Page 49 of Someone Just Like You

I rolled my eyes. “I feel so much better now.”

“And Charley is a matchmaker, which is essentially a recruiter for love.” Nicole clapped her hands to her face à la Macaulay Culkin inHome Alone. “Didn’t he also date a lawyer? You were a lawyer!”

“Still a lawyer,” I mumbled.

Michelle turned to Nicole. “Am I imagining this, but did the girl Jude took to the prom remind you of Molly?”

I gawped at her. “Haley? How do you even remember who Jude took to the prom?”

Nicole’s face was now the Pink Lady apple to her Granny Smith dress. “Yes! They all took limo pictures together, and Haley and Molly were yapping away between photos about law school versus medical school.” She looked at me fondly. “It was adorably studious.”

Michelle nodded energetically. “Haley was the first of the clones!”

Nicole chuckled. “That we know of.”

My heart skipped a beat. “You all knew about this? Even Eddie and Alison?” Everyone except me and Jude. All the snickering behind our backs finally made sense. “So we both have a track record of dating each other’s doppelgänger. What does it mean?”

“Personally, I always thought your hate for him was a little ‘the lady doth protest too much,’” Michelle said.

Nicole nodded. “Same. I always suspected you had a little crush. Both of you. All the traits you claimed to hate about each other secretly turned you on.”

“No way!” This was where I drew the line. Even if my physical reactions to Jude of late had been less “repulsed” and more…I didn’t want to say “aroused,” but fine…our antipathy toward each other growing up was as real as the hair on my head. It had to be. Otherwise, a huge chunk of our adolescence had been based on a lie.

“I can’t deal with this right now.” I stormed out of the bathroom in search of Timothy. It was rude to leave him unaccompanied for so long, especially to vent about another guy—one who could be his twin. Oh, God. They even had the same breed of dog. And they both named their dog after a famous athlete! They both drummed their fingers, quoted Beatles songs…the list went on.We’re all Groot.My stomach lurched again.

I didn’t get far. Standing outside the door of the men’s room with their backs to me were Jude and his parents.

“It’s time to consider what you want to do with your life. You can’t be a bartender forever.” Laura reached out her arm to comfort him, but he dodged her touch.

“Your mom is right, son. Once you’re my age, bartending won’t have the same draw. Women won’t be handing you their phone numbers when you have a dad bod. Trust me.” Randy rubbed his slightly protruding paunch.

A flush of heat swept up my neck. Why were they saying this to him now…in the middle of a party he threw for them?

Jude shook his head in disbelief. “Are we really having this conversation at your fortieth anniversary party? I’m notjusta bartender. Did you know I chose this place? My expertise in the restaurant industry helped us find it.”

Way to steal all the credit, Rude.

“Molly and I actually,” he amended.

I touched my fingers to my lips in surprise and unexpected pleasure.

“Your father was just saying his company was looking for assistant merchandisers. They have a great training program. Right, Randy?” his mom said.

Merchandising? Jude? No way.

“I have less than zero interest in the garment industry,” Jude said.

Enough.

Interrupting their squabble, I said, “Just the person I was looking for.”

All three turned to me.

“I can give credit where it’s due. The wine selections were perfect.” I beamed at Jude’s parents. “Your son is quite the sommelier. He really knows his grapes.”

Jude widened his eyes.Hazel with blue flecks.

“Also, Esther wanted me to thank you again for what you did that night.” I stepped closer to them as if confiding a secret. “I don’t know what would have happened if you hadn’t stepped in.” Again, I turned to the Starks. “My best friend is having some trouble with an ex. He stalked her location on social media and followed us to Jude’s restaurant, then refused to leave. But Jude took charge and got him out of there peacefully. He’s so much more than a bartender. He practically runs the place. You must be so proud of him!” I swung my head from left to right. “I should really go find my date. I’ll see you guys later!”

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