Chapter 22
Chapter Twenty-Two
JULES
Before I could gather my things and head home, a soft knock on the door startled me. I straightened in my chair as Harper peered into my office, a curiously hesitant smile on her face.
“Hey, got a minute?” she asked.
My stomach fluttered. I had a feeling I already knew what this was about. A few days ago, Eli confessed that he’d told her about us, and that he wanted to tell his other siblings about us too. He made a suggestion I thought was perfect.
Ever since, I’d been wondering how to handle it from my end.
The no-romance rule might have been Helen’s, but I suspected Harper would back her mother on this.
And Harper was my boss, which didn’t fill me with confidence about the situation.
I’d been trying to deny that this dithering was absolutely not my style.
Was it because I knew that Eli and I hiding our relationship was wrong?
Of course it is, you idiot. And now it’s time to own up to it.
I smiled as warmly as I could. “Of course. Everything okay?”
“Hopefully.” She slipped inside, closing the door behind her, and sat on the chair in front of my desk. “I’m terrible at small talk, so let me get to the point. Eli told me. About you two.”
“Oh.” Even though it was what I’d expected, I stumbled for words. “I… we were going to tell you. I just—”
“It’s okay,” Harper interrupted, holding up a hand. “Eli beat you to it and swore me to secrecy. Figures he couldn’t keep his mouth shut.”
“I’m sorry,” I said, straightening in my chair. “I know this puts you in a difficult position. I want you to know it won’t affect my work or our professional relationship in any way.”
Harper’s lips quirked in a half-smile. “Relax, Julianne. I’m not here to discipline or fire you.”
I sent her a smile that was only a little shaky. “I’m very glad to hear that.”
She shrugged, her gaze drifting to the financial reports spread across my desk. “I’m still processing, I guess. But no, I don’t mind you seeing each other.”
“You don’t?”
“Not as long as it doesn’t affect your job performance, which you just assured me about. Though I’m not thrilled about keeping secrets from Mom.”
I winced. “Yeah, that’s not ideal.”
Harper’s eyes met mine, a mix of amusement and exasperation in her expression. “You two picked a hell of a time to complicate things around here.”
A laugh burst from me, though I didn’t disagree with her. “Trust me, it wasn’t exactly planned.”
“With Eli? I’m shocked,” she said dryly.
We shared a knowing look, and for a moment, I felt a connection with Harper that went beyond boss and employee.
“So,” I ventured, “what happens now?”
Harper stood, smoothing her dress. “Now? We figure it out as we go. Just… be careful, okay? Both of you. You’re going to have to come clean to Mom sooner or later.”
I nodded, understanding the layers of meaning in her words.
“I know. Eli and I are both uncomfortable with keeping this relationship on the down-low. I think neither of us really expected it to work out.” I laughed, and it came out slightly dazed.
“But it has. We’ll figure out the best way to talk to Helen about it. ”
She opened her mouth, then hesitated as if she didn’t know quite what to say.
“Julianne, this place has a long history, and Mom had a bad experience with another couple who worked here and got involved with each other. I know you and Eli aren’t them, and times have changed, but you two need to approach Mom carefully about this. ”
Guilt twisted within me, but we were on the road to full disclosure at last. “We will. Eli told me he’s working on a plan.”
“Oh joy. Make sure he shares it with you first, okay?”
Both of us burst out laughing.
She cocked her head to one side. “I told Eli I thought you guys were a good mix of opposites blending well.”
That made warmth spread through my stomach. “Thanks, Harper. It means a lot to hear you say that.”
“Well, being my brother’s girlfriend gives you and me an opportunity to get to know each other better, doesn’t it? You’re coming to the bonfire tonight, right?”
My heart skipped a beat even as a smile broadened across my face.
I’d seen the Coleridge sibling bonfires from afar, always wondering what it would be like to go.
And now I was. “Absolutely. Tonight is part one of Eli’s idea to bring our relationship into the daylight.
He asked me to come and thought it was a good idea to start with his siblings first.”
“He’s probably not wrong about that. Why don’t you wrap things up? We need to swing by the Kids Club so I can pick up Finn. Then we can head over there together.” The resort had a children’s program that Finn hung out at sometimes.
I rose to my feet, still smiling. “That sounds great. Lead on.”
The western horizon was a vivid palette of orange and pink as Finn bounced over the sand, all gangly limbs and excited energy.
Harper and I followed at a more sedate pace.
