Page 158 of The Winslow Brothers

“But don’t worry,” she continues. “He’s officially been fed, watered, and taken out, and I’m just finishing up in your bedroom.”

“Okay. Good. That’s good.” I breathe out a sigh of relief. “What’s your ETA on leaving?”

“If you stop asking me damn questions? Ten minutes, tops.”

“Okay, I get it.” I grin. “I’m officially leaving you alone.”

“Good,” she says, and it sounds like she’s breathing so heavy I’m wondering if she’s actually running around our apartment. “I’ll text when I’m out.”

“Perfect.”

“Okay, seeyabye!”

The line clicks off, and I meet my reflection in the bathroom mirror.It’s almost go time, Soph.

Once I do a quick check of my hair and makeup, I head back out to the table and sit down across from Jude. But when I look at him, expecting him to simply be enjoying his meal, that’s not what I find.

He’s looking at me in a way I’ve seen before. Sparkling, blue eyes and a soft smile, I’ve seen this look exactly three times before now.

Oh no. No-no-no!

“Sophie.” He reaches across the table and takes my hand in his. “I love you, baby.”

Ah, shit. He’s going to do it.

“I love you too,” I say and quickly try to change the subject. “How’s your…uh…” I glance down at his plate, where the fettuccine Alfredo he ordered sits untouched. “Pasta? Good?”

“Who cares about the food, babe?” His smile reaches his eyes, turning them warm like blue-colored honey. “I want to tell you something.”

“Uh…how about you hold that thought while we eat?” I blurt out. “You know, otherwise, the food will get cold.”

He just shakes his head and scoots his chair closer to mine, and I know that if I don’t think of something quick, everything that I’ve planned is about to be ruined.

“Baby, I—”

“I’m not feeling well!” I shout at the top of my lungs, so loud that even a couple on the other side of the restaurant hears me.

“Huh?”

“I’m…uh…not feeling well?” I respond, but when I realize it sounds more likeI’masking him, I shake my head and rephrase. “I feel sick, Jude. I think we need to go home.”

“You’re sick?”

“Yep. Not good. We should go.” I nod manically as I stand up from my chair with such force the damn thing topples over and onto the ground.

“Shit. Babe, do you need a doctor?”

Oh God. This web of lies is starting to get way bigger than you want…

“No, no.” I brush it off. “It’s fine. Just…I should probably take a hot shower and lie in bed. That’s it. Sick enough to need to leave, but not so sick that we should be worried. Like, half sick. Can’t-be-out-in-public sick.”

Jude just looks at me in bewilderment, surely because the shit coming out of my mouth doesn’t make sense, but I somehow manage to get him to follow my lead.

Once he tosses some money onto the table, he wraps his arm around my shoulders, tucking me close to his side, and guides us out of the restaurant.

And as we head toward our apartment, only a few blocks away, all I can think is,Holy moly. I really hope Julie is gone by the time we get there.

Jude

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