Those words reached deep down inside, like my joking had revealed something about myself that only she could see. And her promise to do something that other people would laugh off was as strong as any.
We walked back to the house, both a little soggy, muddy, and sweaty, but with something new between us that even the almost-kiss hadn’t created.
I snagged a muffin from the breakfast food they were bringing out and chugged a gallon of water.
“Where’s the real food?” I had my emergency stash in my backpack like always, but I was sure I could sweet talk someone into bringing me some scrambled eggs with cheese and bacon.
Jules grabbed a plate and filled it with pineapple, kiwi, and a croissant. “They’ll do a sit-down breakfast at nine. Don’t worry. They have your cheesy scrambled eggs and bacon.”
I stopped midway through a bite of my blueberry muffin with real blueberries. “How’d you know that’s what I wanted?”
She shoved half a cornucopia of food into her mouth and covered it with her hand, shrugging her shoulders. “Seemed like something a hungry football player would eat.”
“Julia.”
Jules once again went stock-straight.
Her mom walked across the room with a big smile and an outfit that I’d be afraid would stain if I breathed on it.
“Getting in a little early morning exercise?” Her mom looked from me to Jules.
“Jules was up early and I decided to tag along.”
“That’s so wonderful that you joined her, Berkley. I hope she didn’t slow you down too much.”
Jules had her head down, staring at her cantaloupe like she could levitate it into her mouth.
“Nah, she was kicking my butt out there.”
Ms. Kelland let out a trilling laugh like I’d said something hilarious. “Such a gentleman.”
“Not sure how admitting Jules nearly left me in the dust back there was gentlemanly, but I’ll take it.”
She tilted her head and patted me on the shoulder. “You two should go get cleaned up before breakfast. Julia, a moment.”
“Go ahead, Berk. I’ll meet you in the room.” Jules sounded like she was getting her last rites.
“I’ll hurry up and shower, so you can have the whole bathroom to yourself.”
“So kind of you.” Her mom beamed. She wasn’t the warm and fuzzy type of mom. The pale pink pants and off white top screamed ‘children go wash your hands before you touch anything,’ but she damn well knew how to throw a party. And she hadn’t taken one look at me with Jules and called security to boot me out.
It didn’t make sense why Jules hadn’t wanted to come this weekend. Her sister’s friends were asshole-ish. Her sister and mom were… interesting, but nothing I couldn’t handle. Maybe Jules was one of those people who didn’t know how lucky they were to have a parent around. But Jules had never been a diva or ever talked badly about anyone, not even her asshole landlord who’d nearly turned her house into a deathtrap.
If I was missing something, I couldn’t see it.
14
Jules
We made it out the other side of the weekend unscathed. Well, Berk did. Every time my mom ‘needed a word’ I braced myself to feel a few inches smaller.
“Your sister wanted you as a bridesmaid, but we may have to take you out of the pictures if you don’t lose some weight before then.”
“You’re lucky he’s even here with you. Why would you try to outrun him? Don’t you know men like to feel powerful. Not have a woman try to show them up.”
“Please go take a shower before everyone assumes you’re sweating because of the heat.”
“Where did you get those clothes, Julia? It’s a wonder he saw anything in you at all.”
I’d been seconds from screaming the truth right in her face, but that would’ve been worse. That I’d lied about being with Berk—oh, sorry, Berkley—would only be another example of how I suck and no one like him would ever want to be with someone like me. At least once we left, I’d have no trouble floating the lie that he’d broken up with me.
I zipped up my bag in our room, but Berk wouldn’t let me haul it out to the bus. He grabbed it, picking it up like it was nothing.
The ride back to the city would be quieter than the one up. Early mornings were not the thing for this set, so out of the three shuttles they’d run from Kelland Estate, I made sure Berk and I were on the first.
I took the inside seat this time, needing Berk’s buffer between me and anyone else who’d decided on an early morning departure. As we pulled down the gravel driveway the shuttle’s leather seats weren’t even halfway full, but Berk didn’t move rows.
The storm clouds were back, rain drumming on the window I rested my head on. The hoodie Berk had let me borrow smelled like him and swam on me, which made it perfect for sinking into.
“What do you have planned before classes start?”
“Stress baking as I try to get everything ready.”
“Let me get in on some of that.” He unravelled his headphones from around his phone and stuck a twizzler into his mouth. He had a Mary Poppins-sized portion stashed somewhere.
I shoved at his shoulder and he barely moved; it was like jamming my hand into a brick wall. “You’re not supposed to bask in my stress.”
“How can I not when your delicious treats are what I get because of it? I’m tempted to stand outside your bedroom banging pots and pans to keep you bleary-eyed and baking.”
“Then I’ll sick Elle on you and you know Nix’ll back her up.”
“Playing hardball, I see. He invited us all over to watch Reece’s game this week. I think he’s just happy he’s not doing two-a-day practices and about to head out on the road for the season. Can’t believe he passed on the paycheck, though.”
“Some things are more important than money.”
“Says the person who always had it.” He looked at me with a small grin. The butterflies in my stomach were like a herd. A flock? Whatever the hell a group of butterflies was called, and that was bad, bad news. Berk was so many things, but my new boyfriend wasn’t at the top of that list. He had my new heartbreak written all over him, and I’d been there already. Standing inside my front door as he ordered a cake for Alexis. I still didn’t know the deal with her and I wasn’t going to put my heart on the line to find out.
“Touché.”
He held out an earbud to me. “Have you heard the latest James Arthur album?”
“You’ve got a killer ear. Lay it on me.”
“I like listening to new stuff, so I’m always rediscovering things I’ve forgotten about.” He held out the bud to me.
My fingers itched to grab it and let my skin brush against his, accidentally-on-purpose, but this was the time to put that friend barrier firmly back in place. He’s not thinking about you like that. Don’t mistake his kindness, or even a semi-drunk almost-kiss, for anything more than it is.
“I’m not feeling too hot. I’m going to sleep.” I stared down at the floor between our feet.
“Was it the eggs? I don’t know how you eat them so runny.”