The crackling bonfire came into view on the beach, casting a warm yellow hue over the driftwood logs and scattered blankets.
The scent of woodsmoke filled the air, mingling with the salty breeze.
It was… cozy. Inviting. Everything I’d imagined it would be.
My phone buzzed with a text from Eli.
Eli: On my way. Can’t wait to see you.
Jules: I’m just arriving with Harper and Finn. See you in a few.
A smile raised my lips as I typed the message while strolling over the sand. But as I glanced up, it faltered. The Coleridge family home stood behind the beach, a dark silhouette against the night sky, and nearly screened from view by a line of trees and brush.
The warmth in my gut turned to a knot as I sat on a soft blanket draped over a driftwood log. “Harper, is your mother joining us?”
Harper glanced up from where she was stoking the fire, the flames dancing on her cheeks. “Mom? At a bonfire? No. She’s got a standing invitation, but she says she prefers her quiet solitude and letting us kids have our time.”
Relief washed over me, my shoulders relaxing. That was one complication I didn’t need to worry about, at least. “Oh. That’s nice of her to give you guys your own space.”
The crunch of sand announced new arrivals from the far side of the fire. Eli appeared with Chase trailing behind him. My breath caught as Eli’s eyes found mine.
“Hey, everyone,” Eli called out, his easy charm on full display. “Look who I found lurking by the parking lot.”
Chase scowled. “I wasn’t lurking. I was studying the air handling units.”
“See what I saved you from? What would you do without me?” Eli laughed, then turned to me. His smile softened, became something just for us. “Hey, you.”
As he settled beside me, his arm found its way around my shoulders. It felt right. Natural. Like we’d been doing this for years.
“So,” Eli addressed the group, his voice carrying a hint of nervous energy I wasn’t used to hearing. “You all know Julianne. But tonight, I want to officially introduce you to Jules. My girlfriend.”
The words hung in the air for a moment. I held my breath, waiting for… I wasn’t sure what. Judgment? Disapproval?
My gaze drifted across the fire and landed on Ben, the only other family member present besides Eli, Harper, and Finn.
The eldest Coleridge sibling’s eyes met mine, and for a moment, I braced myself.
Ben had always been the most inscrutable.
Surprise was plain in his eyes, but then something shifted in his expression.
It wasn’t a smile, but his chin dipped in a slight nod, his eyes holding mine for a beat longer than usual.
A subtle acceptance that made me feel like a lead weight had been lifted from me.
“This is a bit of a surprise.”
Eli nodded. “I know. We’re keeping things quiet for now, so don’t blab about it, okay?”
Ben snorted. “I’m not the one with diarrhea of the mouth. That’s you, remember?” Then his eyes narrowed like he wanted to say something else, but he remained silent.
As laughter rippled around the circle, I gave a little wave. “I’ve always gone by my full name at work, but if you guys want to call me Jules, that’s fine.”
A burst of laughter pulled my attention away. Chase sat on a pale driftwood log next to Harper, Finn sprawled out between them.
“No way,” Chase said, his eyes wide with exaggerated disbelief. “You’re telling me you can name all the dinosaurs in Jurassic Park?”
Finn puffed up. “Yup! There’s the T-Rex, the velociraptors, the brachiosaurs, and the—”
“Whoa, slow down there, paleontologist.” Chase laughed, ruffling Finn’s hair. “Save some dinosaurs for the rest of us.”
I had to smile, watching the easy back-and-forth between them. Chase’s smile lit up his whole face. And Harper was in full après-work mode, beer in hand. She laughed at Chase’s remark.
“Who would have thought?” Eli said softly to me, following my gaze. “I think my nephew likes him as much as he likes me.”
I laughed, having witnessed Finn and Eli together many times. “Oh, stop it. I highly doubt you need to worry about that. Chase is good with kids, though.”
Eli and I sat on a smooth, pale log. Ben, who was staring into the fire, sat a short distance away. Harper directed a warm smile at me. “So how do you like being a certified diver at last? Worth all that classroom time and pool practice with my exasperating brother?”
I grinned, a genuine, radiant expression that felt completely natural. “I loved it. I can’t wait to dive again. Lacey has no idea what she missed by not finishing the class. And I’m officially ready to admit that Eli was a fabulous instructor.”
Eli’s arm tightened around my shoulders, his warmth a comforting weight. “See? I told you you’d love it. Every dive is like a treasure hunt. You never know what might turn up down there. A hidden octopus, a school of shimmering fish, a long-lost Spanish galleon full of gold…”