20. Chapter 19
J esse sat at the bar with Julia, fiddling with a coaster as she ordered them both ginger ales.
“It’s actually a good thing you don’t drink,” she said, turning back to him while the bartender pulled their sodas.
“People say they need liquid courage, but it dulls the senses. You need to be able to pay attention to figure out if the person you’re talking to is someone you want to spend more time with.
” She thanked the bartender, declining to open a tab and tipping the man well.
Jesse wondered if the bartender was her type. He had a tattoo sleeve and a close-shaven head, with a piercing in his eyebrow. The bartender’s eyes lingered on Julia, and Jesse couldn’t blame him.
She’d poured herself into black jeans with a top that showed off the upper slopes of her breasts and had zippers down the sides.
It almost looked like she wore two shirts, with the black-and-white striped under layer clinging to her breasts and drawing the eye right to them, in case the dangling star necklace brushing her cleavage hadn’t already done that.
Matching earrings and black heels that looked like her feet were in bondage added to the effect.
Julia had always looked good in black. Her hair was the only thing different from his memory, short and brown and soft-looking now.
Julia nudged his soda closer to his hand. “Relax, Jinx. You can do this.” Her eyes traced where his collar was open, watching as he swallowed. “You look good. Women are going to be interested in you, I promise.”
When she’d surprised him after work by showing up at Charles’s house, she’d had him change into his blue button-down shirt from their date night, paired with jeans this time. She’d said the color worked for him, and the way her eyes slid over his body had made him all warm inside.
For one heady moment, he’d thought Julia was asking him out on a date. Only it wasn’t a date. As she drove them to a bar far away from the hospital, she began giving him pointers for picking up girls.
Julia wanted to help him find someone else.
Tonight was going to be hell. He’d resigned himself to being friend-zoned, but that didn’t mean watching it in action didn’t hurt.
He dreaded what was to come. Although, since she was his ride, he wouldn’t have to worry about her going home with another guy.
Julia would never leave him in the lurch.
She glanced past his shoulder and leaned in slightly. “Here’s your first chance. No ring, and she’s a cutie.”
Jesse couldn’t concentrate, not with Julia’s breath caressing his cheek like that.
“She even glanced your way,” she murmured, then straightened.
She grabbed her ginger ale, taking a deep drink before standing from the barstool.
“I need to hit the ladies’ room,” she said, then to his horror, she leaned past him to grab the woman’s attention.
“Would you mind keeping my friend company while I’m gone? ”
Jesse turned, his cheeks burning as he took in the woman’s quick smile.
She had blonde hair that swung just under her chin, and warm brown eyes that studied him with interest. “I guess I don’t mind.” She held out a hand with short nails painted a cherry red. “I’m Claire.”
He took her hand in a quick shake. “Jesse,” he said, clearing his throat after.
“You’re a lifesaver, Claire,” Julia said before walking away.
Jesse forced himself not to watch her go. “I’m sorry. You really don’t have to keep me company.” He swallowed as he tried to think of something else to say. The bartender dropped off the woman’s drink, so he couldn’t offer to get her one.
“It’s no hardship. Your friend caught me checking you out.” Claire searched his eyes. “I thought you two might be together. So you’re just friends?”
“We grew up together. She’s my sister’s best friend.” The words felt like a lie that tightened his stomach, and he took a steadying breath. “To be honest, I’ve had a crush on her for a while.”
Claire’s smile dimmed. “I see. That’s too bad. You’re pretty cute.”
He knew he was messing this up, but no part of him regretted it. “Sorry. I didn’t want to lead you on. Any guy would be lucky to catch your eye.”
The tension in her shoulders eased. “Well, there’s no reason for us not to chat until she comes back. Honestly, I’m not very good at this type of thing.” She waved her hand around. “You know, the bar pickup scene.”
He laughed. “Me neither. She’s trying to help me get past that.”
Claire winced. “That must be hard.”
He hesitated but shook his head. “I was thinking that, too, but honestly? Any time spent with her is worth it.”
Her smile returned. “You really are a nice guy, aren’t you?” She took a sip of her drink. “So, what do you do for a living?”
The conversation flowed for a few minutes as they shared a few tidbits about their lives. She had an office job and no siblings. He told her about his own job and about his two older siblings. Her expression was back to warm as they chatted, and she told him about her own crush on a coworker.
