Chapter 13
Everly
Embarrassment is a new one for Julian. I’ve never seen him act anything but confident, even when he stuttered on my name that first day.
He rallied quickly and dubbed me Ever, which I love more than I want to admit.
It’s like a special thing that’s all ours.
Or maybe I just hope it is. Walking in on him talking to himself might be the cutest thing ever.
Maybe it was seeing him act like a regular guy that did it.
He’s always so perfect. Impeccable body, work ethic, gorgeous.
It is . . . weirdly comforting to see him awkward and mumbling, but I can tell it’s new for him.
Or at least not his norm. I decide to cut him some slack and change the subject.
Although asking to help him cook may not be the best move.
He’s a master chef by my standards. All I’ve mastered in the kitchen is PB&J, scrambled eggs and some other simple basics.
After dinner, I don’t want the night to end so I ask if he wants to watch a movie again.
He hesitates for a moment, then agrees, but says he has some work to do on his laptop while we watch.
There’s that perfect Julian energy again—super serious, multi-tasking professional.
I pick an action movie I figure he’ll like, but even those have an element of romance in them. Points for trying.
As Julian types away on his laptop, I absently rub my calf that begins to throb again.
He abruptly pushes the laptop closed, sets it on the coffee table, gets up and throws over his shoulder, “I’ll be right back.”
“Want me to pause the movie?”
“Nope, I’ll just be a sec.”
And true to his word, he flies up and down the stairs in a flash and plops back down closer to me than before.
“Here, give me your leg. This will help the cramping.” I must look surprised because he adds, “It doesn’t hurt, I promise. Scoot over here.”
I inch closer so that we’re almost touching.
He lifts my leg, draws it across his lap and pushes the fabric of my sweats up over my knee.
I’ve never been so relieved I thought to shave.
He begins moving his fingers along my calf, then unscrews the lid on the jar he brought down.
He rubs the cream from the jar in his hands before placing them gently on my calf.
He squeezes and tightens his grip as he moves his hands up and down my calf.
The icy warmth heats and soothes the ache almost immediately, but I’m convinced the relief has way more to do with the hands applying it.
I close my eyes and must’ve made an involuntary sound of relief because his movements falter for a moment.
I open my eyes to find his penetrating blue orbs watching me.
How long is too long to stare at each other without breathing?
I break the spell because I need to. Either that or I’m going to completely leave my body and kiss him. “Uh, thanks, that feels better.” I pull my leg back, which makes him pull his hands back. “That stuff works fast.”
“Yeah, Allie and I made it.”
“Wait. You made it?”
Chuckling, he nods. “I’ll be right back.” The deep sound of his voice settles in my stomach, warming it like the balm warms my calf.
I watch as he washes his hands at the kitchen sink and decide to take my shot to feed my curiosity. “How’d you meet Allie and get into . . . all of this?”
“Ahhh, that’s a long story.” He rubs his palm over his chest as he makes his way back to the living room.
Nervous tic? My intrigue is growing. “Well, I don’t have any place to be. Do you?”
He sits down in his original spot, not as close. “Maybe we should just watch the movie.”
I swallow my disappointment at his seat choice and double down on my inquiry.
“Why don’t you want to answer the question?
” I challenge. My curiosity and interest in this thirst trap of a man outweighs my introverted nature.
I don’t recognize this bold girl, but I think I like her.
I hold my breath and wait for his reply.
“Why are you here?” he counters. “With Allie? Away from your home, your family, alone?”
“Fair. But I asked you first.”
I watch him as he turns his face toward the screen. The movie is still playing, but I’ve turned the sound down. With a heavy exhale, he reaches out and squeezes my foot, his hand swallowing it. I swallow hard at the intimacy of it—not sexual, but it sends a heat wave to my lower region.
“Are we really going to do this, Ever?”
I blink once, twice, wrapping my brain around his words.
“Do what?” My brain catches up and smacks my libido back to reality.
“Get to know each other? I mean, we work together every day. We’ll be sharing the same living space for three weeks.
And now you’re training me. Wouldn’t it be weird not to? ”
“Fair,” he repeats back to me. “I’ve just never told anyone before. Except Allie, who I think missed her calling as a therapist, by the way. But even she only got the highlights.”
“Hmm.” I consider his response and choose the benign part to reply to. “But, right? She’s always been that person you can confide in, even when you didn’t think you wanted to. How long have you known her? How did you meet?”
“Man, this conversation is making me want a drink. And I don’t really drink that much anymore.”
“Me neither. Did you used to?”
He exhales again, his cheeks puffing up, lips forming an O. He squeezes my foot he’s still holding and turns his face to mine. What I see in his crystal blue eyes breaks my heart. I echo his exhale and keep my eyes locked on his and wait for him to speak.