Love Me Back (Amelia and Daniel) novel Chapter 246

Everyone made their way to the dining room.

The kids were seated at a long table on the other side, feasting on all their favorites—pizza, burgers, mountains of fries. The table was piled high, and as soon as they finished, they dashed off to play again, wild and free.

Amelia spotted James across the room, and her feelings twisted into a knot she couldn’t untangle.

Children are innocent, she told herself. It isn’t fair to drag them into adult messes. But to face James with indifference? She simply couldn’t do it.

If she’d known James would be here tonight—or that she’d run into Daniel—she never would have stayed.

Daniel slid into the seat next to her, barely settling in before Sarah sashayed over and plopped down on his other side. Her neckline seemed even lower than before, and she made no attempt to hide her curves.

Amelia pretended not to notice. It wasn’t like Sarah was doing it for her benefit anyway. She kept her eyes on her own plate.

Sarah leaned in, pouring Daniel a glass of wine, her every movement practiced and alluring.

Daniel raised his hand, covering the glass. The light caught the ring on his finger. “No wine for me. If I come home drunk, my wife won’t even let me in.”

Amelia froze for a heartbeat. Was that a jab about the last time she refused to let him in after he’d been drinking?

She ignored it and kept eating in silence.

Sarah picked up on another meaning entirely. “I could give you a ride,” she offered, voice syrupy sweet. “Anywhere you want to go.”

Her tone was so coy that even Amelia, who had no interest, felt her heart skip. But Daniel didn’t so much as flinch. He just glanced sideways with a cool detachment.

“Better not,” he replied. “My wife has double standards. She can have dinner with other men, but if a woman drives me home, she’ll hit the roof.”

Sarah was left speechless.

Amelia gripped her fork and knife, repeating to herself that blinding someone with cutlery was, in fact, a crime—and not a good enough reason to end up in jail over a jerk like him.

She finished her meal without much thought. The kids had an early bedtime, so after a little more playtime and the birthday cake, everyone could finally head home.

Just a little longer. She could make it.

Naturally, Daniel followed. Sarah, still reeling, trailed behind.

Just as they reached the bottom of the stairs, Sarah suddenly let out a dramatic gasp and collapsed, clutching her ankle. She gazed up at Daniel, all wide-eyed and helpless. “Mr. Campbell, I twisted my ankle. Would you help me, please?”

Amelia watched the display and was suddenly reminded of Violet—Violet, who always used that same look on Daniel and never failed to get his attention.

Amelia smirked inwardly, assuming Daniel would, at the very least, play the gentleman. But he didn’t even glance at Sarah.

“I’m not a doctor. Doesn’t matter how much you ask me; I can’t fix it. Call someone else.”

Amelia was caught off guard, but then she remembered—just because someone used the same expression didn’t mean they got the same treatment. Special concern was reserved for special people. She, who was only a stand-in, never got that kind of care; what hope did a stranger have?

Thinking about the past made her chest tight with irritation. She stomped her foot—right onto Daniel’s shoe. “Stop following me! You’re driving me crazy!”

Daniel just grinned, leaning in. “If you love stepping on me so much, why don’t you wait until we’re home? Then you can take your time and step wherever you like.”

The meaning was unmistakable—anyone could hear the innuendo. Even Sarah forgot about her fake injury, her shock written all over her face. “You two…”