Me:What’s the plan?
GUY FROM THE PLANE:It’s a surprise.
Me:No.
GUY FROM THE PLANE:No?
Me:No. I hate surprises. Tell me everything.
GUY FROM THE PLANE:I have never wanted to tell anyone everything like I do you.
I bite my cheek so I don’t smile at my phone as I reply.
Me:Okay, Cassanova. I meant tell me the plan.
GUY FROM THE PLANE:I will pick you up at 7.
Me:JP.
GUY FROM THE PLANE:Julia.
Me:That’s not what you call me.
GUY FROM THE PLANE:Jules.
My heart flips. I can hear him say it. Whisper it. I am once again putty because of this man.
Me:Fine. Pick me up at 7.
Have you ever felt your body pulse over anticipation?
Yeah. That’s what JP does to me.
nine
JP PICKS ME UP AT SEVENwearing relaxed jeans and a t-shirt with a tan bomber jacket and white sneakers, which is either perfect or terrible because I’m also wearing jeans and a tan bomber jacket and white sneakers.
“Are you kidding?” I ask instead of saying hello.
He grins wide. “I like your outfit.”
“Why do we match?” I usher him inside, and he squats down to greet Kevin.
“Because it’s meant to be,” he murmurs while he tussles Kevin’s ears.
“I’m changing,” I decide, turning to go down my hallway.
“No, don’t,” he responds as he stands and takes my hands, making me spin to face him. “I like this outfit on you.”
“We look like we’re going to the Sadie Hawkins dance in high school.”
His eyes go wide as if that’s a brilliant theme for the evening.
“No, JP.” I stand firm, punctuating my statement by crossing my arms. When he shrugs, I turn again and head to my bedroom while hollering, “I’ll be five seconds.”
“One...Two...” I hear him count from the other side of the door.
I change into a black tank top and plum-colored cardigan and swap my sneakers for black boots. I no doubt took longer than five seconds, but when I return to the living room, JP issitting on the couch saying, “Four and a half... four and three quarters...”