“I think you should go for it. You’re super sweet, and there’s no way he just appears at your desk at random that many times,” he encouraged her.
She took the last sip of her drink. “Maybe you’re right. Thanks. I think I will ask him out.” She slipped off her barstool. “Looks like your friend is heading back. You should tell her how you feel, too.”
Jesse turned, watching Julia make her way toward him. “Oh, she knows,” he murmured.
“Then she’s a fool.” Claire patted his hand, drawing his gaze back to her. “It was nice to meet you, Jesse.” She disappeared into the crowd, which was getting heavier around the bar.
Julia slapped him on the shoulder. “That seemed to go well. See, it’s not so scary after all, is it?”
He studied her smiling face. “No, I guess not.” He had no interest in anyone but the woman in front of him. His siblings had been right to worry. Watching her scan the room made him feel bad, even knowing she was looking for possibilities for him.
“Did she give you her number?” Julia asked, her eyes coming back to meet his.
“No. It turns out she’s already into someone else.”
“That’s too bad. Wait.” Julia’s eyes narrowed. “You weren’t playing matchmaker, were you?”
He shrugged, rubbing at the back of his neck. “I encouraged her a little.”
Julia groaned. “I almost forgot you used to do that in high school. I swear, it makes no sense. If you can believe in other people being together, you should have faith in yourself.”
His heart thumped as she glared at him. “Yeah. Maybe I should.” He licked his lips, playing with his straw. “Jules—”
She grabbed his arm. “Okay, ready to try again?”
He swallowed the words that had been forming. “I don’t think I’m ready to be with someone.” He couldn’t picture being with anyone besides Julia.
She shook his arm. “This is just practice. I drove you here. You’re not leaving with anyone besides me, got it?” She gave him a look.
The swirling in his stomach eased. He liked the way she said that.
“I’m not going to get things started for you this time. Good luck.” She released his arm, sliding off the barstool and taking her ginger ale with her.
The warmth from her touch lingered, and he took a sip of his own drink as his heartbeat settled.
If he showed her he could do this, she might not feel the need to drag him out again.
He turned toward the barstool that Claire had vacated, finding two women crowded next to him instead.
One leaned into the other, her laughter reaching him and making his simple greeting catch in his throat. He remembered that laughter.
His mouth went dry as their eyes locked on him, a trapped feeling settling inside. The voices of the crowd faded into a distant hum.
“Oh, hey, you’re a cutie. What’s your name?” The one with a brown ponytail and heavy mascara who was nearest to him leaned closer. She had been the one who had asked him for help with her drunk friend years ago.
Her friend’s blue eyes flicked over his body, making the chill that had slid inside of him spread.
“Oh, he is pretty cute,” she agreed. There was no recognition in their eyes.
He’d known they’d been drunk at the party, but the fact that they didn’t remember what they’d done to him at all made his lightheadedness spread.
“Excuse me,” he mumbled, sliding off his barstool on the side farthest from them.
The nearest girl’s hand clamped on his arm. “Don’t run away. Are you the shy type?”
He stared down at her manicured nails with white tips, hating the helplessness that blanketed him.
Her nails had looked similar back then, holding him down from behind.
He swallowed and tugged on his arm, relieved when it slid out of her grasp.
Turning blindly, he stumbled into the crowd around him.
Suddenly Julia was there in front of him, and he could breathe again.
“Hey, everything okay?” Her worried gaze shifted behind him, and he stiffened when he realized the girls had followed him.
“Julia?” the blue-eyed one said, making everything worse. She elbowed her friend, nearly sloshing their drinks to the floor. “You remember Julia, don’t you? We had biology and a few other classes together back in college.”
Julia barely looked at them, focusing on him instead.
Jesse was pretty sure he was about to be sick right there in the middle of the bar.
“The way you look…” Julia’s eyes widened, moving back to the girls. “Them?” She breathed out, a stricken look crossing her face before her eyes narrowed in fury. Then she threw her ginger ale right into the closest one’s face, causing the heavy mascara to drip down with the soda like dark tears.
The other one screeched in panic, and that was before Julia lunged at her, taking her to the floor.
Jesse stared down at where they grappled, frozen in place as he watched the woman he loved punch the person who had hurt him right in the tit and then the stomach.