The Shit Hits the Fan
Noah
I knocked on the door to the bathroom. “Jules? You okay?” I’d vacillated between checking on her and giving her space, but she’d been in there for five minutes and it was clear to everyone in the kitchen that something was going on. I didn’t know if I should make excuses and say she wasn’t feeling great or if she was going to want to stay, so hovering outside the restroom was where I’d found myself.
The door cracked open and Jules peered out, her brown eyes so watery that it was abundantly clear some major tears had been shed.
“I’m so embarrassed, Noah. I can head out a side door or something and get out of your hair so you can all enjoy your brunch.” Her voice wavered as she tried to pull herself together.
“Can I come in?” I asked quietly, ignoring her comment about leaving.
Jules stepped back to let me into the bathroom, which truly wasn’t meant for two.
Once we were both inside the half bath, I leaned against the sink. Taking in the woman standing in front of me, my heart broke for her. She hadn’t done anything wrong beyond caring fartoo much what people thought—or more to the point, caring that she didn’t alter the perception of her in the minds of the people she loved. I ran my hands up and down her arms to try to help her relax. She looked miserable.
“Okay, let’s talk about this. You’re in tears because…”
“I’m a moron?” Jules threw up her hands. “I know, I know. This is insanity.” She exhaled in clear frustration. “I just need to tell my friends and family that I write romance. It shouldn’t be a big deal.” She wrapped her arms around her waist like she was trying to hold herself together. “But Noah, what if they disapprove? What if they think it’s wrong in some way?” Her breath started coming in short, quick huffs, so I mirrored for her, taking a cleansing breath and breathing it out slowly. I was grateful I’d started attending a few of Kate’s yoga classes with Drew because some of her lessons were coming in handy right now. Slowly Jules began to follow my lead.
“Okay, kitten.” I grabbed her hand, feeling the need for a connection. “If you want my opinion, and I’m giving it whether you do or not”—I shot her a wink to lighten the mood—“I think the time has come and maybe this was the universe’s way of telling you that. Certainly that’s what Ivy would say.”
She nodded, looking like she was hanging on my every word so she wouldn’t lose it.
“I’ll say this about your main concern—remember, these people have already read your books and shared that they loved them. And not one part of me believes they will be anything but excited for you.” I squeezed her hand and gave her a soft smile, thrilled when she sent me a small one back. “I truly don’t think you have anything to worry about except them losing their damn minds with excitement that you are one of the authors they love.”
Jules visibly relaxed as I spoke, like she was processing what I was saying and was starting to believe it. “You really think that, don’t you?”
I looked her straight in the eye. “One hundred percent.”
Jules looked down at the floor while she took a few deep breaths in, then out. She had some type of internal conversation with herself before she lifted her head. “Okay, let’s do this.”
I quickly leaned forward to press a kiss to her lips before whispering against her lips, “You’ve got this, baby, and I am so proud of you.”
Jules leaned her forehead against mine, closed her eyes, and took a moment. I kept my gaze on her as she opened them to look back at me. The connection I felt to the woman was unreal and shouldn’t be true after only a matter of weeks. Regardless, it was there. Jules stepped back and gave me a nod to tell me she had this. I was so damn proud of her.
She headed out of the bathroom to the kitchen, hand in hand with me. She walked with determination back into the space where the shit had hit the fan for her, but the rest of the room had been left with questions.
Looking around, I saw that everyone was still pretty much where we’d left them. Most folks were enjoying a drink or a donut—especially Addie and her cousins. The Spencer clan was doing what they did best, enjoying time with each other as they gave one another shit for a variety of topics. Sam, Jake, and Drew were having what looked like a somewhat heated debate about what Jake should buy next: a smoker, a Blackstone, or a Green Egg. Not shockingly, they all had strong opinions.
Margot, Ivy, and Kate were being entertained by the three girls, who were eating donuts while telling a story about the Little People they believed, thanks to bedtime stories from their parents, lived in the basement of their houses.
I’d only known the Spencer family for just over a year, and my heart warmed with affection for them. They knew something had upset Jules. They weren’t making a big deal about it, and I knew if asked they’d say it hadn’t impacted their brunch at all but gave them time to catch up before eating. They’d waited for us because of course they did. It was just who they were, through and through. I was so damn grateful for every one of them.
“Hey, all, I have an announcement,” Jules said, and the room immediately fell silent.
Steph and Ivy looked at each other with eyebrows raised. I had a feeling they thought this announcement would be about our relationship; boy, were they in for a surprise.
Jules stepped over to Steph and pointed at her book sitting on the counter. “May I?”
Steph looked confused but handed over her book from the Sleepy Valley series. “Sure.”
Steph looked to Kate, and they both shrugged.
Jules turned around in front of the back door, a gorgeous April morning visible in the windows behind her. She took a deep breath and quickly looked to me. I nodded, trying to silently send her my support. She had this, and once this secret was free, I knew she’d feel so much less burdened. She’d still have to tell her family and the rest of the book club, but we could make that happen once she was ready.
Jules seemed to focus on Margot, which, I guessed made sense. The woman did command a room. She was also front and center, sitting at the island.
“Several years ago, in response to some stressful times at work, I took up writing fiction as a hobby.” She bit her lip and looked down at the book in her hand, then back up at all of us.
