4. Chapter 3 #2
“I didn’t turn him down,” Maria protested. “He didn’t even really ask me out.”
Even though Maria was older than her, Julia had always felt older where it counted. She had with all of her sisters, despite being the baby. “He hinted enough that you told him you weren’t in a place to date before he asked,” Julia reminded her.
Rachel reached toward Maria, her hand covering hers in a squeeze. “Is Brad really teaching there?”
Maria hesitated, then nodded. “Yeah. It’s not a problem, though. He’s agreed that we’re just friends. It’s always good to have a friend around.”
“So he asked you out again?” Julia asked, waiting for her sister’s slight nod. That was the third time. She needed to find a way to make sure the guy knew no meant no.
“This actually makes it easier, in a way. The school has policies that discourage dating between faculty members. So, honestly, this is my something good. Brad is working at the school, and I think it’ll end up improving our friendship.
He’s a nice guy, and he’s good with the students. They respect him already.”
Julia wasn’t buying it, but she let her sister babble.
Maria always had trouble telling guys no, and Brad had been her first attempt, which had made it come out softer than a true rejection.
In Julia’s experience, you had to tell them straight-out when you weren’t interested.
Pussyfooting around their feelings made it worse for everyone involved.
“I’ll go next,” Heather offered. Her smile widened when they looked at her. “Robby got accepted at his first choice school.”
They all congratulated her youngest son, but Julia had to swallow a protest. She’d been outvoted when she’d argued that the something good should be about each sister themselves, not their children.
Rachel and Heather often copped out by focusing only on their kids and not on themselves.
It was as if their own hopes and dreams died when they had children.
That was one of the many reasons Julia didn’t want to have kids.
“Wasn’t his first choice out of state?” Julia asked. “How are you feeling about that?”
“I’m happy for him, of course,” Heather said.
Rachel tried to shake her head subtly, but Julia ignored her. “For him, sure, but you’re here with us. You’re going to miss him, aren’t you?”
Heather swallowed, her beaming smile fading. “Yeah, I will, but I’d miss him no matter where he went. He is my baby, and I get that he wants to spread his wings a little.”
Julia was the youngest, but that made her want to stay close to home more than ever. Her mother’s health scare when she was younger had made her cling to as much time at home that she could get. All of them had decided not to go away.
That wasn’t always the case, though. Jinx had surprised her by leaving. Since he’d been very aware of his single mom’s struggle, she’d thought he’d want to stay close, too.
Maria’s waving hand caught her attention. Her sister laughed. “Where’d you go? We were asking what your something good is.”
Julia laughed. “Sorry. Probably work again. Dr. Holden is very easy to work for, and he really is a skilled surgeon.”
Maria made a buzzing sound. “Nope. It can’t be the same thing two months in a row.”
“It’s not! Last month, my good thing was getting the job. This month, it’s that the job is awesome. Those are two separate things.”
Rachel shook her head. “Not really.”
“Well, I can kind of see how that could be,” Heather defended.
“Besides, that’s all I have this week. I—” Julia’s phone buzzed where it sat on the table. She glanced down at it, her lips parting as she saw the name on the screen. She picked up her phone, pushing up from the table. “I have to get this.”
Rachel waved her off. “Fine, have a reprieve.”
Her sisters laughed in the background as she headed toward the living room, pressing accept. “I was beginning to think you weren’t going to call.”
“No fair,” Jinx protested. “It hasn’t even been a day.”
“Didn’t want to seem too desperate? I get it.” Her lips hurt, and she realized she was grinning. “I guess I really did miss you more.”
“I missed you, Jules. A lot. Don’t doubt that.”
Her chest clenched at his steady words. “Jeez, I was teasing. Don’t get so serious on me all of a sudden.”
Jinx laughed awkwardly. “Sorry. I just didn’t want you to think I didn’t care.”
“I didn’t feel too left out. Feebs said you weren’t calling her, either.”
“Yeah. I didn’t realize it would be so hard to keep in touch.” Jinx grew quiet.
“Hey, so are you asking me to meet up or what?” Julia asked. “I’m with my sisters right now, but we could hang out tomorrow. Maybe somewhere where the girls aren’t all hitting on you? I don’t want to be a cockblock.”
He let out a startled laugh. “I appreciated the save last night. Can I buy you a coffee as thanks?”
“I never turn down a free drink. Tomorrow work?”
“Oh, yeah, we could do that. I have a shift, but we could meet up afterward. That café near the hospital?”
Julia paused. “Can we go somewhere else? I’d rather not run into anyone from the hospital.”
“Right. I want to talk about that, too.”
Of course he did. Everyone wanted the juicy details. Julia considered canceling, but it was Jinx. She really did want to see him again. Maybe a little too much.
“How about the fancy café that opened downtown?” she offered. “I’ve heard good things about it but haven’t tried it yet. What time does your shift end?”
“Around four. I could pick you up after?”
She shook her head, but he couldn’t see that. “No, you’ll be coming from the hospital, and I’m coming from the other way. We’ll meet there.”
“Okay.” He let out another laugh. “Would I sound pathetic if I said I was looking forward to it?”
“I mean, who wouldn’t look forward to hanging out with me?” she teased, even though the answer wasn’t a pleasant one to consider. Her temple throbbed.
His breath fanned the phone. “I really did miss you.”
The tension in her head faded. “Me too. So, I’ll see you tomorrow around four thirty?”
“Sounds like a plan.”
She listened to his breaths for a few seconds. “Not going to hang up first?”
“No,” he said.
She didn’t want to hang up either, but her sisters were waiting in the dining room. “I should get back to dinner. Bye, Jinx.”
“Bye, Jules.”
She stared down at her phone after, then walked back to the table. When she looked up, she found her sisters staring at her.
“You’re smiling,” Maria said, with a smile of her own.
Heather laughed. “I have a feeling this phone call is your something good.”
She wanted to deny it, but every time she thought about Jinx, she felt happy. “Yeah. I think so.”
“Did I hear you say Jinx?” Maria asked.
“I haven’t heard that name in a while.” Rachel’s expression turned thoughtful.
“He just moved back. I ran into him last night when Phoebe ditched me at the bar.” She rolled her eyes when Rachel’s frown formed. “Don’t start.”
Rachel’s lips pressed together.
“If she won’t say it, I will.” Heather leaned forward. “Do you think it was a setup?”
“That’s—” It was Julia’s turn to frown. Phoebe had known there was no way Julia would have gone to that bar if she hadn’t pushed her. “Completely possible, actually. If so, I’m grateful. I had no idea Jinx was back in town.”
“So Jinx is your something good?” Maria asked.
“He is. I’m meeting him for coffee tomorrow to catch up.”
“That sounds like a date,” Heather said.
Julia scoffed. “No. It’s Jinx.” She turned toward Rachel. “What’s your something good this month?”
Rachel took a deep breath. “I’m going on a date,” she rushed out on the exhale.
Julia was instantly drawn in, just like her other sisters, asking for all the details. Rachel hadn’t tried dating again for a while.
She pushed away the small whisper telling her that the coffee shop meetup with Jinx really did sound similar to her sister’s date.