“I’m good, but not that good,” Annie said, giving me the stink eye.
Richard started telling her about his life, specifically that he made a lot of money with their dad and the size of his new mansion. Unfortunately for him, Annie was not the type of woman to fall for a man simply because of his money, especially one that was quite a bit older. She also didn’t think very highly of the Truman family, since Jake had turned out to be such a playboy and his father had never been the nicest of men.
“Another one?”
I looked up at Jake as I finished the last of my drink. My intuition told me to stop, but I needed to relax to confidently talk with him.
“Thank you,” I said.
I told Jake about the art gallery and Caley, and not once did he ask me about my husband. The more I drank, the more I wanted to come clean with him. We’d become so close in high school, and there I was, a soon-to-be divorcee, pretending to be happily married.
“Are you dating anyone right now, Richard?” I asked glancing over at my sister.
Annie had made it clear she wasn’t interested, but Richard hadn’t gotten the hint. She glanced at her watch and then grabbed her purse.
“Are you alright,” I slurred at her as Annie stood up.
“Oh, I’m fine,” she said, glancing at Jake. I could tell that she was nervous about what might happen if I stayed and kept drinking. “I just think that it’s getting late. Would you like me to take you home?”
Annie looked at me with wide eyes, but I wasn’t ready to leave.
“How about we get you an Uber?” Jake whipped out his phone, and Richard sat back down in his chair.
Annie finally realized that I wasn’t leaving. “Call me when you get home, okay?” She gave me a long, hard look, and I nodded. She sighed and slapped Richard on the shoulder. “C’mon, Richard. You need some fresh air.”
Richard put his arm around her, and they walked out the door.
Jake and I laughed as he leaned back in his chair and turned to face me. “I have to say, Julianna. You look really good.”
I felt my knees go weak as he stared at me. His eyes had always been so intense, the kind that could get a woman to drop her panties without saying a single word.
“So do you,” I said. “But no more, pina coladas.”
All of the rum had gone to my head, and I started to giggle.
“Are you in a rush to get home? Or would your husband mind if we took a little walk?”
I glanced at my watch. It was eleven. Heather had told me to stay out as late as I wanted, that she was in no rush to get home. I told her that if she was tired after putting Caley to bed, that she could just crash on my couch.
“I don’t think he’d mind,” I said.
Jake helped me to my feet. It was a very quick realization that four-inch heels were probably not the best choice when alcohol was involved. But hell, with the liquor clouding my mind, I figured it was a good excuse to lean on Jake. It was probably going to be the one and only time I got to.
8
Jake
Julianna and I made our way down Main Street, stopping to look into stores that we used to go into all the time in high school. I smiled as we walked past the independent bookstore. We used to spend Friday and Saturday nights there. Julianna had loved their slam poetry sessions.
When we passed the hot nuts stand, she started to giggle when she asked me, “Remember the time we ordered these, and you screamed ‘hot nuts’ so loud it made the guy almost fall off of his chair?”
I tried so hard to keep my laughter low, but I couldn't help it. I hadn't thought about that in years. The people passing on the street gave us curious looks. I didn’t care, though. Julianna lit up when she laughed.
“How about the way you ate them,” I said back. “You were all like, ‘mmm, nuts!’”
She laughed so hard she lost her footing and plopped down right on her ass, which of course made me laugh even harder. Julianna looked up at me with red cheeks. “I don’t think heels were a good idea for tonight.”
I held out my hand and helped her up. She didn't let go as we continued on, and I didn't mind in the least.
