Page 56 of Just A Date

He’s got a point. He usually does.

I roll out my shoulder. Why don’t Ikiss everything I love goodbye now?

“I deserved it.” Sean backs up to the counter and leans against it. He’s taking responsibility for something? Sean? “Look, dude,” Sean addresses me. “It wasn’t for my entertainment or just a bet. I actually care about you sometimes.”

He might as well be speaking Chinese. “I’m not following.”

“Did youwantto find love?” he asks, instead of explaining.

All three of them look at me, and I squirm. We aren’t in some heartfelt rom-com. “Why are we talking about this?”

Sean scratches his chin.

“Everyone knows you love your job, but you’ve been missing out, man. You say you’re going to settle down someday, but if all you do is work, someday will never come.”

But Ilikeworking. I fold my arms and plant my feet. “What’s wrong with being passionate about work?”

“There’s nothing wrong with that,” Trent chimes. “As long as you have other things to enjoy in life, too.”

“I care about lots of things.” Like my family, and studying different woodworking techniques, and…well, I’ve never been good at coming up with things on the spot.

“Sean’s right,” Grant says. “Stupid, but right. It’s nice to see you fired up about something—someone—besides work.”

That’s one way to describe what I’m feeling. Fired up. Burned to ashes. Same thing.

“Well, great, I’m glad everyone’s happy but me.” I throw my hands in the air. I can’t believe them.

Sean pushes off the counter. “I never wanted the job.”

I knew it. I’m one second from taking him to the ground again.

“But you’ll be a better boss if you care about more than just the job,” he continues.

I scowl, but I understand what he’s saying. My dad is a good boss because he puts his employees before the job. He treats each one of us with respect, even if we make a mistake. It’s possible I’ve been more friendly lately, instead of trying to get all my work done. Alone. “And the only way to do that was to make me fall in love?”

Sean holds his palms out in front of him. “I didn’t make you do anything you didn’t want to do.”

He’s right. Again, stupid, but right. I fell for Juliet all by myself. I would have fallen for her without Sean’s meddling. He just sped up the process.

“Then I guess I’m the idiot.” I sigh. “Because love sucks.”

I turn and finally make it into the shop.

Late. For the first time in my life.

Chapter 24

Juliet

I thought it wouldn’t hurt to walk away from Michael. I’d prepared for it, but a piece of my heart ripped when I left him. If I wanted to, I could trace my painback to him blindfolded.

Karli steps into my room with a plate full of cookies. “Are you finally ready to talk about it?”

I haul my face an inch off the pillow I’ve been attached to for nearly the last forty-eight hours.

“If I give you the two-minute version, will you give me the cookies and leave me alone for the rest of the year?”

She gives me a sad smile. “Promise.”

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