Page 59 of Sunshine

“Don’t be sorry.” Julian gave me a quick kiss. “You weren’t lying. Wedon’twant to date a bunch of people. Just Sunshine. She’s just insecure and isn’t going to assume she’s the exception.”

I sighed. “I was trying to make her feel good. Special.”

Instead I’d just been confusing her.

“Hey.” Julian put his face close to mine. “Stop. Timing’s been off for four years, too. It’s fine. I’ll just flirt with her and bring up the matchmaking thing. And ask her on a date.”

Julian settled back on my chest, sounding pleased. “It’s time to just be blunt. I should have been blunt months ago, but I didn’t want her to feel rushed.”

“Especially with those assholes that broke her heart still poking around,” Logan growled.

I wanted to text her right away, ask her over. But it was only eight or so in the morning, and she was either sleeping or getting ready for work. Julian had a good plan, and he wanted to see her for more than just dating. She would comfort him too, a sure sign she belonged in our pack. If Julian wanted her around when he was feeling his most drained, we wouldn’t have any problems.

“When are you going to see her?”

Julian laughed. “I know, I want to go right now. But I’m exhausted and I’ll make a mess of things. Maybe after a nap. Or tomorrow. I’m off.”

I shifted the blanket around Julian again and tried to calm my mind. Julian knew how to handle this. And when he asked her on a date, and she said yes, Logan and I could explain exactly what we meant when we’d turned her down for the matchmaking services.

It was hard to focus, but Julian finally fell asleep. I made myself rest too.

Our lives were about to change for the better, and I didn’t want to make another mistake like that. No matter how small.

Chapter 18

Sunshine

The day after the smashing success with Mrs. Cullen, Julian texted me his congratulations. He apologized for taking so long to get back to me, but I’d told him not to worry. He wanted to hang out the next day. I told him I was off and looking forward to it.

My stomach swooped at the thought of being around him. I needed to just suck up my feelings and ask him about what he meant when he told Chuck the pack wasn’t closed. I’d tried to ask Logan and Luca a hundred times, but I couldn’t figure out how to ease it into casual conversation.

Hey, remember when you told me you weren’t dating, but then it turns out you actually might be dating? About that…

I sighed. I was a hopeless coward. I needed to get my courage up and ask. I no longer thought they would laugh in my face. Maybe it would feel a little awkward, but now I felt like Julian wouldn’t shun me. And if he said thanks but no thanks, I’d even make a joke about how of course he was irresistible.

Still, my stomach churned.

Julian texted that he was on his way over and when he arrived, he’d brought boxes of food. “Logan’s been in a cooking frenzy. You should come over, really take advantage of that.”

I laughed, joy bubbling up inside me. “That’s not the only thing I could take advantage of.”

Julian blinked, looking shocked for a minute.

Nerves fluttered through me, and I breezed past him. “We should play Race to Win. I watched YouTube videos on some tricks.”

“Did you?” Julian smirked, heat in his voice. “We’ll have to see about that.”

My brain stopped for a minute. Were we flirting? We were flirting. I thought. Maybe.

I grabbed snacks and water, and we played. I was still terrible at the game, but it was fine because the tracks were fun, and Julian was hilarious when he was trash talking the other computer-generated racers.

He flopped back onto the couch. Despite his happiness, he had bags under his eyes and his scent smelled off. “I’m beat. Let’s be lazy and watch some Kitchen Wars.”

“Let’s snuggle again. You look like it’s been a rough couple of weeks at work too.”

“Don’t I know it.” He shook his head. “We had three back-to-back calls the other night. I thought Luca and Logan were going to go through the roof when I came home.”

“That sucks.” I scooted closer to him, putting my head on his shoulder.

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