Page 117 of The Hookup Situation
“I know. I’m sorry they’re making our lives difficult.”
“Not your fault.”
“Kind of is.”
“Nick”—I cup his face—“stop blaming yourself for things that are out of your control. If you could snap and make them disappear, I know you would. We’re handling it. Together.”
“Together,” he agrees. “Are you sure your parents don’t hate me for this?”
“Are you kidding? She’s probably thrilled I’m finally taking a vacation and dating someone. She’s been trying to get me to take time off and hook me up, but I’ve refused.”
I finish packing two weeks of clothes in an oversized duffel. Nick gets dressed and continues to stand by the window, watching everyone outside.
Ten minutes pass, and he gets a text. “Zane is here.”
“Great,” I tell him as he takes my bag and swings it over his shoulder.
Seconds later, there’s a knock at the door.
“Should I answer it?” I ask.
“No, let him pull attention,” he says as we move to the back door.
I take one last look at my invaded sanctuary.
“Hey.” He stops me before we walk outside. “This week, no photographers, no drama, just us and October. Got it?”
“Sounds perfect.”
“Good. Because we still have a list we need to complete.”
Despite everything, I laugh. “Priorities.”
“Always.” He grins. “Now let’s go enjoy your favorite season.”
As we sneak out the back, hearing Zane arguing with photographers about “private property laws,” I realize my life has become surreal.
We creep through my small backyard toward the fence, and Nick suddenly stops. “Jules, where’s the gate?”
“There isn’t one.”
“What do you mean, there isn’t one?”
“We have to jump the fence.”
He stares at the six-foot wooden fence, then at me, then at the duffel bag. “You’re joking.”
“Nope. Come on. I used to do this all the time as a teenager.”
“In those boots?”
“Just help me up,” I tell him.
Nick drops the bag over first, then makes a step with his hands. “This is insane.”
“This is an adventure,” I correct, placing my foot in his hands.
He boosts me up, and I swing my leg over, dropping down on the other side with a thud.
