Chapter 39
thirty-nine
JULIAN
It hardly rained in Willow’s Cove, but the way it was coming down seemed to be enough to last the entire year. I’d always preferred the sun, but nothing beat hearing the sounds of droplets hitting the ground.
When the timer on my microwave went off, I twisted in disgust at the frozen dinner I thought would look appealing. Instead, it looked more like dog food. I couldn’t bring myself to make a homemade meal when I all I thought of was making enough for two. You’d think after being shot down by the same girl three times in the span of a month, I wouldn’t still hold onto hope that one day, she’d show up at my doorstep.
I looked down at my new roommate when it clawed at my leg. “You want this food instead?”
Instead of moping around and letting the days pass alone, I’d gone down to the animal shelter and adopted a three-year-old golden retriever, Cooper, who had been sitting behind a cage for most of his life. The girl at the shelter said he’d been returned twice for having “too much energy”, so I figured he’d be able to burn it off down at the beach every day. With my days filled with making sure he was taken care of, there was less time to miss Mila. Still, she was my last thought before I closed my eyes and the first when I opened them.
The sound of a car pulling up caught both of our attention, but I couldn’t think of anyone who’d be crazy enough to drive in that rain. When I looked out my window, it was too dark to see the car parked in the driveway, so I waited until there was a loud knock at my door.
Cooper knew to stand by me when someone was at the door, so he was glued to my side as I swung it open to find Sofia’s wet hair dangling over her face.
“Sofia, what the hell are you doing?” I pulled her in past the threshold and wrapped her in a towel I kept by the door.
“I was on my way here when the rain started. I brought you a warm meal because I know you were probably eating that frozen crap.” I gawked at the pan of lasagna she held out in front of me, and while it looked delicious, I wasn’t stupid. “Thanks, Sof, but you don’t have to make me food as an excuse to check on me.”
I put it on the counter to save for later. She’d made up every excuse in the book to come by and make sure I was okay, but it was supposed to be the other way around. People were afraid of me being alone, but everyday that passed seemed to get easier.
“How could I be your annoying little sister if I don’t come annoy you?” She made me smile on the hard days, I’d give her that. “Where’s that husband of yours?”
“At home. He wanted to come, but they have him signing a stack of papers in his office. I guess when his dad is through with being mayor, Levi is next in line to run.” I saw the flash of something sad in her eyes, so it was my turn to make her smile. “So, my sister is going to be the mayor’s wife? That has to come with special privileges, right? I plan to cash those in.” I was still getting used to her being a married woman, but the moment she said her vows, she had a certain glow to her she didn’t have before.
Her laughter echoed through the kitchen before it died off. “It’ll definitely be weird, but I knew what I was getting into when I married Levi, who’s great, by the way. He told me to tell you that so you don’t threaten him again, and to invite you over for dinner soon.” She lived on the other edge of town in the gated community of mansions I typically avoided.
“I’ll bring lasagna,” I joked.
Her bright smile reminded me of when she was a little girl and she’d try to make me laugh after I was on the receiving end of my dad’s wrath. It was a nice reminder that no matter how much older we got, no matter the paths we took, we’d always be there to cheer each other up when we needed it.
“I should get back before Levi gets worried, but I’ll think of another excuse to come by and check on you tomorrow.” As much as her drop ins got under my skin sometimes, she was the only family I had left, so I knew I would be okay as long as she was around.
She hugged me before she left, and for the first time, I allowed it. “Drive slow, okay?” I called said as I watched her back out of the driveway.
Only minutes went by before another knock on my door startled me. I wondered what Sofia could have possible forgotten as I swung the door open with Cooper stuck to my side.
“What’d you forget this—” I expected to see my sister, but instead, Mila stood in the doorway dripping wet, tears welling in her eyes, suitcases at her sides.
“Mila? What are you doing here?” I asked.
I couldn’t even move to let her past the threshold, because I was trying to convince myself I wasn’t dreaming. I had to be if she’d come back. “Did you mean what you said in your voicemail?”
I resisted the urge to reach out and touch her. If I did, I wouldn’t let go, and I needed to know she was mine before I did that. “Every word.”
She handed me a green journal, Cami written on the front. “It has every entry I’ve written since I was sixteen. They’re all about you.”
I skimmed over pages and pages with my name scribbled on every one, along with so many I love you’s, I lost count.
“I gave the ring back to Greyson.”
I froze. “You what?”
“It’s you, Julian. I don’t want the penthouse, private jet, or any of those things you said you can’t give me; I want the life we talked about. I want you . I’m sorry it took so long for me to figure it out. I was just scared you wouldn’t catch me if I fell for you again, but you jump, I jump, right? I hope you’ll still have me, because I’m completely in love with you.” The words came from the depths of her throat as she pleaded.
There was no hesitation. I’d been given a second chance, and there was no way in hell I was wasting it. I spoke over the rain splattering on the pavement. “I’m warning you, Mila. If you walk over this threshold, I’m never letting you go again.”
A smile appeared on her lips. “Then I have a new rule: don’t.” She dropped her bags and leaped into my arms before pressing her lips to mine and sealing our forever.