Page 67 of Kisses and Paperclips

Mika sipped her drink, shaking her head. “Baby girl over here had us convinced she wanted him fired, not—”

“Don’t.” I pointed a warning finger between them, though my lips threatened to betray me with a smile. “I’m still weighing my options.”

“Mhm.” Nia arched a brow, her gaze sliding past me to where Julien stood at the bar. “Looks like the only thing being weighed is how fast you can get out of that dress tonight.”

Julien returned, cutting through the crowd with that effortless confidence that made heads turn. He handed Mika her martini first: dry, with two olives, exactly how she liked it before passing Nia the unopened water bottle he’d tucked under his arm.

“Designated driver?” he asked, and Nia’s eyebrows shot up, impressed he’d noticed she hadn’t touched a drink all night.

Then he turned to me, holding out a flute filled with something lightly tinted red, a cherry resting at the bottom.

“What happened to Pepsi or cider?” I asked, taking the glass.

His grin was a slow, wicked thing. “Thought you might like a taste of better memories.”

I took a sip. Sweet, fizzy, and unmistakable. A Shirley Temple. The same drink we’d shared that night at the hotel bar, when neither of us wanted the evening to end.

That damn dimple made another appearance. “Last-minute change of heart.”

He didn’t have a drink for himself, I noticed. Like he’d only come back for us.

For me.

The girls thought they were slick, tip toeing backward with innocent smiles. Giving us space without saying a word.

Julien didn’t waste the opportunity.

He stepped in closer. So close, I could feel the heat of him radiating through the silk of my dress.

“I’m surprised you came to the after-party,” I said, my eyes flicking up to meet his.

Julien didn’t flinch. “You’re here.”

His gaze lingered long enough to feel like a touch before drifting toward the crowd.

“I’m just trying to enjoy the night. Like everybody else.” He said eyes still on the crowd, scanning it.

I took a slow sip from my glass, feigning nonchalance. “Looking to enjoy it with one of those models?”

I tilted my chin toward the bar, where a few of them were laughed too loudly and posing eyes devouring him.

He didn’t deny it.

Just shrugged, smooth and unapologetic. “Maybe.”

That one word hit harder than I expected. Not because I cared.

At least, I told myself I didn’t.

But something in me… shifted.

His eyes returned to mine, quieter now. “You good?”

I nodded, but my voice caught in my throat before I could speak.

Because suddenly, I wasn’t sure.

I nodded, a little too quickly. “Yeah. The night’s not lost.”

---