12. Jules
TWELVE
JULES
Drew and I meet at the Callahan house since everyone is leaving from there. The grandmothers and Aunt Constance for their knitting group trip, and Vin, Roman, Mr. and Dr. Callahan for their Italy trip. It brings home the fact that Drew and I are really going to be alone for the whole summer.
It’s only six weeks, but still. At least Sage and Elena will be here so I won’t be completely alone.
“Try not to kill each other while we’re gone,” Vin says, hugging me. I’m sure her eyes are trained on Drew behind me.
“Sorry, I’ve already promised Aunt Constance I’ll take Jules to the wedding so I’m not making any more promises to family members for the rest of this year,” Drew replies.
“If he kills me, I’ll leave behind plenty of evidence.”
“No killing!” Lavinia places her hands on her hips, looking between the two of us. “I mean it!”
Okay, so I probably won’t kill him simply because he’s being surprisingly nice lately. First he rescued me from that creep at the bar, then David Caine, and now he’s taking me to New York for the wedding.
Ugh, does that mean I’m going to have to start being nice to him? Death would be easier.
As Drew walks away to help Roman with the luggage, Vin grabs my hands and squeezes them tightly. Concern shimmers in her eyes. “I know Aunt Constance is making you take Drew, but if you’re not comfortable, you don’t have to do it. Seriously, I’ll talk to her.”
My heart grows ten sizes at her concern. “I’m fine, Vin. We’re going to be in different rooms. It’s not going to be any different than right now.”
Vin frowns, her mouth twisting to the side. “Right now, we’re surrounded by family. You’re going to be alone with him in New York. I know you’re going to be safe with Drew, but if you have the slightest doubt, tell me.”
I look back at Drew as he lifts a suitcase and puts it in the trunk of the airport taxi. His t-shirt rides up, revealing a sliver of hard, toned abs, and a happy trail. I look away, blushing furiously.
“I’m fine, I promise.” I hug her again. “Have a wonderful trip and please don’t worry about me.”
Once all the hugs and goodbyes are exchanged, the family gets into the airport taxis and are whisked away, leaving Drew and me standing behind on the driveway. Drew grabs my bag and huffs as he lifts it, putting it in the trunk of his car.
“What do you have in there, rocks?”
“I’m sorry, next time I’ll pack light so a big, strong athlete can pick it up easily.”
Drew glares at me, slamming the truck close. He starts to walk toward the driver’s side door.
“You’re not going to open the door for me? What will Aunt Constance say?”
“Aunt Constance is on her way to Boca Raton, where she’s going to remain blissfully unaware of her great-nephew's lack of gentlemanly manners.” Drew gets in the car and rolls down the windows, peering at me through the passenger window. “Are you planning on staying here?”
Pulling my purse off my shoulder, I open the door and get into the car. Drew exchanges his glasses for prescription sunglasses and I don’t know why I find that incredibly cute. I pout, looking away and out the window. I’m losing my mind.
He pulls out of the driveway.
“Where’s Bailey?” I look behind me at the back seat and see a blanket covering it.
“Ford took her for the weekend,” Drew explains. “Who’s getting married, again?”
“Ash and Remy.”
Drew glances at me sharply. “Your ex-boyfriends?”
“The very same,” I say with a nod.
“That doesn’t bother you?”
I tilt my head. “Why would it bother me? They’ve always loved each other.”
The relationship isn’t something I bring up to a lot of people, or ever for that matter.
I know it’s hard for a lot of people to understand how I dated two men at once and that the men were also in love with each other.
Sadly, there are still people in the world who are incapable of understanding relationships beyond two people.
“Not that part,” Drew says. “I know they’ve always loved each other, I’ve met them. I’m talking about attending your ex’s wedding.”
“I’m happy for them.” I shrug.
Drew glances at me and I barely catch the raised eyebrow behind the rim of his sunglasses before he looks back at the road.
“I am happy,” I insist.
“If you say so.” Drew shrugs.
The car descends into silence. Silence is my enemy. I’m one of those people who always needs people around me or music or an audiobook. I’m sure a more mentally stable person will tell me it’s because I’m afraid to be by myself and probably they’re right.
“Here.” Drew passes me his phone. “It’s synced to the car. You can play whatever.”
I stare at his phone like he’s handing me a bomb.
“You’re giving me your unlocked phone?” I ask.
“I realize it’s like giving you the keys to my kingdom, but I’ve got nothing to hide,” he says.
I grab hold of his phone with my thumb and forefinger.
“What if I search through the photos and find your nudes?” I go to his music app and search for something I want to listen to.
“Jules, if some thirty year old man is sending you nudes, dump his ass.”
Is it weird that I love his dry tone?
Laughter bubbles up out of me. “Aw, has no one ever asked you for nudes?”
“Usually, women are sending rather than requesting,” he says.
My stomach twists at the idea that his phone is full of nudes from women. A part of me wonders what they look like. If he ever responds to them. If he likes receiving those kinds of messages.
“Must be nice,” I mumble.
“It’s all the same after a while. I stopped noticing.”
I give him a look. “You stopped noticing women sending you nudes?”
“After I deleted all social media? Yeah. There’s no place for them to send it to unless they sleuth out my email, which some have and gotten blocked for their effort,” Drew says.
It should truly concern me how happy that news makes me. Why am I suddenly thinking about what makes me happy or upsets me about Drew outside of how he acts with me? It has little to do with me. I select a playlist and Iris by the Goo Goo Dolls starts to play through the speakers.
“What if I look through your messages? The HoBros chat?” I raise my eyebrows. Surely there’s something in the chat he wouldn’t want me, a woman, to see.
