Page 119 of Alive At Night

Without another word, Julian stepped up to the counter and ordered more apple turnovers than anyone ever needed in one morning. And not only that, but he got thebigones. Not the small ones I’d been eying up, but the massive ones that no one could actually eat in one sitting. And then he ushered me up to the counter beside him and asked what I wanted to drink.

“Oh, I don’t really like coffee,” I assured him, trying to push the question aside.

“You don’t like coffee?” He stared at me. “You get coffee for everyone all the time, and you don’t even…” Sighing, he broke off and ordered me a hot chocolate.

We walked out of Georgia’s a few minutes later with our hands full of pastries and hot beverages.

“How did you know I liked hot chocolate?”

He shrugged. “Doesn’t everyone?”

“Maybe I would have preferred tea.”

He raised a brow. “Would you have?”

“No,” I mumbled, staring down at my hot chocolate nestled between my mittens. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Julian smile. “You shouldn’t have bought all that,” I added.

“Why not?”

“It’s too much, Julian.” I sighed, suddenly feeling guilty as I remembered Noah’s words from last night. “I know you’re saving money for Gianna’s tuition.”

“I am,” he agreed. “But you’re just as important to me, and I thought you would like it. It’s just breakfast. My finances are not something you need to worry about, Juni.”

I ignored the swirling heat in my stomach.

Important to me.He said I was important to him. Just as much as Gianna? That couldn’t be true.

“They’re just pastries. They’re not important.”

“I didn’t say the pastries were important. I said you were.” He opened the front door to our office building, letting me walk inside first. “Now, why don’t you go share them with people.”

I had to push down the urge to continue arguing with him about it. This was silly, all of it. And yet, I smiled. Because I did love this part of the day, connecting with everyone before they got too caught up with the stress of the job. And if I were honest…the food? It was an excuse. I wasn’t always the best at knowing how to start a conversation or meet new people. But “Hey, I brought doughnuts. Do you want one?” worked every time.

Sure, it was bribery. But it also made other people smile, and I liked that.

I liked making other people smile.

I liked that Julian was smiling.

We were quiet on the elevator ride up to our floor, and when a ding sounded to indicate we had reached it, I glanced over at Julian.

“This was nice of you,” I said. “Thank you.”

He nodded, a look of ease on his face. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d seen Julian acting so relaxed. I could get used to it.

Pulling off my mittens, I shoved them in my coat pockets before stepping out of the elevator. Julian seemed to think my available hand was an invitation and grabbed it as we strode across the lobby. My mind began racing into overdrive as I overanalyzed that simple hand-grab. But there wasn’t any time to make conclusions about it because Julian started to slow his steps as we approached Tyler at his reception desk.

Tyler gave us a wary look as we neared, and I had to swallow a laugh.

“Morning,” I said cheerily, setting my hot chocolate down to open up the box from Georgia’s on the counter. “Want a turnover?”

Tyler looked from me to the box to Julian and then back to the box again. “Sure,” he said slowly. “Thanks, Juniper. They look delicious.”

“They’re actually from Julian,” I said, flashing a grin up at him. He squeezed my hand back.

“Thanks, Julian,” Tyler amended, his eyes darting between us again. Confusion was written all over his face, and honestly, I understood. I was still trying to catch up to what was going on, too.

“I’m going to find Cameron,” I said once we walked away from reception. “Ever since I introduced him to their muffins, he loves Georgia’s.”

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