It was both liberating and overwhelming, and as the tour ended, Jules found themselves at a crossroads. They wanted to embrace the possibilities Keaton offered, but they couldn’t ignore the fearthat whispered insidiously, warning of what could be lost in the process.
After they left the apartment building, Jules’s mind buzzed with the possibilities and uncertainties that the morning had laid bare. The sunlight felt different on their skin as they stepped outside, a little warmer, a little brighter, as if the world had subtly shifted on its axis. Keaton walked beside them, their hands brushing occasionally, a silent reminder of the connection they shared.
Keaton paused before they reached the car, turning to face Jules with a soft, searching look in his eyes. “I hope I didn’t overwhelm you back there,” he said, concern threading through his words. “I just wanted you to see the possibilities.”
Jules nodded, offering him a small, reassuring smile. “I know, and I’m grateful for it. It’s just a lot to take in, you know?”
He squeezed their hand gently, a comforting pressure that spoke volumes. “I get it. I’m sure you’re looking forward to having your own space where you can be as messy as you like without me picking up after you.”
“I do try to be mindful,” Jules replied. Their bigger concern was Keaton getting tired of feeling like a maid. It wasn’t that Jules was a slob, more that they didn’t always think to pick up every little thing the very second they set it down.
Jules took a deep breath, trying to clear their head. There were still so many thoughts jostling for attention, and they needed space to sort through them. “I think I’ll head over to the bookstore for a bit. Clear my mind.”
Keaton released their hand, but not without a final, lingering touch. “Take your time. I’ll be at home when you’re done.”
With a parting wave, Jules made their way down the street, the familiar path to Shelf Care Central promising a refuge from the storm of thoughts raging through their mind. The beat of their footsteps matched the racing of their heart, each step drawing them closer to the solace they hoped to find within familiar surroundings.
The bell above the bookstore’s door tinkled softly as Jules stepped inside, the scent of old paper and wood polish immediately enveloping them in a comforting embrace. The bookstore belonged to Ollie’s family, a quaint haven nestled on a side street that seemed a world apart from the bustling energy of Main Street. In a time when some said physical bookstores were headed the way of the record store, there was always a handful of people perusing the shelves for their next read.
Ollie looked up from behind the counter, a welcoming smile breaking across their face. “Hey, stranger! What brings you to the lair of books and dust?”
Jules chuckled, the warmth of Ollie’s friendship soothing their frazzled nerves. They were grateful he was working here today instead of at the bakery. It was much more laid-back and peaceful, allowing them to ask Ollie to tell them they were being stupid.
“I needed some quiet,” they admitted, fingers trailing along the spine of a hardcover novel. “And maybe a bit of advice.”
“Ah, I see. The oracle is in,” Ollie teased, gesturing for Jules to join them at a cozy reading nook near the front of the shop.
Jules settled into a well-worn armchair, pulling their knees up to their chest after toeing off their shoes. The familiar setting wrapped around them like a favorite sweater, providing a senseof safety they desperately needed. “Keaton took me to see the new apartment building today,” they began, their voice a mix of excitement and trepidation.
Ollie raised an eyebrow, their curiosity piqued. “And? How was it?”
“It’s incredible,” Jules admitted, their gaze drifting to the window where sunlight streamed in, painting the floor with soft golden hues. “The space is amazing, and the way he’s designed it… It feels like he’s thought of everything I’d need.”
“But?” Ollie prompted gently, leaning forward with genuine interest.
“But I guess I’m confused about how excited he was,” Jules confessed, their voice catching on the words. “We’ve got this great thing going, but once I move in there, I’ll be his tenant, not his roommate. And I know it’s not normal to basically move in with someone and start dating them all in the same month, but now this feels like a huge step backward. Like he’ll realize I was more convenience than anything else once I’m not there every night.”
“First of all, there’s a reason people joke about lesbians going to the U-Haul store on the second date. It’s not as uncommon as you might think.” Ollie’s expression softened, their empathy evident in the gentle way they regarded Jules. “But seriously, I get that change is scary. That doesn’t mean it’s bad. And you’re fooling yourself if you think he’s only using you as a bed warmer. If that boy’s not already head over heels for you, he’s sliding down that hill. The way he looks at you makes me hate you just a little bit.”
Jules let out a shaky breath, their fingers fidgeting with the fabric of their sleeve. “I’m not so sure about that. Tell me I’m stupid and overthinking this?”
Ollie nodded, tapping their chin thoughtfully. “Oh, you’re absolutely overthinking this, but it’s not necessarily a bad thing to have your eyes wide open. Have you…? Oh, I don’t know, tried talking tohimabout what you’re feeling?”
Jules considered Ollie’s words, the anxiety in their chest loosening just a fraction. “I wanted to talk to you first. He was so excited walking me through the building today. I couldn’t be the bucket of ice water. And get this… He wants me to paint a mural in the lobby. And he wants to pay me for it.”
“That’s amazing!” Ollie replied with a grin. “So let me get this straight. You have a man who looks at you like he wants to hang the moon for you every night, he’s building a kick-ass apartment for you,andhe’s pushing you to finally do something we’ve been telling you to do for a long time? I’m failing to see the issue here.”
Of course he was. Ollie needed to get his nose out of the romance novels he was addicted to. He saw the hero in every good-looking guy in town, to the point he loved making up stories for them in his mind. It was amusing most of the time, but when it was Jules having a crisis, it was far less entertaining.
“It feels too good to be true,” Jules admitted. “When Mom and Dad said they were selling the farm and moving, I thought everything was falling apart. I don’t want Keaton to think I need him to be some white knight, saving me and showing me that I can have everything I’ve ever dreamed of.”
“Why the hell not?” Ollie scoffed. He leaned forward, taking Jules’s hands in his. “Honey, you deserve this. You’ve kissed the frogs, you’ve tried being Mx. Independent, you’ve even done the whole starving artist thing. Maybe it’s time for you to find your happily ever after.”
“You seriously need to branch out and read something else,” Jules teased. “Maybe a good psychological thriller? Reality isn’t a fairy tale.”
“No, but it could be if you let it.” No one would ever convince Ollie that fairy tales didn’t come true. That was probably why he was still single. He was constantly comparing the guys he met to the boys in his books, and none of them stood a chance. “You can laugh at me if you want, but I’d rather take a chance on something amazing that’s right in front of me than try to find all the flaws that don’t exist. How can you be so free-spirited in almost every aspect of your life, and the second emotions come into the equation, you’re like a scientist dissecting everything?”
“Natural talent, I guess.” Andthiswas why Jules came to Ollie when their brain was a jumbled mess. He didn’t pussyfoot around or tell Jules what they wanted to hear. And maybe he was right. Maybe Jules did need to accept that they deserved someone like Keaton, even with the great apartment, the opportunity to create a mural for his project, and the scorching hot sex they had several nights a week. They let out a heavy sigh. “But what happens if?—”
