Page 137 of The Hookup Situation
“My sensei would be proud.” I’m still worked up. “God, I haven’t had to do that in years.”
“Why didn’t you tell me you could fight?”
“It never came up.Hi, I’m Julie. I make coffee and can break your arm in three places.”
He’s grinning wider now. “What else don’t I know? Secret spy? Assassin?”
“I’m also really good at pool.”
“Of course you are.”
“And I can juggle.”
“Now you’re just showing off.”
“Oh, and I won a hot-dog-eating contest once.”
“Stop.”
“Sixty-seven hot dogs in ten minutes.”
“That’s physically impossible.”
“Okay, that one’s a lie. It was only seven, and I almost threw up afterward.” I grin at him. “But I did win. The trophy is at my parents’.”
“What else? Please tell me you weren’t in a biker gang.”
“Just derby. We did have rivals though. The Silver Sky Slayers.Bitches.”
We’re both laughing now, and the tension breaks. It feels good after everything we’ve been through today.
“I’m dating Red Menace,” he repeats, shaking his head as I lead him into the kitchen.
“RetiredRed Menace. I haven’t skated in four years.”
“We should go sometime.”
“You want to go to the rink?”
“Oh yeah. Rollerblading is something I did a lot as a kid to practice in the offseason.”
I pat his cheek. “I’d love to see it.”
“You tell me when, and it’s a date,” he says, his face softening. “Have you ever ice-skated?”
“Yeah, a few times at the resort. It was fun. Though busting your ass on ice is just as bad as a rink.”
He smiles, tucking hair behind my ear. “I’m so sorry about all of this.”
“It’s not your fault. I won’t let you take the blame for their actions,” I say.
He pulls me closer to him. “Jules, I don’t know what’s going to?—”
Before he can finish, a knock taps on the door, causing us to both freeze.
Nick moves to the peephole and looks out. Seconds later, he opens the door, and Blaire rushes inside.
“Oh my goodness!” She drops everything to hug me. “Are you okay? I heard you dropped a photographer!”
