Chapter 17


    Jocelyn had no ss in the evening, so she headed home, pondering what to whip up for dinner.


    Stepping out of the school, she spotted Preston waiting for a ride.


    She approached him and casually invited. Come have dinner at my ce.”


    Preston looked at her, puzzled. “Instant pasta?”


    Jocelyn wanted to punch him for that. “A proper dinner!”


    With a cheeky smile, Preston replied, “I shall graciously ept.”


    Walking together, Preston popped the question, “Isn’t there something you wanna ask me?”


    “Ask you what? Jocelyn was genuinely confused.


    “About Willow


    A sparkle shed in Jocelyn’s eyes, and she let out a smallugh. “The celeb?”


    “You’re totally ying dumb about what I’m getting at, Preston was getting a bit anxious.


    “Nope Everything about her is just a Google search away.”


    Preston was at a loss for words. “You’re not the least bit curious about what’s the deal with her and my


    uncle?


    Jocelyn felt a twinge in her chest but shook her head with a smile. Why should I be?”


    Preston couldn’t believe how chill she was.


    Could it be


    “You don’t love my uncle!


    Caught off guard, Jocelyn frowned. “Where’s thising from?”


    “Why else wouldn’t you care about the woman he’s been hugging?”


    “What’s the use of caring? It’s already done, Jocelyn shrugged indifferently. Whatever is going on


    between your uncle and me is just an adult arrangement. Who knows where it’ll lead? Life’s


    unpredictable


    Preston stopped dead in his tracks, staring at her in utter shock.


    “What’s with the look? Jocelyn urged him on. “Let’s get moving.”


    Preston, dead serious, said, “I’m even more convinced now. You don’t love my uncle, he is just some


    comfort for your loneliness.”


    Jocelyn was tempted to knock some sense into him. “You sure sound like an expert, talking about


    loneliness and


    “That just shows how well you’ve taught me, Preston said with a hint of smugness, his chin held high.


    Jocelyn couldn’t help butugh.


    “Anyway, I’ve got your back. If my uncle is ying you while messing with Willow, just tell me. I might


    not be able to do anything about it, but his sister sure can.”


    “His sister? Your mom?” Jocelyn inquired.


    “Yeah Just so you know, we’re not fans of Willow,” Preston said with an air of vengeance.


    Now, Jocelyn was a bit curious.


    What had Willow done to earn their ire?


    But she didn’t ask


    know well that matters of the heart were personal, and what mattered most was the choice of those


    involved


    Melvin was home already.


    Seeing Preston follow Jocelyn in, he frowned. “Why’d you bring him along?”


    Preston red back resentfully.


    “Leaving him to eat takeout every day, do you have no heart?” Jocelyn retorted as she took off her


    shoes and handed Preston a pair ofdy’s slippers. “Make do.”


    Preston, nonchnt, confronted Melvin, “My mom wanted you to look after me. It’s been this long, and


    I’ve never had a meal you cooked.”


    “I gave you money Melvin dered with a sense of righteousness


    “Moneys no substitute for a home. Why bother giving you the credit of being a doting uncle? Preston


    grumbled, plopping down next to him.


    RêAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only


    Melvin gave him a side-eye


    Preston quickly scooted away, then yelled towards the kitchen, “Hey Jocelyn, maybe I should tell my


    mom I should board with you. She’d probably feel more at ease.”


    Jocelyn was torn betweenughter and tears.


    Not a chance!” Melvin cut off his hopes abruptly.


    Preston glowered at him.


    Melvin reached out as if to smack him, but Jocelyn’s sharp reprimand stopped him. “Don’t you dare hit


    the kid!”


    Melvin’s attractive fingers twitched a bit before he withdrew his hand.


    Preston tauntingly shook his head at him.


    Melvin shot him a deadly re, and Preston quickly ducked into the kitchen. “Auntie, I’ll help you.”


    Hearing this, Jocelyn stiffened as she washed the vegetables.


    Without turning to see Melvin’s reaction, she said a bit ufortably, “Call me teacher.”


    Preston scrunched his nose and red, “He is a jerk.”


    As teacher and student busied themselves in the kitchen, Melvin was upied in the living room.


    The sudden ring of the doorbell made Jocelyn’s heart skip a beat. She quickly stepped out the kitchen,


    locking eyes. with Melvin.


    Visitors were rare here, and at this hour, it felt odd.


    “Probably a neighbor. I’ll check “Melvin peeked through the peephole, then turned around with shock in


    his eyes Heading to the bedroom with hisptop, he said, “Your parents.”


    Seeing Melvin’s retreating back, Jocelyn’s heart sank


    Preston noticed the fleeting look of loss in Jocelyn’s eyes and couldn’t help but feel for her.


    Before opening the door, Jocelyn tucked Melvin’s shoes into the shoe cab.


    “Dad, Mom, what brings you here?”


    “We were free today and thought we’d check on you. Why’d it take so long to open the door?” Daisy


    asked. “If you took any longer, your dad was about to bust it down.”


    “I didn’t hear the bell in the kitchen.” Jocelyn ced slippers at their feet.


    Calvin and Daisy stepped in, only to find Preston standing awkwardly at the kitchen doorway.


    “Who’s this?” Calvin curiously asked Jocelyn.


    e’s a student from my ss. He’s on his own, so i invited him over for dinner Jocelin exined


    to si “just whip up a couple of dishes really quick.”


    Daisy nced around the house, sensing something off.


    Til lend a hand.” Daisy headed to the kitchen, opened the fridge, and immediately frowned at the


    contents. “Aren’t these the gifts your dad sent to Mr. Martinez at thepany? How’d they end up


    here?”


    Jocelyn’s mind exploded.


    How could she have forgotten about that?


    Calvin, intrigued by Daisy’s reaction, came in and fixed his gaze on Jocelyn.


    Suddenly, Jocelyn felt like she was under siege


    Preston stood by, silently observing the awkward scenario unfolding before Jocelyn.


    “Mom, Dad, I didn’t really want to spill the beans, but Mr. Martinez got the stuff you sent and had it


    passed on to me. First off, he never cooks at home, and second, he thought helping you out was no


    skin off his back, so he felt kinda bad epting your gifts


    But, like, if he’d said no at the time, he was worried you’d think he was turning his nose up at you. So,


    you know…” Jocelyn exined with all the feels.


    “I see, Calvin sighed, Mr. Martinez is one of the good guys, huh?”


    Jocelyn nced at Preston subconsciously, and Preston rolled his eyes in a way that only Jocelyn


    could see.


    The two shared an unspoken agreement and didn’t bother to object.


    Dinner was ready, and the family of three, plus Preston, gathered around the table to eat.


    Daisy was fond of Preston, who was such a sensible and good-looking kid. She fussed over him and,


    upon hearing he lived with an uncle who neither stayed home, nor looked after him, she couldn’t help


    but grumble about what kind of uncle did that


    She even told Jocelyn to keep an extra eye on the kid.


    Jocelyn nodded silently. She was just realizing that the saying ‘like uncle, like nephew’ was spot-on.


    Preston sure knew how to y the sympathy card.


    But right then, Melvin was genuinely pitiful, starving in his bedroom, not daring to make a peep, like he


    was up to no good.


    Preston was being super sly, snapping a pic of the spread on the table and sending it to Melvin,


    followed by a message saying how delicious it was.


    Melvin wasn’t hungry, but seeing them enjoying a sumptuous meal filled him with an inexplicable sense


    of being abandoned.