Page 11 of Someday Not Soon

“You’re lying. And the answer is absolutely no one.”

She rolls her eyes. “Not lying. Do you want me to take a public roll call right now of how many guys here want to fuck you? Because I swear on this delicious ass spicy sausage roll that I’ll do it.”

As she starts to raise her arm to signal for everyone’s attention, I swiftly intercept, pulling it down with the speed of a torpedo.

“Okay, okay, I believe you. Where’s Cole anyways? I need him to come get you before I die of embarrassment from your mission to get me laid.”

“Him and Ava are having a daddy-daughter date tonight. He’ll be here tomorrow afternoon.”

“Wow, I’m impressed. How much did you have to bribe him to get him to come to a multiple day social event?”

“I asked him post-orgasm. It’s like he’s physically incapable of saying no after he comes.” She wiggles her eyebrows proudly, as if she’s discovered the key to saving mankind.

“Can’t say I’m surprised,” I laugh.

My heart swells with happiness for my two best friends. I’ve never seen them so happy, and I suspect their significant others have an awful lot to do with that. Cole and Noah are good men that accept my friends exactly as they are, and love them insurmountably for it.

At this point in my life, I’ve come to terms with the fact that love isn’t in the cards for me. I’m not like them. I’m not sunshine and rainbows and easy to get along with. I’m more like a winter night—cold, quiet, and hard to warm up to.

Right then, Madi stands on a chair, cupping her hands to her mouth, as she announces, “Everyone meet up on the back patio. It’s officially ice breaker time!”

Ice breakers. The bane of my existence. My extroverted friends have no idea the torture these things cause for an anxiety-riddled introvert like myself. But it’s not my party, and I’d do anything for my friends. Even if that entails speaking in front of a large group of near strangers.

Stepping into the cool night air, Jude and I make eye contact as soon as I step over the threshold of the back door. Our gazes flit away instantly like we’ve been caught red-handed.

A bubbly, auburn-haired woman stands by his side,chatting with him. I recognize her as Madi’s friend and coworker from the hospital. What I don’t know is who she is to him.

A flicker of jealousy lights me up, and I attempt to stomp it out. He isn’t mine. And as much as it felt like he was mine that summer, I quickly learned that wasn’t the case. It was purely a dream that faded as fast as it all began.

Noah corrals everyone onto the spacious deck. An elegant glass barrier lines the entire yard while offering an open view of the ocean. It’s currently pitch dark, but the rush of the roaring waves below is still audible, filling the night with its sound. The cedar deck is large enough to fit everyone, as we all gather around the crackling natural stone fire pit.

As Noah thanks everyone for coming out, a warmth envelops me from behind. I don’t need to glance back to know it’s him—Jude. He’s always been my sixth sense. Whenever he’s near, my body instinctively responds, aware of him without needing visual confirmation. Standing stock still, I pretend not to take notice of our proximity. It’s safer to pretend like he doesn’t exist.

Madi suggests that each person share their name along with an interesting fact about themselves. As people begin to make their introductions, my mind draws blank, as I scramble to come up with anything remotely interesting about myself.Interestingis not a word I would ever use to describe myself in the first place.

Hi, I’m Ella. My parents recently died.Too depressing.

Hi, I’m Ella. And I’ve been infatuated with the man behind me for over ten years.Too thirsty.

Hi, I’m Ella. I like…shit, whatdoI even like?

“I fucking hate these things.” His deep voice rumbles close to my ear, sending a shiver down my spine as his words float around me.

I glance toward him and whisper, “Hate isn’t a strong enough word.”

He tilts his head motioning towards the sliding door, before leaning into me, creating an intimate bubble so that no one can overhear us. “What do you say? Should we make a run for it?”

“Stop tempting me. Pretty sure this is an official bridesmaid duty.” That, and I don’t trust myself around him.

The solid wall of his chest makes brief contact with my shoulder. “Well, I’m here if you change your mind.”

“Ella? Jude? Which one of y’all is going next?” Noah yells over.

Apparently, we failed to notice that the introductions had circled around to us. Now we have twenty sets of eyes staring, awaiting a response. I panic, taking a sip of my water to buy me time to come up with something that’s not generic or depressing as hell.

Jude must sense my hesitation, as he speaks up right away. “Hey everyone. I’m Jude, Madi’s brother. And I hate seagull shit on my car.”

A hush falls over the room, besides a confused laugh or two, as the joke sails over everyone’s heads.

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