Page 82 of The Holy Grail
EVAN: I wish you every happiness. I do, but that doesn’t mean I want to see it, at least not for a while.
JULES: I understand, but what about the work I still need to do for the bar? I’m not completely finished.
EVAN: I’ve already talked with Evelyn, and she’s going to be your point person until you’re done. Anything you need to do, can be done during her shifts, and she can fill me in on anything I need to know.
EVAN: I’ll send you her contact info.
Feeling overwhelmed and utterly shitty because of the situation, Jules began to cry, something she rarely ever did. But the moment called for it, and her vision was blurry as she texted back.
JULES: Okay.
JULES: I really am sorry.
EVAN: Like I said, you shouldn’t be sorry for something you have no control over.
A few seconds later, Evelyn’s contact information popped up on her screen, and there was nothing left to do but accept the new parameters of her relationship with Evan.
In effect, they didn’t have much of one anymore, and it hurt like hell.
She wiped at her eyes and face, then started to tilt the rearview mirror so she could see the damage, when there was a tapping at her window. Knowing it was probably Malcom, she turned and met his gaze.
When he saw the obvious signs of crying, he immediately opened the door. “What’s wrong?” he asked, concerned. “Did something happen at the meeting?”
Instead of answering, she grabbed her purse and overnight bag and got out of the car. “The meeting was fine.”
Ever the gentleman, he took her bag. “Then what is it?”
“It’s …” she broke off and swallowed hard. She wasn’t prepared to have a conversation about what was wrong, so she shook her head. “Is it okay if we don’t talk about it right now?”
Malcom looked like he wanted to press her, but stopped himself, and slowly nodded instead.
Chapter 25
An invitation
Malcom inwardly groaned at the sound of his cell phone ringing. His first instinct was to let it go to voicemail, since he was on the verge of falling asleep after an energetic round of sex on his couch with Jules—he’d taken her suggestion of having condoms stashed in every room to heart and had been able to conveniently grab one out of the side table’s drawer.
He had to admit it was very handy … not to mention it eliminated the need for a lot of clean-up after.
Since he’d found her in tears in her car two hours ago, she’d been ratherneedy, for lack of a better word. And while he didn’t necessarily mind that, he didn’t like whatever the driving force was behind it. He knew something was very wrong, but he had to respect her not being ready, or willing, to talk about it yet.
Trying not to disturb Jules too much—who was curled up between him and the back of the couch—he reached down to the floor and blindly searched for his jeans. Once he found them, he then had to rummage in a pocket to retrieve his phone before accepting the call from his mom.
“Hey, Mom,” he greeted her, keeping his voice low, even though Jules was now fully awake, too. She also seemed amused that he was taking a call from his mom while they were lying naked on the couch, covered with a blanket.
“Hi, Malcom,” Beverly returned. “I hope I’m not disturbing you.”
“No. I’m not doing anything.” Technically that was true. “What’s going on?”
“Well, I’ve decided you and Jules have been going out long enough without me meeting her in person, and that needs to change.”
Jules, who was just able to make out Beverly’s words due to Malcom’s phone being so close, gave him an exaggerated, wide-eyed look. His mother sounded so authoritative, which amused Jules, especially since it seemed to sort of fluster him. Although, to be fair, most of his discomfort was likely due to the circumstances in which the phone call was being held, rather than the actual content … which motived her to bend her head and nip at one of his nipples, making him shiver.
Because … why not?
“Oh, it does?” The question came out in a slightly higher pitch than normal, and he caught Jules’ eye and gave a quick shake of his head, as if to say,Don’t you dare go for the other one.
Jules returned his head shake with one of her own, accepting his challenge, then proceeded to nip at the other one.
