Page 60 of Backhanded Compliments

Juliette shrugs. “Do as I say, not as I do?” she offers, and Remi laughs. Juliette counts it as a win.

“So, are you going to see Luca?” Remi asks, her playful smirk returning. It’s more at home on her face than her dejected hopelessness.

Juliette blinks. “What do you mean?”

Remi looks at her like she’s the biggest idiot in the world. “Uh, she’s injured. Don’t you think you should go hang out with her? Comfort her? I mean, wouldn’t that be a good place to try to rebuild trust with each other?” Remi tilts her head, considering Juliette with appraising eyes.

Juliette opens and closes her mouth like a silly guppy. How had she not considered that?

Well, she knows how. Because she’s a coward. Juliette is afraid of pain and rejection, and she knows there is a very big chance that Luca will slam the door in her face. But Luca might also consider that Juliette would understand. She’s had an injury sideline her from a big tournament; Juliette knows how isolating an injury is.

Juliette scratches her wrist and makes up her mind.

“You’re right,” she tells Remi.

Remi smirks. “I always am.”

Juliette glares at her, but a smile tugs at her mouth traitorously. “Don’t push it.”

Remi laughs, boisterous and infectious, and Juliette gives up and joins in.

Approximately two hours and thirty-seven minutes later, Juliette stands outside of Luca’s hotel room, laden down with shopping bags. Luckily for Juliette, Luca has been advised not to fly to America yet with her strained back. She shifts, anticipation and excitement swirling in her stomach. She’s grateful for all her sisters’ help at the grocery store, but she’s acutely aware that she probably bought too much.

After a bit of bullying over text—more like a lot of groveling and begging—Nicky had given her Luca’s room number.

She shifts the bags to one hand and knocks on the door. Shebounces on her toes while she waits, time stretching uncomfortably long. What if Luca is asleep? What if she’s at physiotherapy? What if she’s with her friends or Vladimir?

Finally, Juliette hears the familiar click of the dead bolt sliding back, and the door swings open. Luca glares into the bright light of the hallway, her brow scrunched, and blinks. Her long and lanky frame is swallowed by an oversize black sweatshirt, the hood pulled over her hair. “Juliette?”

“Hi,” Juliette says lamely.

“If you’re here to try to have sex, I’m out of commission for today,” Luca says dryly.

Juliette chews on the inside of her cheek and shakes her head. Then she hoists up her haul. Luca’s eyes lower to the bags, staring at them like Juliette brought a live snake to her door. “I brought snacks. And games.” She tugs on the strap of her backpack. “I figured if I can’t beat you on the court, I might as well kick your ass at Mario Kart.”

Luca tilts her head and, without a word, pulls the door open wide to allow Juliette into the gloom of her hotel room.

Juliette weaves through the suite to the kitchenette, where she puts down the bags and her backpack. “How’s your back?” she asks tentatively as she starts to pull out snacks. There are several varieties of popcorn and chips, raisins, nuts, and about a dozen different chocolate bars.

Luca hunches against one of the high-top chairs on the opposite side of the counter. She shrugs with a single shoulder. “Hurts,” she mutters.

Juliette winces. She should have expected that. “I didn’t know what you liked, so I kind of bought everything.” She pulls out a bag of chocolate rice cakes, a staple of the Ricci household, even though Octavia and Livia hate them.

“I don’t usually eat this stuff,” Luca says stiffly, her eyes roving over the candy bars.

Juliette starts unloading the cheese.

“God, Jules, did you buy the entire store?” Luca asks, sliding into the chair and surveying the truly heinous amount of junk food.

Juliette turns away to hide her blush and opens the minifridge to stack the cheese away. “Maybe.” Antony would kill her if he could see her now. She shouldn’t eatanyof this.

“Why?” Luca asks, a touch sharp.

“Ah, I wanted to make you feel better?” She clears her throat as it comes out as more of a question. Switching gears, Juliette turns back to Luca and leans on the counter, closer to her, so she can look at her face. “I know how shitty it is to be injured. Pain is isolating, and I didn’t want you to be alone in that,” she says, surprised by how quiet and tender her own voice sounds.

Luca looks away, biting her lip. “Well, thank you,” she murmurs.

“No problem,” Juliette says, trying to slough away the sudden urge to wrap Luca in a blanket and a hug. “So, what do you want to start with?” She grabs the bag of Jelly Babies and rips them open, popping two into her mouth. They’re almost too sweet. She isn’t used to having this much sugar anymore.

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