I grab us robes from the bathroom. “I’m sorry.”
“Are you kidding?” She moves to the couch, pulling me with her. “Tonight was perfect. I’ll never forget this.”
She yawns.
“I should probably take you home. You have to be up early.”
“Ugh, I know. Can’t be late again.” She’s quiet for a moment. “I really like you, Nick Banks.”
“I really like you too, Julie Loveland.”
I put on some clothes, and she stays in the robe. Then I drive her home. I think about how this disaster of an evening somehow turned into something even better than what I’d planned.
As I walk her to her door and kiss her good night, I think that maybe that’s what this is with Julie—perfectly imperfect, but it’s ours. And that’s all that matters right now.
“Nick?” she says as I turn to leave.
“Yeah?”
“Blaire will interrogate me in the morning.”
“Tell her what you want.”
She laughs. “She’s not going to believe me. I take that back. Sheprobably will believe me because the two of us have the oddest luck. The stories I could tell you.”
“I hope to hear them one day.” I lean forward, sliding my lips against hers, pressing her against the door. “Good night, girlfriend.”
“You drive me wild,” she whispers.
I laugh against her neck, then pull away. “It’s mutual. Sweet dreams.”
I walk backward toward my car, watching her breasts rise and fall.
“You’re going to make me work for it, aren’t you?”
“You know it,” I tell her, smirking. “Are we marking skinny-dipping off your list?”
“Yes, we are,” she says.
As I drive away, I can’t stop thinking about her. And somehow, it was one of the best nights of my life because it was real. Unscripted. Just like us. And maybe that’s exactly what makes being together so damn perfect.
13
JULIE
I’m trying to focus on the morning rush, but my mind keeps drifting to last night. The way Nick’s hands felt on my skin, and how he looked at me like I was something he wanted, continues to unravel me. We almost lost control in the water under the starlight. I sigh.
If it wasn’t for those meddling kids!
“Earth to Jules!” Blaire snaps her fingers. “That’s the third time you’ve overfilled a cup.”
“Shit!” I grab towels to clean up the mess.
“So …” Blaire leans against the counter, watching me when there’s a lull in customers. “How was your night?”
I give her one look, and that’s all it takes.
Her eyes go wide. “Tell meeverything!”
