Page 73 of If This Was a Movie

“Do I now?”

“Soph,” I warn. “I’ve got it.” The girl can be a great wingwoman, but with Jules, we gotta play it smart, not overwhelm her. She shifts her glare to me, and I glare back, a battle I win for once when she rolls her eyes and sighs.

“Fine.”

“Now, come on. Get your jacket on, and grab your backpack. You don’t want to miss the bus.” I look to Jules, holding up the discarded jacket as Sophie slides her arms in. “Want to get coffee and check your place out today? I’ll explain all of this.” My hand moves in the direction of my daughter. “Then.”

“Yeah, I’d love that. I have the cast party at six, but until then, I’m all yours,” she says with a smile.

“All right, perfect. Go get dressed, and we’ll meet back here in ten.” She nods, sleep still in her eyes. “And Jules? Dress warm.”

Once I get Sophie on the bus, I step back into the house to see Jules waiting for me in a pair of thick leggings, an oversized cream-colored sweater with a thick jacket over the top, her hair loose and long. It’s casual and so very Jules, and she’s never looked more gorgeous.

When I get close to her, I smile and grab her hand, tugging her to me before pressing her back to the door as I close it andcovering her body with mine. When I press my lips to hers, she tastes like the mint of her toothpaste and the strawberry lip balm she likes so much, and I get lost in it.

We stay like that for long minutes, with a good morning kiss and then some before I pull back, pressing my forehead to hers and smiling. This is what I want for us: this easy, free feeling, kissing her without her hesitation, without her second-guessing. I want this every fucking day, and I’m doing whatever it takes to get this. Yesterday, I had to fight with myself not to let things go further, not to make her come on my thigh, because I’m not sure how she’ll react to it, or if that would be too much, too fast. I feel like I’m walking a careful tightrope with Jules sometimes, but my eyes are on the price at the end.

Her.

“Hey,” I say eventually.

“Hey,” she whispers, then clears her throat. “So what is going on? I feel like I walked into a trap.”

I smile wide at her, grabbing her hand and leading her out of the front door and to my car.

“I mean, you kind of did. Sophie yelled at me this morning, told me I’m fucking up making her Christmas miracle come true because I haven’t taken you out on a proper date.”

“A cardinal sin,” she says with a small smile.

“Yeah, nothing like the movies, as you know. Apparently, all of the movies have a grand gesture, and that’s where I’m slacking.”

“Oh, is that right?” she asks, her smile widening, the words playful as her arms stay looped behind my neck, and hope ignites in my gut again.

I just need to maintain this lighthearted, easy way with her. Jules only shuts down when she starts to think we’re moving too fast or when she gets nervous. If I can keep her comfortable and prevent her from overthinking, I think we can work to get pasther fears. I help her into my truck, closing the door behind her and walking to the driver’s side.

“So I figured I could appease her, I suppose, take you to coffee,” I say jokingly, and she giggles. “Then we can go check on your place before you head out to your party. My mom is picking up Sophie today, so I don’t have to be back until later,” I say as I pull out of the drive and make my way to downtown Evergreen Park.

With a wide smile, she reaches over and grabs my hand, holding it gently.

“I can be on board with that,” she says.

TWENTY-NINE

JULES

When we pull into a parking garage in downtown Evergreen Park, the butterflies start, which is silly because we’re just getting coffee. Plus, this is Nate, we’re talking about, the man I’ve had coffee with almost every morning this month. The one I’ve spent more time with in the past month than I have with any of the people who matter most in my life.

Still, he smiles at me, and my stomach flips as if he’s some stranger I have a crush on.

It’s a reminder of just how fucked I am.

When we step out of the car, Nate gives me a goofy grin, and I can’t help but return it as he grabs a plaid and fur trapper hat. He slides it on his head before he grabs my hand and starts leading me toward the exit.

“What’s with the hat?”

“I’m getting into character.”

“Into character?” I ask, confused.

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