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CHAPTER NINETEEN
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UNSPOKEN BOND CHAPTER TWENTY
CHAPTER 20Lila's POVLila virtually danced through the front door and the beautiful spring sunlight that penetrated only added to her upbeat mood. For the first time in what seemed like an eternity, pure, unadulterated ecstasy flowed through her veins.She eagerly dropped her backpack and started looking about for her father. They want to tell him about her fantastic day, every ecstatic, uplifting detail, caused an exciting flutter in her breast. "Dad, I'm home!" She signed, pouring extra force and emotion into her actions.After a few seconds of silence, Lila continued into the home, trailing the tantalizing fragrance of garlic and herbs coming from the kitchen. A smile tugged at her lips; it looked like her father was preparing one of his famous dishes.When she popped her head around the corner, she discovered Ethan methodically chopping vegetables at the counter, his powerful forearms flexing with the rhythmic slicing movements. Even at nearly fifty, the once-stout football star
UNSPOKEN BOND CHAPTER TWENTY ONE
CHAPTER 21*** THE NEXT DAY AT SCHOOL AFTER THE QUIZ ***Lila should have known better than to openly reveal Miranda's ignorance, risking her fury. Even if it had been an innocent correction during the lit quiz, the entitled bullies would not tolerate having their apparent intellectual superiority challenged.It started tiny, with poisonous stares and sneers thrown Lila's way anytime she tried to draw their attention in the halls. She tried not to give them any satisfaction by shrinking away and holding her head high with what little confidence she had left.Then followed the sly murmurs and not-so-subtle teasing whenever she passed by their group standing court in common spaces. Loud enough for Lila to hear every nasty insult and disparaging remark about her."Well if it isn't Willow Creek's pint-sized professor, gracing us all with her vastly superior intellect," Yuria's nasal tones carried one morning, prompting a round of contemptuous laughing."Yeah, we'd better be careful, ladie
UNSPOKEN BOND CHAPTER TWENTY TWO
CHAPTER 22Lila's POVThe last bell sounded like a starter's pistol, announcing the daily race to exit Willow Creek High School. Lila quickly packed her possessions, her actions crisp and efficient due to tight habit. She refused to stay any longer than necessary in these soul-crushing passageways.Clutching her bags tightly, she made her way to the acknowledged meeting location near the eastern exit, where Mia always waited. Sure enough, her best friend was already stationed there, passively looking through some irrelevant feed on her phone.As Lila arrived, Mia looked up, her eyes crinkling warmly as she pocketed the device. "Here you are! I was beginning to suspect you were held up trying to debate the finer points of The Odyssey with another teacher."Lila's lips jerked upward, forming a momentary smile. She enjoyed Mia's playful attempts to lift her permanently down spirits, even if the humour frequently fell flat these days. With a tiny shake of her head, she flung her bag from
UNSPOKEN BOND CHAPTER TWENTY THREE
CHAPTER 23Caleb Matthews sagged in his chair as the last bell rang, marking the end of another Weekly school day. His attention shifted to the window, where the rain beat against the glass in a constant pattern. Basketball practice loomed, and after missing last Friday's session and discussing it with Coach Harris, he knew the coach would be watching him intently."Earth to Caleb." Maddie elbowed him and smirked. "You have been spacing out all day. Still dreading practice?Caleb jolted out of his daze, his mouth clenching slightly. "Just prepping myself mentally." "I bet Harris is gonna run you ragged," Trent said as he slid into the desk beside Maddie. "No more slacking off for you, dude."Caleb felt a leaden knot in his stomach, but he refused to make any more excuses. He'd messed up, plain and simple. He shifted in his seat and feigned a casual demeanor. "It will be OK. "Not a big deal."Maddie raised her brow, evidently skeptical. "So no more putting it off. Want to grab an earl
UNSPOKEN BOND CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR
CHAPTER 24"Your sister, Julia, will be starting at Willow Creek High on Monday."Caleb was taken aback by his father's statements. This was the last thing he expected out of all the scenarios he was thinking about. "You're joking, right?" His laugh was harsh. "Julia attends my public school?" Why the devil would she transfer from Brookfield Academy?His father gave him a serious look. "Because it's time she experienced the real world instead of that privileged bubble she's been coddled in."Caleb's stomach hollowed out as the implication set in. Julia is at his school. Suddenly, his safe refuge of anonymity, his escape from the weight of familial expectations, was about to be destroyed."This is ridiculous," he exclaimed, his frustration palpable. "You can't just upend her entire life like this two weeks before the Championships!" "We can and we are." His father's tone accepted no debate. "Your sister needs a reality check, and you're going to help provide it whether you like it or
UNSPOKEN BOND CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE
CHAPTER 25*** SATURDAY LUNCH DATE WITH MIRANDA ***Caleb rubbed his fingers against the sticky tabletop, resisting the temptation to check his phone for the tenth time He'd arrived at Sally's Diner twenty minutes early, wanting to escape the smothering atmosphere at home. The cherry red vinyl booth squeaked as he adjusted his weight to examine the front door. Where was she? Miranda was always late for everything, but she had never stood him up unexpectedly before.The chime of the bell over the entry signaled her arrival, just as a tendril of worry began to emerge in his gut. Caleb's breath seized in his throat, as it usually did whenever he saw her float through a room.Miranda Turner, the most beautiful girl at Willow Creek High, made even Sally's Diner feel honored by her presence. She smiled brightly at the spotty, middle-aged servers before focusing her sight on Caleb in the corner booth."There's my handsome jock," she said in a light tone that made his stomach flip pleasantly
UNSPOKEN BOND CHANGE TWENTY SIX
CHAPTER 26The sunlight had given way to dusk by the time Caleb and Miranda emerged from Sally's Restaurant, hands clasped and matching grins on their cheeks. Despite the emotional turmoil that lingered beneath the surface, Caleb felt significantly lighter after dumping his troubles on Miranda's sympathetic presence."So," she lilted, gently bumping his shoulder, "now that you've successfully reunited with your smile, what's next on the agenda for us?"Caleb's spine tingled with fire as a husky undertone ran through her tone. He angled his body towards her, their hands resting on the strong plane of his abdomen."Well, if my incredibly wise, insightful girlfriend will recall..." He mimicked her sly tone, telegraphing his intentions with the smolder of his stare. "It's been over one week since we last had any, ah...quality time together.""One week, and..." Miranda's smokey giggle cut right through his core. "Approximately eleven hours, if my calculations are correct."God, the sound o
UNSPOKEN BOND CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN
CHAPTER 27*** MONDAY MORNING ***Julia Matthews stroked her hands over the silky cotton of her sundress, her palms moist from nervous perspiration. She took a fortifying breath, taking in her new surroundings with a mix of fear and morbid interest.Willow Creek High's main door loomed ahead, a faded relic of red brick and institutional dreariness. Students surged through the ancient double doors in chattering gangs, jockeying and roughhousing with the unrestrained energy of wild beasts. A big difference from Brookfield Academy's polished formality.Julia gulped hard, fighting the knot of anxiety in her throat. The entire world, with its foreign sights and sounds, felt so...gritty. Unpolished. Dangerous even in its sheer sincerity.She was startled when a solid hand came to rest on her shoulder. Caleb's craggy features softened into a reassuring smile. "You've got this, Julia," he said softly, giving her arm a reassuring squeeze. "Just breathe and go with the flow, alright? "I'll be
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