She sat up and pulled herself back together before saying, “You can pay me back by telling me what’s going on between you and the medic.”
“The medic?” I asked, panicking because I knew damn well who she was referring to, and I didn’t want to talk about him.
“Also known as Beth’s son. You know, the guy you were extremely hostile toward in Link’s office earlier today. Zombie and Frog said he pulled you away to talk, and you looked murderous. Apparently, you’ve been glaring daggers at him all day.”
I desperately needed to learn how to better hide my feelings for Landon. “Zombie and Frog were watching me?”
“And Havoc,” she confirmed. “They were concerned. If the medic said or did anything inappropriate, they want to know about it. The three of them have offered to have a little talk?—”
“No, that’s not necessary. Landon isn’t a bad guy. In fact, he’s been annoyingly dependable.”
She leaned forward, inviting me to continue. “So, things are good between the two of you?”
“Not exactly.”
“Where do I file a personal complaint about how difficult it is to get information from you?”
“I’m….” I liked Julia and didn’t want to offend her, so it took me a moment to find the right word. “Private.”
“I can respect that, but being an island can get lonely. It turns out I like you, and outside of this club, I don’t like many people. Open up to me. You know you want to.”
Surprisingly enough, I did. Perhaps that was because this club was one big family, and being here all day had driven home how incredibly alone I felt. Julia was offering friendship, and I desperately wanted to accept, but I’d hidden myself for so long that I had no idea how to connect.
“What do you wanna know?” I asked.
She considered me for a second before a conspiratorial smile spread across her lips. “What do you like most about the medic?”
“He has a great sass.” The answer had popped out without my permission, and my cheeks heated as I shook my head, wishing I could take it back.
Her eyebrows shot up. “Sass?”
“I was going for smile, to be politically correct, but the truth slipped out.”
She laughed so hard her belly bounced. Patting it, she said, “Trust me, I understand. Havoc has a great benis. Er. Beard.”
This time, I dissolved into laughter with her. It made me feel intoxicated even though I’d only had two mimosas all day. My second, I’d finished right after lunch, and any effect had worn off hours ago. This was more like punch-drunk with exhaustion and the unfamiliar high of friendship. Girl talk was good for the soul, and it had been far too long since I’d engaged.
“Landon and I are great in the bedroom,” I reluctantly admitted. “But I kind of want to strangle him whenever he talks.”
Julia laughed. “Tell me more.”
“He’s bossy and inappropriate, and earlier today he lit into me for walking home from work alone.”
Julia’s eyebrows rose in question. “And this is a bad thing?”
“I live only a few blocks from the school, and I walk to and from work all the time. I have forever. But ever since he’s shown up, he’s there to escort me every morning, and there again every afternoon when Beth and I get off. Last night I worked late, so I was supposed to call him when I was done, but we had an incident.”
“Yeah. I heard all about that, too. Rabbit doesn’t get to play hero often. It made his day.”
“I appreciated his assistance, but the cops showed up right after he did, and it wasn’t a big deal. Landon treats me as if I’m incapable of protecting myself. It’s infuriating.”
“I can see why you’d feel that way.”
Eyeballing her, I asked, “You wouldn’t?”
“No. Two things are important to my parents. Money and their reputation. I thought everyone was like that, but then came Havoc, who’s the most protective man I’ve ever met. His… attentiveness was foreign at first, but that man would walk through fire for me without batting an eye. Nobody has ever cared about me like that before.”
I could see the appeal, but our situations weren’t the same. “Landon’s leaving on the twenty-second.”
