“The four of us plus Jade have been doing this ever since we were little.” Lily filled me in. “My parents would take us out, we’d grill lunch, hang out on the boat, get a swim in. It was always the perfect day. Then we’d head back to my parents’ house and have dinner with Marnie, Cooper and Eliza’s grandma. Things have changed a little over the years, but we’ve tried to keep the tradition going with whoever is in town for the weekend. I’d say this year worked out great, especially with you here, Jules.”
I couldn’t remember the last time I felt this included. I knew a fair amount of people in my life in Chicago between my coworkers, apartment neighbors, and casual friends, but I didn’t have many people I could truly count on, besides my brother. I hadn’t gotten any texts asking how I was doing or where I was spending the summer. The people I thought I had in my life in Chicago either didn’t notice I was gone or didn’t care—neither of which felt good.
And while I’d been excited for today with Eliza, Lily, Cooper, and Wes, I’d also been nervous. These four were close—they’d spent their whole lives together. It was tough sometimes to be the new person trying to catch up with the various years of memories or follow along with stories. Eliza and Lily were best friends, and a part of me wondered if I’d feel out of place hanging out with them.
But it wasn’t like that at all. I was welcomed right away. I felt like I could be myself.
As we laughed at another one of Cooper’s jokes, I couldn’t help but feel like I’d found my people. I wanted to soak up all the time I had with them before summer ended.
My eyes were glued to Wesley as he walked through the shallow lake water with Cooper.
Wes found us a spot near a sandbar to anchor down. Lots of other people had the same idea. While some people stayed on the boat, others were swimming or walking in the water to cool off.
The guys took a break to hop in the water, while Lily, Eliza, and I stayed on the boat. We’d moved over to the shaded seating area and were each a few seltzers in.
Wes was shirtless, the planes of his muscular chest on full display. And I wasn’t the only one looking. Every woman out on the water was looking at Wesley Richards, and he didn’t even realize it. His back was toned, likely from a combination of working out at the gym and manual labor.
“Jules?”
I heard my name, but it wasn’t until Lily reached over and nudged my knee that I turned to her. “Huh?”
“What happened earlier today? I wanted to make sure you were okay.” Lily frowned, sympathy in her expression. She had such a big heart, and I loved her for it. She was always looking out for those in her life.
Paradise Lovehadn’t come up today, apart from when Eliza and I were at the front of the boat and I filled her in on what had happened before summer started.
I didn’t mind Lily asking about it now, and I was glad it was just the girls as I talked about it. I was finally making some progress with Wesley, and I didn’t think talking about the reality show I was on would help my cause. I wasn’t embarrassed about going on the show. It was what happened afterward that made me want to crawl in a hole.
“There was another article.” I sighed, bringing my knees up to my chest. “Tony did an interview withReality Weeklysaying the audio was taken out of context and that I knew his intentions all along.” I rolled my eyes. “He even said he was trying to spare my feelings and do both of us a favor by the way he ended things.”
Eliza’s jaw dropped. “What an entitled, selfish asshole.”
“I’m so sorry you have to go through this, Jules,” Lily added. “I’m glad you didn’t stay home, though, because now we can keep you company and keep your mind off of it.”
“We have your back no matter what,” Eliza assured me. “The people in your life who know you know the truth.”
“I’m so glad to be spending the day with you both. It’s exactly what I needed. Wes said being out on the water would make me feel better, and I guess he was right. I’m honestly still surprised he was the one who invited me and the one who checked on me.”
“Eliza and I were getting ready to head over, but he insisted he be the one to stop by the cabin.” Lily stood, adjusting her bikini top and slipping out of her shorts.
“Oh, he did?” I asked, trying to keep my voice casual and my expression neutral. In reality, I picked apart every word of that sentence, focusing on how Wes hadinsisted. It would’ve been easy for him to step back and allow Eliza and Lily to check on me. But heinsistedon being the one to stop by.
I obviously didn’t know what was going through his mind—I rarely did—but I knew Wes did what he wanted to do, when he wanted to do it. The thought of him being worried about me filled my stomach with butterflies.
“Yeah, he was so stubborn and annoying about it. Drives me nuts when he gets that way. It’s his way or the highway, so Eliza and I stayed back.” Lily rolled her eyes.
Eliza looked at me with a smirk. If she noticed me overthinking the exchange, she didn’t say anything.
“Should we get into the water for a little?” Lily asked.
“Yes, please,” Eliza said with a grin, finishing her seltzer. “I need to cool off from this heat, and I think Jules does, too,” she teased with a wink.
The water might help with cooling off from the heat, but I didn’t think there was a way to calm the brewing curiosity I had for Wes.
22
WESLEY
“What’re you thinking about?”Juliette asked, sitting next to me as I drove the boat away from the sandbar. We’d just finished lunch. Cooper used the boat’s mini grill to cook up hot dogs and brats, which paired great with the watermelon Juliette brought. Between the food and the drinks, everyone was beat and looked ready for a nap. I thought Juliette had been ready to doze off, too, until she got up.
