Page 4 of Entirely Yours
Her brow furrows, and she seems to be having a silent conversation with herself. She tilts her head, rolls her eyes, and then covers her face with both hands. I see her shoulders rise on a big inhale, and I know I should go over there, but I’m mesmerized by every movement of her body.
Only when she drops her hands and turns back toward the back room do I make myself known.
“You’re back,” I say, projecting my voice so I can catch her attention over the bar noise. I know she hears me because her whole body freezes. When she turns back toward me, her smile is luminous.
“I thought you left,” she says, a hint of that sadness still remaining. Almost like she’s used to being forgotten.
“Just ran to the bathroom.” I gesture over my shoulder. “Honestly, I was beginning to thinkyouhad snuck out the back.”
The corner of her mouth lifts. “I had to help Sophia,” she says by way of explanation.
“Of course,” I reply as if I know who the hell Sophia is. “You guys are closing soon, right?”
She nods.
“Can I—I mean, would you like me to walk you home? Or… something.”Not creepy at all, Jules.
Her face screws up again, the slope of her nose creating a crease that I’m dying to reach out and smooth. “I drove. It’s fucking freezing in Boston.”
“That it is…” I reply. “I could walk you to your car?” I’m trying not to sound as desperate as I feel.
Her eyes narrow. “Are you a serial killer?” she blurts. “I watch a lot ofDateline.”
The laugh bursts out of me. “What? No! I don’t even like to kill the bugs that find their way into my house. We can FaceTime my sister—she’ll vouch for me.”
That answer seems to satisfy her because she visibly relaxes and says, “I always wanted a sister.”
I’m about to tell her she can have mine when she leans over the bar and props her head in her hands. Her full lips fall into a pout, and I have to tear my eyes away.
“Here’s the deal, Jules. I like you—you’re funny, hot as fuck, and tonight is my last night here. You can walk me to my car if you want, or…”
“Or…?” I ask.
“You said you were staying across the street?” I nod. “No wife or girlfriend?” She pauses. “Or boyfriend? I don’t judge.”
“No, ma’am,” I reply with a barely concealed smirk.
She pushes off the bar. “Then let me finish shutting down while you decide where you want to walk me.” Then she fucking winks.
This is probably a mistake.
Actually, it’s definitely a mistake.
I’ve never been as forward with someone as I just was with Jules.
But I can’t seem to make myself care.
I was surprisingly distraught when I thought Jules had left without saying goodbye. Luckily, it seems like he’s not ready for our night to end, and neither am I. Dad has Chloe taken care of so it’s not like I need to rush home anyway. And selfishly, I want to do something for myself. Something that feels good. Tomorrow I can go back to being responsible.
Tonight, I want to be reckless.
As I’m cleaning up behind the bar, I can feel Jules’ eyes on me. I convince myself I can be casual. People have one-night stands all the time! No one I know personally, but surely it happens. And maybe it’ll be nice to not get so attached, likeI did before.
It’ll definitely hurt less.
I walk over to Jules, and the unmistakable hunger in his eyes sends a shiver down my spine. “I’m going to grab my jacket, and I’ll meet you by the door?”
He nods but doesn’t say anything. He seems like the type that doesn’t talk unless he has something really important to say, spending most of tonight observing the world around him. Observingme.
