Page 69 of You Were Invited
The way Ellie pitied him made Julian regret saying anything. "Don't tell anyone," he asserted, to which Ellie shook her head in agreement. She pretended to button her lips.
Julian had been depressed and plagued by insomnia since his dad had written to him. He was glad for the temporary distraction of the diner, but knew things would only get worse. He wasn't sure where his dad was going to live— Julian had taken over the family house and was currently renting it out. Would his dad make him kick out the renters? Surely then that would spread like wildfire through town, that Clive Lincoln was back.
What if Dad returns to his old ways?
That thought made Julian's blood boil.
"Well, you’re a real catch," Ellie then, matter-of-factly said, grinning.
Julian came out of his rueful musing. "There's other women."
They’re just not Annie.
"There’s the dream team!" Teagan said as he came upon them. He’d walked into work that day with electric green locks. He stood behind Ellie. He glanced at Julian. “Tired?”
"Julian's pining after that cute little lady we saw him with."
Instantly a flush of heat went to Julian's face at Ellie’s teasing.
“Oh? Where she at?”
“Went back home. She’s not from here.”
“No cap, that’s it...? Shame.” Teagan tsked.
Ellie grinned, chin propped up by her palm as she played with a crumb on the countertop. "You two really looked good together. Maybe try reaching out to her again? Tease her a little? I definitely saw hearts when you two were around each other."
Julian was too miffed and busy, but for Ellie's sake he nodded. "Maybe. Communication's a two-way street."
"Of course it is, hun." Ellie then slapped the counter. She then turned to Teagan and did an up-down. “I can’t– I mean I guess I can believe it. We film tomorrow, and that’s the color you pick?”
Teagan shrugged. “That’s why I picked it.”
Ellie rolled her eyes. She then turned and smiled at Julian. “Can I count on you to get Rich here tomorrow morning for the commercial?”
“Commercial?”
Ellie clucked her tongue. “Yes. You forgot?”
He wrinkled his nose. “Sorry. You got him to agree to participate?”
“Er… He more or less said he didn’t have the face for TV, and I then said ‘Oh, nonsense, you’re part of the town, and got that rugged good looks thing going on.’”
“I’ll need to bribe him. Or kidnap him.”
“Whatever it takes. Promise him a week of free dinners if you have to.” She turned to her young employee. “Teagan, mind grabbing a rag and helping me tidy up? Oh, before I forget.” She disappeared into the kitchen, returned with a to-go container, and looked Julian in the eye. “10am. Both of you wear something decent.”
“I’ll do what I can. But I make no promises.” Julian pulled out his wallet and left enough cash to cover his bill plus a generous tip. He reached for the box. The diner’s bell chimed as another customer walked in, but Julian barely registered the sound.
Outside, he sat in his truck for a long moment before starting the engine. He glanced at his reflection in the rearview mirror. An unkempt beard shadowed his jaw.I don’t exactly have a face for TV right now, either…Was he becoming the very thing he’d spent years running away from– a man haunted by ghosts he couldn’t shake?
Everyone here knew him, his past, his father’s crimes. And soon they’d all know his father was back.
He gripped the steering wheel, feeling the worn leather against his palm. Annie would’ve understood. He missed the way she made him feel like more than just Julian Lincoln, son of Clive, the town pariah. She’d become the person he wanted to tell everything to– about his dad, his struggles, and the way Northgold felt like hell but also heaven all at once.
He rolled the window down, letting in the mountain air, and pulled out of his parking spot. Maybe it was time to consider the non-considerable.
Leaving Northgold completely.
