That was weird.
I rush through my shower and check the phone as soon as I’m out. I don’t recognize the number.
Hey Constantine, this is Piper from Nobu again. The restaurant manager has just returned from maternity leave and is keen on meeting you. I can set up a meeting for next week. Let me know.
I dry off, get dressed, and go downstairs to the kitchen. Julius looks way too good for someone in sweatpants and a T-shirt. He’s holding a travel cup of coffee in his hand.
“Here. I’d make you breakfast, but you probably want to get back to Leo.”
“Yeah. I’ll call you later?”
“Sure.”
The space between us suddenly feels too big. I go over and kiss him. It feels wrong, and I don’t like it. But he’s right. I need to check in with Leo. I should have been home before him, but I didn’t think he’d be back so early.
13
CONSTANTINE
When I get home,Leo is on the couch. He doesn’t look upset, and when I look for signs that he’s been crying, I see none.
“Hey. How was your sleepover?”
“How was yours?” He laughs.
“I didn’t?—”
He holds his hand up. “Don’t even try. You’re wearing last night’s clothes. Did you spend the night with Julius?”
I open my mouth and close it again. I’m not ready for this conversation. We didn’t talk this morning because I rushed home for Leo, and now, I’m getting the third degree.
“It’s not your business.”
Leo narrows his eyes. “It kinda is because if you break up, not only will we have to move out, but I like Julius, and I like Stillwater.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I want to stay here.”
“What makes you think we’re moving? We just got here.”
His face goes all red, and he shifts his gaze away.
“I deleted a message from your phone.”
“You did what?”
He huffs. “I know you applied for that job at the fancy restaurant in LA.”
I sit next to him. “I did.”
“The other day, when you were in the shower, you got a message from them. I panicked and deleted the message.”
“How do you even know my passcode?”
He rolls his eyes. “It wasn’t hard to guess. It’s my birthday.”
Great. And now I feel old.
