I gave a halfhearted smile and let myself out, knowing that neither one of us would benefit if we embraced each other.
By the time I got home, it was dark. After going inside the guest house, I plopped myself down on the sofa and called Hillard. Even though I knew he’d encourage me to let Julianna go, I still needed some advice from my best friend. I needed reassurance that I was doing the right thing.
“Jake!” Hillard’s voice boomed so loud into the phone that I had to pull away.
I could tell that he was at a bar, probably surrounded by gorgeous women. “Damn, man. Can that music get any louder?”
I actually felt a small headache coming on.
“Sorry, let me go outside.” I heard a few women say his name as he walked by, which I knew inflated his ego.
And I also was aware the personalities of those women were the polar opposites of Julianna.
“When the hell are you coming back, man? I need my wingman!”
No. I’m done being your wingman.
“In a week,” I said. “Just have to tie up a few loose ends out here. How are things in San Diego?”
I listened for several minutes as Hillard told me all about his latest trysts, which included several threesomes and an ongoing affair with a married woman. A few years before, I would have been jealous, but now I just felt disgusted. Especially, after seeing how badly Cam had hurt Julianna by having an affair.
“Does this married woman have kids?” I didn’t do an excellent job of hiding my disgust.
“Yeah, but why should that matter?” He was getting defensive.
Hillard wasn’t used to me questioning his womanizing ways, especially since I had also slept with married women who had children.
“That’s kind of messed up, man. She has a family, and you’re ruining it.”
“Since when did you give a shit? She’s hot! You’ll see what I mean when you meet her.”
I rolled my eyes and let out a sigh.
Hillard was silent for several moments. “Oh, my God.”
I leaned my head back. “What?”
“You’re hung up on Julianna! She has a kid, too, right?”
I stumbled to find the right words to say. I didn’t want to come off as being wrapped around Julianna’s finger, but I’d never been one to hide my real emotions.
“Yes. I can say that’s an honest assessment,” I finally told him.
Hillard started laughing into the phone, and it didn’t make me feel good.
“I don’t know, man. Things may have gotten a little more serious than I’d planned with her, but you shouldn’t be sleeping with a married woman who has kids.”
“Dude, you need to get your shit together. Because we’re blowing up this town as soon as you get back!” A few guys yelled “hello” to Hillard as they walked into whatever bar he was at that night. “You’ll forget Julianna as soon as you get back, I promise.”
“Not sure if I can do that,” I said.
“Which part? Partying or forgetting Julianna?”
I knew that I could never forget Julianna, but I wasn’t about to admit that to Hillard. “Partying. This new expansion will be taking up most of my time. I found out today that we’re going global.”
“Bullshit. You’ve never let work get in the way of partying.” He was right. “You’re hung up on this broad. Let me tell you something. Small town life is just that…. small. You know damn well that you can’t expand your company if you stay in River Valley, and just think about all of those years you pulled what, 14 sometimes 16-hour days? And you’re willing to give all of that up over this Julianna chick?”
“She’s not a chick,” I shot back. “She’s a woman. And I didn’t say that. I’m just, I don’t know.”
