Page 37 of Being Julia

Collin came running down the stairs. “Hey, sis, you look great! Dad, we need to talk about that car you said you’d buy me.”

“I know, Collin, and we will.”

“But I need one now. I can’t even pick up Hailey for a date because we’re here at the beach house, and I have no way to get to her,” he said.

My dad reached in his pocket and threw his keys to Collin. “Take the Range Rover. Your mother and I aren’t going anywhere tonight.”

“Thanks, Dad!” Collin exclaimed as he turned around and quickly ran out the door.

“Connor, I thought we were going out to dinner?” my mom asked as she looked at him.

He walked over to her and whispered something in her ear. Suddenly, she started grinning. I rolled my eyes and shook my head. I’m sure it had something to do with sex since they would be home alone.

There was a knock at the door, and my mom walked over and answered it. I walked out of the kitchen with my dad following behind and smiled when I saw Jake standing there. He looked at me, and I pretty much stopped breathing. His face lit up when he saw me, and when I walked over to him, he took my hand and kissed my cheek. My heart was pounding so fast. There was no way he couldn’t have heard it.

“You look beautiful, Julia.”

“Thank you. You look amazing.” I smiled.

“Are you ready to go?” he asked.

“Yes.”

My dad walked over to me, kissed my cheek, and shook Jake’s hand. “Have fun, you two.”

“What time should I have her home?” Jake asked.

“She doesn’t have a curfew, and just a reasonable time is fine,” my mom said as she pushed us out the door before my dad could say something. “Have fun and be safe,” she said and quickly shut the door.

He opened the passenger door to his Range Rover, and I smiled. It was just like my dad’s, but his was white. “Is this yours?” I asked him when he climbed in.

“Yeah. My parents gave it to me as a graduation present.”

“Very nice!” I grinned.

“Is there anything special you want to do? Because I’ll do anything you want. That is after we grab something to eat. I’m starving.”

I didn’t care what we did. As long as I was with him, it didn’t matter. We could sit in the Range Rover all night and listen to music, and I’d be happy.

“It doesn’t matter to me what we do,” I said.

“Do you like Italian food?”

“I love it!” I smiled.

“I know this great restaurant called?—”

“Tivoli’s!” we both said at the same time.

He looked at me with a wide grin across his face. “You know it?”

“It’s my favorite Italian restaurant.”

“Seriously? You’re serious?”

“Yes, I’m serious.” I laughed.

“Mine too.”

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