Drew scoffs a laugh. “Go ahead.”
“I will,” I say obstinately.
“You should.”
Just to prove to him that I can, I do. I’m stubborn like that, and he’s given me permission so it’s not like I’m snooping.
“You have so many unread messages,” I say.
“The HoBros never stop.”
I click on the message app and their group chat opens up, showing all their messages.
**The HoBros**
Kandi (Kai)
Does anyone have a recipe for pie?
Crystal (Reese)
Am I invited?
Angel (Roman)
What kind of pie? I’ve got a few.
*link*
Destiny (Holden)
Kai, bake cherry pie and invite us over.
Kandi (Kai)
Thanks. And you want to come to Minnesota?
Crystal (Reese)
For cherry pie made by you, I’ll fly anywhere.
Trixie (Ford)
Will the bromance never end?
Destiny (Holden)
Why are you jealous? We offered to have you join us.
Trixie (Ford)
I don’t want to be the fourth in a threesome
Crystal (Reese)
It wouldn’t be a threesome if you joined.
Destiny (Holden)
You can have Reese.
Kandi (Kai)
All I wanted was a pie recipe
Angel (Roman)
You should have searched online
Crystal (Reese)
Why do I get stuck with the grump?
Destiny (Holden)
He compliments your sunshine personality
Trixie (Ford)
I’m fine by myself, thanks.
Crystal (Reese)
Your loss
I snort and cover my mouth in embarrassment.
“Find anything incriminating?” Drew is almost smiling as he slows down to match the pace of the car in front of us.
“Not unless cherry pie stands for something nefarious.”
I power off his phone and put it on the wireless charger between us. Still smiling, I lean back against my seat and relax. I love being driven around.
“Hey, do me a favor and grab the bag on the back seat,” Drew says.
I peek into the back and notice a reusable shopping bag. Because obviously Drew is the kind of person who not only remembers to shop for groceries but also brings his own bags. I can’t remember the last time I didn’t have to rush to the store because my fridge is sadly empty.
Not something to be proud of at my ripe old age of thirty-two.
I know I can set up regular grocery deliveries, but actually going to the store is sometimes the only time I get to leave the apartment.
I grab the bag and bring it to the front, setting it on my lap. Something inside it crinkles and I open it to reveal a plethora of snacks; chips, chocolates, cookies, an apple, and even oranges.
“What’s this?” I look up at Drew.
“From previous road trip experience, I know you tend to get hangry on the highway.” He shrugs like it means nothing, never removing his eyes from the road.
I stare at him, my mouth slightly parted. “You…bought me snacks?”
“No, Juliet, I bought those for me so I can eat them and give you nothing.” The sarcasm is unmistakable.
“Is this a last meal kind of thing? You’re feeding me before you drive to an undisclosed location and dispose of me?”
Drew stops the car, because of traffic, not out of shock, and looks at me. I hate that I can’t see his eyes behind his sunglasses. “Do me a favor, start with the apple.”
I look at the container of sliced apples. He bought apples and sliced one for me. I don’t know how to feel about any of this.
“Is it poisoned?”
“Guess you won’t know until you eat it.”
I guess I really won’t. I can start with one of the other items, but how do I know those aren’t poisoned? I’ll have to risk it. I open the container and bite into a slice, juice dribbling down my chin.
“Juicy,” I say. A kleenex appears in front of my face and I take it with a soft murmur of thanks.
“Why are you being nice to me?” I ask, picking up another slice. The apple is perfect, sweet and tart.
“This is nice?” Drew glances at me in question. “You’re best friends with my sister, you should have a better definition of nice.”
“It’s nice for you.” I bite another slice as I hum along to Torn by Natalia Imbruglia. I hate to admit that Drew has good taste in music. It’s the kind of music I jam out to while I’m in the writing cave because it speaks to my soul.
“I can either be nice or we can fight the whole weekend. Which do you prefer?” Drew says.
“I prefer that I be the bigger person who suggests we don’t fight,” I reply.
“And I’m supposed to be the competitive one?” Drew scoffs a laugh.
“You compete for a living. I’m just writing my little stories.”
“Little stories that land on you on bestseller lists,” Drew points out.
“A happy side effect. Something I never imagined when I started writing,” I say.
I hold a slice out for Drew because I feel bad that I’m the only one who's eating.
“Oh, uh, no thanks,” Drew says. “I’d rather not take my hand off the wheel.”
“Of course, you’re a perfect ten and two driver,” I grouch, moving my hand to his mouth. “Don’t bite my hand.”
“I’m not really into cannibalism.” Drew tries to take the whole slice of apple into his mouth and his mouth brushes against my fingers. I pull my hand quickly, the ghost of his lips lingering behind. A shiver chases down my back and I tug my sweater closer.
As someone who’s chronically cold, I’m never without a sweater, even in the middle of summer.
We make the rest of the drive in silence, except for the occasional comments on bad drivers, the weather, or if either of us needs to stop for a bathroom break.
“Do you want me to drive?” I ask after our quick pit stop in East Hartford.
“I want to get to New York in one piece,” Drew says, walking toward the driver’s side.
“I have a perfect driving record!” I call after him.
Drew looks at me over the roof of the car. “Your driving record is as perfect as Cher from Clueless.”
I have no choice other than to applaud him. “That was a top notch reference, Andrew. I’m impressed.”
“You and Lavinia only made me watch it fifteen times.”
I open my door and get in the car, stretching out my legs in front of me. “I’ll drive if you want me to. It’s bad enough you have to attend a wedding for me.”
“I feel safer knowing you’re the passenger princess,” Drew replies.
I’m an excellent passenger princess. Drew starts the car and turns the music on.