Page 15 of Our Unexpected Beginning
“I enjoy coming to the club, but it isn’t a need.” She sat her plate on the tray.
“It’s not nice to tell lies.”
“Hey, I didn’t say I don’t love hanging out with the group, we’re expanding as fast as Nolan can get Mia pregnant.” They laughed together. Mia and Nolan had welcomed their son Ben a few months prior.
“I don’t need all of the equipment, I guess.” She shrugged.
“Oh, I love a resourceful woman who can make any household item pervertible.”
Julia’s grin widened and she scooted closer to Graham. “When Mel moved in with Wes, I bought her two sets of wooden spoons.” She chuckled at the memory. “One for the kitchen…”
It was Graham’s turn to laugh. It was a deep belly chuckle that shook her on the couch next to him. “So that’s why she blushes when we all get together for dinner!”
Julia gasped. “Wait, wait. Oh my god, you’re right! I didn’t think about that until, Oh fuck, I’m not letting her live this down!”
Their laughter settled into quiet, he rubbed her legs idly while she scrawled on her sketch pad more details she needed for Mia’s wedding dress.
“So,” Graham pointed to the photo frame on the wall above them. “Whose all the mugs?”
She looked in the direction of his point to the photo of a group of adults sitting around a fire and two kids–a boy and a younger girl–feeding marshmallows into the fire.
“Oh, that’s George, Uncle Steven, and Aunt Elaine, my mom ‘never called me Cassie’ Cassandra at my aunt and uncle’s cabin in Denver.” Julia rambled, running off the pictured family members, complete with air quotes. It made her even more endearing to him.
“I think I was six or seven. That one over next to it is me when I was at my brother Devin’s graduation.” Julia beamed with sadness and pride.
Graham reached over and touched her arm. “Hey, what’s wrong?”
“I don’t talk about him much anymore.”
“Is he away?” Her face lost its color as sadness took over her features. “Or oh, you don’t have to.” He hated that he started such a sore subject and soured her mood.
“He died a few years ago. It’s put a rift in an already torn family. He was the one person who got me. I mean my Aunt Elaine is amazing, but Dev–he got me without me having to say anything. He wanted to be a Marine.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Me too. Sometimes I’ll have to stop myself from calling his old number when I have big news to share. The moments matter, if you tell someone or not, but it’s nice to tell someone who’ll care.”
“You can always tell me, Jules. You can always tell me and I promise to listen.”
Four
Julia
Julia curled up on the window bench looking out to the backyard at Lexi and Noah’s house. She’d been unable to focus all evening. The group scattered around the property after devouring pizza in the living room. Lexi and Mia were on the couch chatting about Mia’s upcoming wedding to Nolan. Wes and Noah were outside battling the kids around the fire making smores while Nolan took Ben from Mia when she was done nursing to sleep in the guest bedroom.
Melody plopped down in front of her with her arm outstretched with an offered burnt marshmallow. Just the way Julia liked them. “Hey, whatcha doin’?” She felt cornered as Julia curled her legs up, unable to find the words to answer.
How was she supposed to tell her best friend that she couldn’t get her mind off of the amazing mechanic dick she’d been getting. He knew how to play her body likea well-worn instrument. She’s always played so close to the chest, but it was baffling to her how Graham knew her moves before she did. Just the thought of Graham’s hands on her made her slick between her thighs and systematically ruined more panties than she could count.
“Contemplating putting together my cat lady starter pack.”
“That’ll be hard considering you’re allergic to them.” Mel giggled. “You could get the hairless ones that look like shriveled balls.” Her laugh was cut short by the look on Julia’s face. “What’s wrong?”
Wrinkling her nose she looked down at her phone. “Why are there no dating apps with qualifications better than a driving test? Too many Joe-schmucks and weirdo’s.” She tossed it on the couch and sighed. “Your ex might be a motherfucker, but this dude is a MOTher-FUCKer!”
“Tell me about it!” Melody laughed at Julia’s disgruntled mimic. “Hey, I thought things were going well with you and Graham.”
She brushed Melody off. “Oh, it’s all fun and games. I’m totally enjoying bouncing on his pogo stick until it’s not fun anymore.”
