Page 42 of Just Say Yes

How the hell could someone like Trent leave this woman hurting after all that time?

When she turned and spotted me, her eyes widened in surprise. A flash of pink colored her cheeks, and I knew she was thinking about the other night.

“Hey,” she said, her voice a bit unsure. “Didn’t expect to see you here so early.”

I offered her a small smile. “Came to check on Arthur ... and you.”

She glanced away, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “Yeah, about the other night ... I’m sorry, I?—”

“It’s okay,” I interrupted gently, moving a step closer. “Your sister is kind of scary,” I joked. “But, really, I just want to make sure you’re all right. That’s all.”

“I’m great.” She took a breath, hesitating, her eyes drilling into me. “It’s just ... I knew you and Trent were friends, and things did not end well between us.” She gestured between our bodies. “Whatever I thought this might be ... is probably a mistake.”

I nodded, settling back on my heels. “I totally understand.”

Didn’t I?

The truth gnawed at me. I didn’t like thinking about MJ being withanyoneelse, let alone my best friend. Trent still hadn’t called me back, and the more time went on, the longer it was festering in the back of my mind.

Her shoulders relaxed slightly, and she looked up, meeting my gaze. “Thanks, Logan. I appreciate that.”

For a moment we stood there in uncomfortable silence, the busy hum of the nursing home a quiet backdrop. The hint of vulnerability in her eyes was raw, real, and it tugged at something deep and protective inside me. Best friend or not, I fought against the urge to kick his teeth in for putting that jaded look in her eyes.

After a beat, I cleared my throat, trying to lighten the mood. “You know, I’m still testing out nicknames for you,” I said with a playful grin.

I was good at this—keeping things light and easy.

“Oh no,” she groaned, rolling her eyes as we walked side by side toward my grandfather’s room. “Do I even want to know?”

“Well, I’m open to suggestions, but I’m curious now,” I said, tucking my hands in the pockets of my jeans. “You never did tell me what MJ stands for.”

She hesitated, her cheeks flushing slightly. “It’s, uh ... Julep. My real name is Julep.”

“Julep?” I repeated, testing the sound of it, letting it settle.

The name felt ... right, fitting her in a way I couldn’t fully explain. “That’s a great name. Why doesn’t anyone call you that?”

Her shoulder lifted. “My brothers thought it was funny to call me ‘Mint Julep’ growing up, and it just stuck. Most people around here don’t even know my real name.”

“Do you like it?” I asked, genuinely intrigued.

“My name?” She laughed with a shrug. “Does it matter?”

My shoulders lifted to mirror hers. “It does to me.”

MJ stared at me before smiling. “I do like it.”

I smiled, a decision forming quietly in my mind. “Well, Julep,” I said, letting the name linger with a sense of something just between us, “from now on, I think that’s what I’ll call you.”

She blinked, surprised, her gaze flicking up to meet mine. “You don’t have to ... I mean...”

“It suits you,” I replied softly, noting the faint hint of color in her cheeks. “Pure. No mixer.”

She blushed again, and I found that I liked that shade of pink in her cheeks.

Though I didn’t say it out loud, there was something about calling her by her real name that felt like a small honor, a privilege.

Her lips curved into a slight smile, a glimpse of the warmth she seemed to radiate from every pore.

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