Page 81 of All's Well that Friends Well

We’re quiet for a second, and then India says, “So this is why you dropped out at the community college?”

I nod slowly. “Yeah. I guess I could have gone back after I recovered, but I didn’t really want to. I liked teaching dance too much.”

She hums, and Aurora straightens up, looking more like herself now. “So…how do you feel about talking about it?” she says. “Should we not ask how you’re doing? Do you want us to check in?”

My mouth opens and then closes again as this question filters through my mind. I didn’t expect them to ask this.

“I—” I begin as my burning eyes are joined by a lump inmy throat. “I don’t mind talking about it if I need to, but it’s not my favorite thing to discuss. I just prefer…normal.”

The two of them nod.

“Got it,” Aurora says briskly. “We’ll discuss it on your terms only unless there’s a need to do otherwise. I do have one question, though.”

I raise my brows, waiting, and I’m surprised to see her eyes narrowing.

“You’re telling us this before Cyrus, right?”

I clear my throat and clasp my hands behind my back. “I don’t think we need to discuss?—”

“You told him first?” Aurora cuts in, and next to her, India looks outraged.

“He’s more emotionally constipated than Aurora!” India says, ignoring the glare Aurora shoots her. She swings her feet to the floor and straightens up. “How come he was first?”

“It just happened that way,” I say soothingly as something light and bubbly rises in my chest. Laughter, joy,love.“It wasn’t something I planned. He was home and you guys weren’t. You know I love you all dearly.Now,” I say loudly, because they’re both opening their mouths to protest again, “do you want to hear about the man in my life or not?”

And I feel like I’ve been pumped full of helium, like any second someone will tie a string to my foot and I’ll float to the ceiling—a big Juliet-shaped balloon, lighter than air. It’s a giddy sensation, one that tugs a smile to my lips even as I stand there, waiting for my sisters to stop berating me and glaring at me.

Luckily my question catches their attention; they both look at me expectantly, if not grudgingly.

“Luca Slater,” I say as that giddy feeling still bubbles inside. “I like him.”

Such a simple admission—to my sisters, no less—but it feels different, somehow. I’ve never cared this much what they think about the guys in my life.

“Jules,” Aurora groans, slumping back into the couch cushion. “Luca Slater?”

“Be nice,” I say with a little frown as a few of my giddy bubbles pop, bringing me back down to earth.

But as India’s eyes dart over my expression, she nudges Aurora, who freezes. Aurora straightens up, her features going from disapproving to sharp, interested.

“Oh,” she says after a second as the two of them look at me.

“Youlikehim,” India says.

“A lot,” Aurora adds. She quirks her brows at me. “Don’t you?”

I press my hands to my cheeks, trying to cool them. “Yes. I really, really like him,” I say in a small voice.

And for a second, they just blink at me. Then a smile splits over India’s face, wide and bright.

“Jules,” she says, tossing a pillow at me. “Why didn’t you tell us?”

I press my cheeks harder, trying to hide my own smile. “It’s all been very quick, and he’s a work in progress.”

“Has anything happened?” India says, and Aurora nods. A little smile has tilted over her lips too, small but genuine and warm.

“We may have kissed,” I admit. “But—but!” I say quickly before they can react, “It’s complicated.”

India nods, her eyes wide, as does Aurora.

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