“Will, this is Megan McBride, a friend of mine from college. Meg, this is my brother, Will.”
Will stands, towering over her, and offers his hand. Meg’s face sobers, but she shakes his hand politely. “I know who you are.”
He just nods and takes his seat again.
“What have you been up to?” I ask her.
“I’m a charge nurse at Seattle Children’s Hospital in the cancer unit.” Meg smiles shyly, her dimple in her left cheek winking at me, and I grin back at her.
“That’s awesome! Good for you, girl. Are you still singing?”
“Uh, no.” She shakes her head and blushes, looking down at the table. “Not since college.”
“You sing?” Will asks.
“She has a fantastic voice,” I reply and smile encouragingly at Meg.
“Thanks, but you know how it is, life takes over and things get busy.” She shrugs and smiles at me again.
Will catches my eye and he raises an eyebrow. Yes, she’s hot, moron.
“Are you married?” I ask her.
She giggles almost cynically. “Hell, no.”
“Can I get your number?” Will asks, straight out, and I frown at him.
Meg gapes at him for a moment, but then glares at him. “Hell, no,” she responds coldly.
Wow, what got her panties in a twist?
Will’s jaw drops and he smirks, then shakes his head. “Excuse me?”
“I don’t think I stuttered,” Meg responds, then puts her hand on my shoulder and grins at me. “It was great to see you. Take care, girl.”
“You too, Meg.”
“What the hell was that all about?” Will asks, bewildered.
“I don’t know.” I shrug and then smirk at him. “You just have such a debonair way with women.”
“Shut up, brat.”
***
It’s Wednesday, but the whole family is at my mom and dad’s for dinner, despite it being the middle of the week. I know it’s because everyone wanted to make sure that I’m okay, and it makes me feel loved and secure knowing that they care enough to want to check on me in person.
But my heart just isn’t in it. It’s been two days now since I last saw Nate, and it’s killing me.
“Jules, honey, would you like some dessert?” my mom asks, smiling at me. I’m completely stuffed from her delicious fried chicken and mashed potatoes, which will earn me another killer session at the gym, but I always have room for dessert.
“What do you have?” I ask.
“I made your favorite,” she says with a wink. “Chocolate cheesecake.”
And just like that my world falls apart all over again. At first, all I can do is stare at her as I feel the tears fill my eyes, and the next thing I know, I tip the chair over in my haste to get out of it and run out into the back yard. The tears are falling in earnest and I just can’t control the shudders working through my body.
Suddenly, strong arms wrap around me and I’m cradled in my dad’s arms. He rocks me back and forth, his big hand running up and down my back.
“Shh, baby girl, it’s okay.”
“No, it’s not okay,” I sob and cry harder, gripping onto his shirt with my fists.
“I take it Nate gave you chocolate cheesecake?” he murmurs with humor in his voice.
I nod.
“Sounds like he likes to spoil you.”
“I can’t talk about him.” I mumble through my tears. “I don’t even know why I’m so upset.”
“Because you love him and he disappointed you, darlin’.”
I lean back and look up at my dad. “I thought I knew him.”
“What exactly happened, honey?”
I shake my head and pull out of his arms, but he leads me to a nearby bench and makes me sit. “What happened?” he asks again.
So I explain what happened on Monday, and as I work my way through the events, my dad listens, his eyes narrowing, nodding, exhaling loudly, and when I done, he looks at me with a sober face.
“Julianne Rose Montgomery, I’m disappointed in both of you.”
“Huh?”
“You need to let him explain.”
I start to shake my head but he lays his hand on my forearm, catching my attention.
“People screw up, Jules. He has some explaining to do, but you wouldn’t let him talk. Let the man talk.”
“You and Will are two peas in a pod.”
We stand and walk back in the house. It’s quiet inside. Everyone looks so somber waiting for us to return.
“You okay?” Isaac asks quietly.
“I will be.” I respond.
Natalie is burping Olivia and I hold my hands out. “Baby. Mine.”
Natalie smirks and hands her over to me. I cuddle Olivia close and smile at Nat. “Thanks.”
“So, no cheesecake. How about apple pie?” Mom winks at me and everyone starts chattering around me again. I kiss Olivia’s head and look over at Luke who grins and takes a sip of a beer.
***
“So, why did I have to call Will’s phone to reach you?” Natalie asks from the facial bed next to mine. We’ve decided to cash in my birthday spa day. Our heads are wrapped in white towels, our bodies draped in cozy white sheets, and we both have mud masks freshly brushed on our faces with cucumbers over our eyelids.
It’s freaking heaven.
“Because I haven’t turned my phone on in four days.” I murmur.
“Why?” she asks again.
“Because I don’t want to know if Nate’s called or texted.” I respond and sigh as the technician begins to massage my hands.
“But… why?”
“Trying to de-stress here, Nat. You’re not helping.”
“I’m sorry, I’m trying to understand.”
“If he has called,” I say patiently, “I’m not sure I want to hear his voice or his excuses. If he hasn’t called, it’ll hurt.”
“Okay.” She doesn’t sound so sure, but she drops it, and we stop talking and enjoy our delicious facials. We’ve decided to go for the whole princess treatment today, and indulge in one-hour massages, mani-pedi’s and waxing too.