Page 35 of Being Julia

“Oh, Dad. There’s something I’ve been meaning to talk to you about. It’s about that scholarship I won. We don’t need it, and some students do. Can we give the scholarship to someone else? To someone who really needs it?”

“I already thought of that and left a message for the dean. I don’t see why not, and if we can’t, I’ll just match the scholarship and give it to someone in need.”

“Thanks, Dad.” I smiled as I got up from the table.

I started to clean up, but my mom told me to go and get dressed because she was taking me shopping for a new outfit for my date with Jake. It was unexpected, and I was so excited. She and my dad cleaned up, Collin went back to bed, and I went to my room and got dressed. As I was brushing my hair, my phone beeped with a text message from Jake.

“Good morning. I hope you slept better than I did. I can’t wait to see you later. Have a great day, Julia.”

“Good morning, Jake. I didn’t sleep at all. I just finished making breakfast for my family, and now my mom and I are going shopping.”

“You cook? You’re even more perfect than I thought.”

My heart melted when he said I was perfect. This feeling that had overtaken me was something I couldn’t describe. I’d never felt anything like it.

“Don’t put me on that pedestal yet. I can only manage to cook breakfast foods.”

“I’ve already put you up on that pedestal, Julia. I’ll talk to you later. My dad is calling me.”

“Bye, Jake.”

My mom and I went into the city and shopped all day. She told me it would make the day go by faster for me, and she was right. As we were leaving Starbucks, I ran right into a guy as he was coming in.

“Oh my God. I’m so sorry. I didn’t see you,” I apologized.

“No, it’s—Ellery?” he asked.

“Kyle?” She smiled as she hugged him. “It’s nice to see you. Wow, it’s been what? At least ten years?”

“Yeah, I think so. It’s good to see you, Ellery. This beautiful girl must be Julia.”

“Yes. This is my daughter, Julia. Julia, this is Kyle. We used to date.”

“I would call it more than dating. We lived together for four years.” He smiled.

It suddenly hit me. This was the guy my mom had talked about. He was her ex-boyfriend.

“It’s nice to meet you.” I smiled.

“Oh boy, Elle. She has your smile.”

“How have you been?” she asked him.

“I’m okay. I’m VP of the accounting firm, and I’ve just ended my second marriage.”

“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that.”

“Nah, don’t be. I just haven’t found the right woman to spend the rest of my life with yet,” he said as he looked at her with sad eyes.

She put her hand on his arm. “You will, Kyle. She’s out there somewhere.”

“I think I already lost her.” A smirk crossed his lips.

“Mom, look at the time. We need to get going.”

“You’re right, sweetie. It was good seeing you, Kyle. Good luck with everything.”

“Thanks, Elle. It was great seeing you too. It was nice to meet you, Julia.” He smiled.

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