Page 15 of Forgettable in Every Way

It was kind of like what happened between Jules and Simon. He’d been so enthralled with Penelope, he didn’t realize Jules had floated away.

“Jules.” Simon followed her. “How could I forget you?”

She waved her hand in the air. “It’s fine.” Her tone said it definitely wasn’t fine.

He caught up to her and grabbed her hand. “Jules, will you please look at me?”

She stopped and sighed.

Meanwhile, Simon curled his fingers around hers, noting how well her hand fit into his, as if it had been molded for his own. He remembered holding her hand before, when crossing a busy street to pull her along or to keep her steady when ice-skating, but he didn’t remember the searing connection.

Jules swallowed hard and looked down at their clasped hands, worry etched in her features.

What did she have to worry about? Simon wondered. “I know I came off as an arse yesterday, but I wasn’t expecting to see you in Aspen Lake.”

She said nothing, only continued to stare at their hands.

Did she feel it too? The spark between them. Or did she hate him for letting her slip out of his life as if she meant nothing to him?

“Jules, I owe you an apology.”

Her eyes drifted up and met his.

He wished to get lost in the sea of indigo before him, but he was afraid she would never let him test the waters out.

“What for?” she whispered.

He cleared his throat. “I’m now realizing that I behaved poorly in New York. I let our friendship slip away and I regret it.”

The mention of their past made her drop his hand. Clearly, it bothered her. “It was a long time ago. I should go back in. I have a lot of work to do.”

“What kind of work?” He was desperate to know anything about her.

Jules didn’t get the chance to answer.

A graceful older woman with long gray hair wearing a flowy white dress walked their way. There was something familiar about her, but Simon couldn’t place her.

Winston must have known her, as he left Jack’s embrace and waddled over to her.

“Mom?” Jules said, surprised.

Why was she surprised to see her mother? Simon silently asked himself.

Jules’s mom looked between Simon and Jules with interest. “I didn’t know you were seeing anyone.”

Jules coughed and spluttered while her face turned a bright shade of red. “I’m not seeing anyone. This is Simon. We knew each other in New York,” she explained.

It disappointed Simon she hadn’t referred to him as a friend. He apparently had a lot of work to do to earn that title again. On the other hand, it pleased him to know she wasn’t involved with anyone.

“Oh, well. I saw you from the window and you looked to be ...” She smiled. “Well, more than friends.”

“She’s a princess.” Jack pointed at Jules. “And she’s my friend.”

Jules’s mom gave Jack an adoring, grandmotherly look. “Aren’t you the cutest?”

Jack nodded, making Jules’s mom laugh.

“Mom,” Jules said, flustered. “This is Simon’s son, Jack. They just moved to town. Simon was married to Penelope,” she said uneasily. “Simon, this is my mom, Sandra.”

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