Page 103 of Between the Blue
“The Yang to your Yin.”
She looks up at me. She’s trying to hide it, but there are tears pooling in the corners of her eyes.
“Let me balance you out, Jules.”
She presses her lips together. Her bottom one trembles a little. And her voice cracks when she speaks again. “I’m not sure that’s possible.”
“Let me try anyway.”
She stares at me. And for the first time since I met her, Jules is speechless.
I tilt my head at her. Step a little closer. She looks frozen.
“Jules?”
She springs up. Wraps both arms around my neck. Pulls me down and kisses me hard. Like we’re the only two people in this room.
Like she, too, is trying to tell me through her skin all the things she can’t manage to say.
And I get it.
I love you, too, Jules.
twenty-nine
HER
“I love it.”
I blow out a deep breath.
“Really,” Rick says, stepping back from my photo booth. “You’ve outdone yourself, Addie. The donors are going to be lined up for this all night.”
“That was the goal. I’m glad you like it.” I’m trying my best to act casual, as if I haven’t spent the last forty-eight hours planning, constructing, and obsessing over every aspect and minute detail of this booth until it was absolutely perfect.
It had to be perfect. It’s for the big charity gala tonight.
The one Natasha Collins will be attending.
The theme of the event was meant to be Southern elegance, something I’m luckily very familiar with. I was able to take inspiration from every wedding and upscale party I attended growing up in Georgia while making the photo booth. I used flowy white draping similar to what the entire event space has been defined with, cutting it off from the more industrial looking walls of the practice center. I also brought in a lot of wood, white flowers, and greenery, which, I have to say, give a major bohemian vibe. I also took the liberty of combing through every photo I’ve taken of the players so far this season to find myabsolute best work and had the photos blown up, framed, and placed all throughout the event space as an added touch. Even if it was a mostly selfish decision, it ended up adding so much to the decor.
What I managed to do on my own between the photo booth and artwork is something that a team of people could have easily charged thousands of dollars for. I can say that confidently now, and I’m so excited to see it in action once the party gets started.
“Well, you should be proud. Thanks so much for your work on this,” Rick tells me sincerely, then looks down at his watch. “The players should be showing up any minute now, and then the rest of the attendees should start arriving in the next half hour.
“I’ll be ready,” I nod, giving him a smile.
The best one I can manage.
It’s been a weird couple of weeks.
What happened between Ben and me at Randall’s hasn’t been discussed.
In fact, I’ve barely seen him since.
The guys have been gone for non-stop away games, all of which have interfered with my school schedule, not allowing me to go. They’ve only been home for a day here and there to reset and have practice, every one of which Ben has completely avoided me for.
Not that I’ve exactly been trying to interact with him either.
