Chapter 11
JULIETTE
I take too long in the shower.
I know I’m taking too long. The water’s probably going to run cold soon and Rodriguez probably needs to get ready too, but I can’t make myself get out yet.
The hot spray beats against my shoulders and steam fills the small space until I can barely see the tile walls.
Because once I get out, I have to deal with reality.
Reality being: I’m sharing a hotel room with Rodriguez. One bed. For six nights.
Reality being: my parents just met him and my mom already loves him and my dad is doing that thing where he pretends to be skeptical but I could tell he was actually impressed.
Reality being: in two hours I have to sit through dinner with Garrett and his new fiancée and pretend everything is fine while my fake boyfriend who I’m maybe, definitely, starting to actually like sits next to me and plays the part perfectly.
This is fine. Everything is fine.
I turn off the water and wrap myself in a towel, staring at my hazy reflection in the steamed-up mirror.
My hair is a complete disaster. I should have brought better products.
Should have planned this better. Should have thought through literally any part of this plan beyond “bring Rodriguez to Toronto and hope for the best.”
There’s a light knock on the door. “You okay in there?”
“Fine. Just finishing up.”
I dry off and change into comfortable clothes then spend twenty minutes on my hair before giving up and putting it in a braid. It’s going to have to be good enough.
When I open the bathroom door, Rodriguez is sitting on the bed scrolling through his phone. He looks up and smiles.
“All yours.” I move past him to my suitcase and my arm brushes his shoulder as I pass, a brief contact that I feel everywhere.
He grabs his stuff and disappears into the bathroom. The shower starts and I try very hard not to think about Rodriguez in the shower. Naked. Ten feet away from me.
Oh my god.
Was he sitting out here trying not to think about me naked? I press my palms to my face. This is not helpful. Stop thinking about this.
My phone buzzes against the dresser.
Olivia
Mom said you guys made it!
Can’t wait to meet Rodriguez tonight! See you at dinner
Is he as hot as he looks in his hockey photos? Because WOW
She looked him up. Of course she looked him up.
He’s fine
Olivia
FINE??
Jules, the man is a solid 20. If you don’t lock that down I might
You’re getting married in four days
Olivia
Doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate a good-looking man.
Owen agrees btw. We both stalked his Instagram. Very impressed.
Garrett’s going to DIE
The mention of Garrett makes my stomach drop. Right. Garrett will be there tonight. With his fiancée. Which means I need to be prepared for this. Walls up, fake smile ready to go, performance perfected. I can do this. I’ve been doing this my entire life.
The shower turns off and a few minutes later Rodriguez emerges in jeans and a t-shirt, hair damp and messy, water droplets still clinging to his neck. He looks unfairly good for someone who just got off a five-hour flight.
“Better?” he asks.
“Much.” I check the time on my phone. “We should probably start getting ready. Dinner’s at six and it’s about a fifteen-minute walk.”
“What’s the dress code again?”
“Nice but not formal. The dark jeans and that button-up should be fine.”
“You checked what I packed?”
“I saw them when I was hanging up my stuff. I wasn’t snooping.”
“I didn’t say you were snooping.” He’s grinning.
I ignore him and pull out the dress I brought for dinner, a deep blue wrap dress that’s elegant but not trying too hard. At least I hope it’s not trying too hard. “I’m going to change.”
I disappear into the bathroom, aware of him just beyond the closed door. This is going to be such a long six days if I can’t even change clothes without feeling self-conscious about it.
When I come out, he turns and sees me. “That’s a great color on you.”
“Thanks.” I smooth down the dress, my palms damp. “Is it too much? It’s too much, isn’t it? I feel like maybe it’s too low cut and—” I cut myself off, realizing I’ve just directed his attention to my chest.
“No, it’s perfect.” He clears his throat and glances away but I can see his ears turning slightly red. “You look perfect.”
My face gets hot. “You should change too. We need to leave in like thirty minutes.”
He grabs his clothes and goes back into the bathroom. I use the time to fix my hair properly and do my makeup, keeping it simple but polished. Like I have my life together.
He comes out and he looks so good. The button-up fits him perfectly and he’s styled his hair so it’s not messy anymore but still somehow looks effortless.
“Good?” he asks.
“Good.” My voice comes out steadier than I feel. “We should go.”
He picks up the hotel key card, holds the door open for me and we walk to the elevator in silence. Both dressed up, walking side by side, and I realize we look like an actual couple.
In the elevator, he reaches for my hand. His fingers lace through mine, warm and solid. “Hey. You okay?”
“I’m fine.”
“You’re doing the stressed out thing again.”
