He searched Cierra’s face for answers while she thought about what she was going to do next. Why was he pressing this issue? To make her feel worse than she already did?
“I don’t know what there is to say, really. Is there something that’s been on your mind?”
He narrowed his eyes and put his hands in his pockets. “It feels like . . . you’ve been avoiding me? I know you don’t want anything serious, but are you sure we’re okay? I feel like something’s different.”
It struck her as odd that Erik was suggestingshewas the one who wouldn’t want anything serious. As if Erik . . . did? But that didn’t matter, because she needed to keep this job until the end of summer. And things were different: She was with Julian now.Focus,she told herself.
“Idofeel weird about it . . . and it’s fresh. I just need a week or two. And . . .” She took a breath, knowing that she needed to get it out sooner rather than later. “And Julian and I are back together.”
“Oh,” he said, putting a hand behind his neck. “I . . . was not expecting to hear that.”
“That doesn’t mean we can’t still, you know, be friends. I just need some time to—” Cierra paused, feeling herself getting a little flushed. “I just feel like kind of a mess right now?”
“Okay, well . . .” His eyes scrunched, and he let out a nervous laugh. “Thanks for letting me know about you and Julian. Glad you guys worked it out.”
“Thanks,” she said, even though she didn’t like that answer. Not that she had a right to care about Erik’s reaction toward her relationship status.
Focus.
“Are you going to be at Mia’s birthday?”
“Yeah, still planning on it. Randy’s coming too.”
“Cool, then I’ll see you there. Mia will be stoked you two will be there.”
“Great.”
“Yeah.”
With nothing left to say, Cierra gave a polite smile before gathering her things again, this time putting on the moist socks without hesitation. A fitting end to possibly one of the most uncomfortable conversations she’d ever had.
There was no telling how she and Erik were realistically going to manage their friendship going forward — they both knew that. But she needed to keep herself on track. Julian had opened his heart to her and was making genuine changes. And she was really into him. Maybe even falling for him. Entertaining thisthingshe had with Erik was only going to get in the way.
There were only four weeks left until the end of her contract with the Lawsons. Four weeks until she could send her sister the last of the overdue loan payments, and the guilt of putting Lisa in an awful position could finally lift off her shoulders. She just had to make it. Four. More. Weeks.
But seeing Erik again, even his way of handling things and his valuing of her privacy, reminded her of why they became friends. Why she’d been so drawn to him that night in the Catskills. He made her feel safe, like she could let down every wall and just exist as herself in his company.
“I’ll see you,” she said, before heading out into the street, now filled with couples enjoying the sunshine.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
THE ELEVATOR OPENED to Mia’s stunning apartment, even more opulent than usual in the late afternoon glow streaming through her windows. A disco theme had taken over the condo for her birthday, with a sea of people in pastel clothes filling the apartment. Mia had strung mirrored balls of varying shapes and colors about.
Only a few seconds passed before the birthday girl materialized out of nowhere, with a dreamy aura about her. Her dark hair cascaded over her shoulders in big beachy waves, and she had donned bell-bottom jeans with a plaid crop top. “Judge Julian, we meet again,” she said slowly, with no trace of the interrogation Cierra had expected. Mia’s half-open eyes and permanent smile made Cierra suspect the reason.
“Happy birthday, Mia. Thanks for having me over. Your place is amazing, and the theme is on point,” Julian said.
“Right?!” she said, not in a haughty way, but like she was also appreciating her home for the first time. “I’m so glad you could make it. There’s food, drinks, ‘flower power’ . . . all in the kitchen.” She gave Cierra a peck on the cheek. “I have to go mingle some more, but please, enjoy. I’ll find you later.”
Pleasantly surprised at Mia’s lack of interrogation, Cierra looked at Julian with a happily confused smirk and shrugged her shoulders, before scanning the room for familiar faces. Amber and James were sitting in the den area, and Amber’s face litup when she saw Cierra. She waved her over with glittery manicured nails, lifting an eyebrow at Cierra’s handsome male counterpart. Cierra had always liked Amber, and it was nice to feel less awkward around her, now that more time had passed.
“Hey, girl, isn’t this party theme so fun? Ugh, and these outfits? Y’all are killin’ it,” Amber remarked with a warm smile. Cierra had picked her hair into a fluffy afro and found a mini dress with huge open sleeves and a colorful floral print. Julian wore vintage jeans and a well-fitted V-neck orange shirt with a butterfly collar.
“And what aboutyou?” Cierra said. Amber had also styled her hair naturally for the event and donned a form-fitting bell-bottomed jumpsuit with white platform boots. James stood up from his sitting position, with his legs spread wide in baby-pink short-shorts.
“I like the commitment to the theme,” Julian said, prompting James to look at Amber with asee-I-told-youkind of expression.
“Thank you! See, Amber? Someone appreciates my vision,” he said, and took a swig from his beer.
