Page 63 of Entirely Yours
Are those…? Yup, pretty sure an entire flutter of butterflies just took flight in my stomach. Jules holds out his hand for me, and I take it, excited to see where the night will lead.
As it turns out, the night leads to a cozy little Italian restaurant, dimly lit with candles on every table. Jules and I split the best spaghetti and meatballs of my life—thank God I can eat beef again—and it all feels veryLady and the Tramp. He called ahead to make sure they could make a mocktail for me and even let meorder two desserts because I couldn’t decide between the chocolate cake or the cannolis.
He’s perfect.
After I’ve cleaned both dessert plates, Jules leans back in his seat and asks, “Ready for our next stop?”
“There’s more?” I blurt.
His eyes crinkle with his smile. “Of course. Let’s go or we’re going to be late.”
The aforementioned next stop is the park, I realize as Jules brings the car to a stop. “I thought Chloe was kidding when she said you would take me to the park,” I joke.
“Well, we aren’t going to play tag… unless that’s something you’re into.”
An image of Jules chasing me—catching me in his beautiful, muscular arms and spinning me around with ease—flashes through my mind. I can feel my face flush, giving my thoughts away.
Jules turns to me with a raised eyebrow, his finger traces the blush as it climbs up my neck. “Noted,” he whispers before leaning into my ear. “I love that I can see exactly what turns you on, Rosie girl.”
“I will mount you right here in this car, like two teenagers with raging hormones and nowhere to go,” I tease.
I feel Jules’ chuckle against my skin. “Don’t tempt me.” He plants a single kiss under my earlobe before pulling away. “Another time.”
Jules climbs out of the car, leaving me hot and bothered in the passenger seat. I hear him open the trunk and then close it again. By the time he makes it around to my side, I’m still recovering. “You coming?” he asks, opening the door.
“I wish.” When I look up at him, he has one of his rare grins plastered across his face and a large blanket under his arm.
He holds out his free hand to me and I take it, letting him guide me into the park and over a small hill. On the other side is—“An outdoor movie?” There are several blankets spread outacross the lawn, a big projector standing on the opposite side playing the beginning scenes ofThe Parent Trap. “I love this movie!”
Jules just smirks as he lays out the blanket he brought toward the back of the crowd. Wrapped in the blanket were two sweatshirts and a pack of peanut butter crackers, perfect for the chilly night air and my perpetually hungry belly.
We sit down, watching the movie quietly for a little while, our fingers lightly intertwined between us. Eventually my head makes it down into Jules’ lap, and I enjoy the way he immediately starts playing with my hair. As Hallie and Annie leave camp to swap lives, I turn to face Jules and ask, “Do you have any flaws, Julien Bardot?”
He looks down at me with a sheepish smile. “Of course I do, Thea Rose.”
“Name one,” I reply.
“I snore.”
I wrinkle my nose. “I don’t remember that.”
“You’re right, I don’t snore.” He shrugs.
“See! No flaws!” I exclaim, and I’m immediately shushed by the people in front of us. “Sorry!” I mouth, giving them a little wave.
“I hate vegetables,” he tries.
“Everyone hates vegetables.”
“I’m terrified that I’m going to scare you off,” he admits.
Oh.
“That’s why you won’t tell me your flaws?” I whisper.
“Maybe…” he replies. “Or maybe I am flawless.” A joke. A deflection.
“The night we first met, I called you TBD in my head.”