“I’m not stressed.”
“JuJu.”
I sigh. “Okay, I’m a little stressed. This is the first time seeing Garrett in a while. And he’s going to be there with her. And my entire family is going to be watching us. And I need to be perfect and I—”
“Stop.” His thumb traces across my knuckles. “You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to be you. And I’ll be right there with you the whole time. If it gets to be too much, we poodle our way out. Okay?”
I let out a wild little giggle because he’s so confident in his ridiculousness. “Did you just use poodle as a verb?”
“I did. And I stand by it.”
We walk through the lobby and out onto the street. It’s February in Toronto, so it’s freezing, the air sharp against my face. But the walk to the restaurant gives me time to breathe. To prepare myself.
The restaurant is warm and loud as the hostess leads us to a private room in the back where I can already hear Olivia’s laugh carrying over everyone else’s voices.
This is it.
Rodriguez squeezes my hand once. “Ready?”
My nod is jerky even though I’m absolutely not ready at all.
We walk in and everyone turns.
Olivia squeals and rushes over to us, pulling me into a hug that smells like her perfume and hairspray. “You’re here! Oh my god, you’re finally here!”
“Hi, Livi.” I hug her back and she feels thinner than I remember. “You look amazing.”
“You too! And this must be him.” She turns to Rodriguez with a smile that’s all Olivia, bright and genuine and impossible not to return. “Hi! I’m Olivia, the bride and also the better sister.”
“Great to meet you.” Rodriguez shakes her hand, then gets pulled into a hug because that’s just how Olivia treats everyone.
Owen appears next to her, tall and quiet and smiling in that calm way he has. “Hey Jules. Good to see you.”
“You too, Owen. Congratulations.” I hug him and his shirt is soft against my cheek. “This is Rodriguez.”
They shake hands and do that guy assessment thing where they’re definitely sizing each other up. “Thanks for coming all this way,” Owen says. “I know it’s a long trip.”
“Wouldn’t miss it.” Rodriguez is already in full charm mode. “Jules has told me so much about you guys.”
My parents are here, and my Aunt Yvette, and a few cousins I haven’t seen in years. Everyone wants to meet Rodriguez, ask questions, welcome us. I make introductions and he remembers every single name, makes conversation with everyone, laughs at my uncle’s terrible jokes.
He’s perfect at this. Completely natural.
And then Garrett walks in.
I feel it before I actually see him and there’s Melissa next to him, clinging to his arm.
She’s beautiful. Blonde, petite, the kind of pretty that looks effortless. She’s laughing at something Garrett said, her hand on his chest, completely comfortable.
They look happy.
My knees feel weak.
Garrett sees me and he looks briefly surprised, or maybe it’s guilt. But then he’s smiling, walking over with Melissa in tow.
“Jules. Hey.” He stops a few feet away, suddenly uncertain. “You look good.”
“Thanks.” I’m using the fake smile. I can feel it on my face, tight and painful. Rodriguez notices it, his eyes narrowing slightly.
“Garrett, this is Rodriguez. Rodriguez, this is Garrett. Owen’s best friend.”
They shake hands and I watch Garrett clock the fact Rodriguez has at least five inches on him and broader shoulders and the kind of presence that makes other men either respect him or hate him immediately.
Garrett is clearly landing somewhere in the hate him category. When he glances at me, there’s something almost accusatory in his expression. Like I brought Rodriguez specifically to make him feel small.
Which, okay, maybe I did. A little.
“Rodriguez,” Garrett says. “That’s an interesting name.”
“Yeah, kind of a hockey thing, you know.” Rodriguez’s voice is friendly but there’s an edge underneath. “You must be the famous Garrett. Jules told me about you.”
I definitely have not, but Garrett doesn’t need to know that.
Melissa steps forward with a smile and holds out her hand. “I’m Melissa. It’s nice to meet you both.”
“Congratulations,” I say, because what else am I supposed to say? “Olivia mentioned you two got engaged.”
“Just a few weeks ago.” She holds up her left hand showing off her ring. It’s enormous. The diamond catches the light, throwing sparkles across the table. Garrett never even discussed rings with me in three years, just vague ‘someday’ promises that apparently meant nothing. “We’re so excited.”
“That’s great.” I’m still smiling and my face actually hurts. “When’s the wedding?”
“We haven’t set a date yet. Probably next fall.” She glances at Garrett. “We wanted to wait until after Owen and Olivia’s wedding. Didn’t want to steal their thunder.”
How considerate of them.
Rodriguez places his hand on the small of my back. “We probably should sit. I think Olivia wants to get started.”