JULES
It was strange.I’d left for Ohio, expecting it to be a nightmare, and I returned realizing it was a catharsis.
The trip took the messy, blurred pieces of my life and threw them into sharp relief.
Alastair was dead and couldn’t hurt me anymore.
My mom was dead, and no matter how much I agonized over what ifs, she was never coming back.
Max remained a threat, but he’d been oddly silent for a while. Until he made his next move, there wasn’t much I could do.
And Josh…Josh was one of the few bright spots in my shitshow of a life. Changing our relationship from enemies with benefits to dating was like jumping off a cliff—it could end in the most exhilarating rush of my life or total disaster.
But I already had enough regrets. I didn’t want Josh to be one of them.
Sometimes, you had to take a leap or risk getting stuck forever.
“What do you think?” I turned slowly, letting Stella examine my outfit.
Josh and I had our first official date today, but no matter how much I cajoled, threatened, and bribed him, he’d remained tight-lipped about what we were doing, so I was flying blind when it came to the dress code. His only guidance was to dress nice but not too nice, which was no freaking help at all.
After much agonizing, I’d settled on a blue sundress with sandals and styled my hair in a high ponytail to stave off the sweltering June heat. It was fun, flirty, and casual enough for a stroll in the park but dressy enough for a nice restaurant.
At least, I hoped so.
Stella assessed me from head to toe before giving me a thumbs up. “Perfect.”
Thank God. I didn’t have time to change. I was already running late.
Since Josh couldn’t pick me up from my house, I met him in Georgetown as requested.
Flutters filled my stomach when I spotted him waiting at our designated meeting spot.
White button down. Dark jeans. Tousled hair. So gorgeous it made my heart hurt.
I kind of wished we still hated each other because our relationship was not great for my cardiac health.
“Hey, Red.” Josh looked me over, his eyes heating. “Nice to see you looking presentable for once.”
“Nice to see you looking human for once.” I gave him an equally deliberate once-over. “How much did you pay for the skin suit to cover up your devil’s horns and reptile skin?”
“It was free. I’m just that charming,” he drawled.
“I think the seller was just scared you’ll suffocate him with your giant ego if you didn’t leave soon.”
His laugh rolled through me like molten caramel, rich and sweet. “I fucking missed you.”
I fell into step beside him as we walked down the street toward our mysterious destination. “It’s been three days.”
“I know.”
The flutters intensified. Dammit. When he wasn’t being an ass, he could be so…sweet.
“Are you going to tell me where we’re going now?” I was too curious not to ask. Why hadn’t Josh asked me to meet him at the date spot instead of some random street corner?
He heaved an exaggerated sigh. “Patience.”
“I don’t know what that is, but it sounds boring.” I stifled a laugh when he side-eyed me.
“You’re insufferable.”
“So you keep saying, yet you missed me and you’re on a date with me. What does that say about you?”
“That I’m a glutton for a beautiful punishment.”
I bit my lip to contain a burgeoning smile. “You should look into that. Doesn’t sound healthy.”
“I did. There’s no cure, I’m afraid.”
I stumbled on a loose cobblestone and would’ve face planted on the sidewalk had Josh not caught me by the wrist.
“Careful,” he said, his eyes aglow with amusement. He knew exactly what he was doing, the bastard. “Don’t want you to fall.”
“I won’t.” I mustered a haughty tone and smoothed down my skirt, my cheeks red.
After another five minutes or so, we finally stopped in front of a tiny shop with a striped awning and the words Apollo Hill Books stamped in gold on the windows. Piles of books filled the display, obstructing my view of the shop’s interior, and two royal blue carts groaned beneath the weight of discounted tomes on the sidewalk.