want Lauren to feel like the third wheel.”

I felt so embarrassed right now. Why would he say something like that?

The third wheel. Ugh!

Say something, anything, to Michael. Try to act normal.

Third wheel, my ass.

I raised my eyebrows, feigning surprise. “Michael, is that you?”

Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!

He chuckled, looking at me. “Hey, Lauren. It’s good to see you again.”

I had never noticed before how beautiful his brown eyes were.

No, no, no! I was finally making progress with my feelings toward Finn. I would certainly not start with Juliet’s little brother.

No freaking way.