He reappears with a huff, a gym bag thrown over his shoulder. “We’ll talk when you’ve had a chance to calm down.”
Junie follows him to the door and slams it behind him. “Like hell we will.” She forces the words through gritted teeth.
I stand in the middle of the room, feeling helpless. I wonder if I’m just getting in the way. The guy is a prick, but clearly there’s still a lot of baggage there. Is it fair to get so serious with someone who is clearly still on the rebound from her lastrelationship? I mean the guy still lives here, for fuck’s sake. Uneasiness creeps through my gut and I shift on my feet.
“I’m sorry. I had no idea he’d be here. I thought he moved out a month ago. God, it’s like nobody listens to me!” The pain and frustration are written all over her face. “We literally haven’t spoken since I boarded the plane for Bali. He can’t honestly think we’re still together.”
“Don’t be sorry that some asshole is taking advantage of you.”
She sighs and moves back toward the bedroom. “I can’t believe he’s been staying here. And we slept on those sheets. Gross.” She shivers.
I have to admit, that is pretty weird. I wonder briefly if he’s had any overnight visitors then quickly push the thought away before Junie can read it on my face.
“Are you hungry?” she asks, turning back to meet my eyes.
“Not really.” I shrug. There are too many emotions competing for attention for me to be hungry. “But I could eat.”
“I wanted to treat you to barbecue, but I’m just drained after that.”
“Why don’t we order some takeaway and you can hop in the shower while I change the bedding?”
The tension melts from her shoulders in an instant. “Are you sure?”
“Of course. Get that bum in the shower and I’ll get started on this.” I mean it to sound playful, but it falls a little flat with a David-shaped wall in between us.
“You’re the best. Get whatever you want on Uber Eats. You can order it on my phone!” She grins, as if oblivious to the weirdness,and scampers off to jump in the shower. I can’t blame her. I’m looking forward to washing off the travel grime too.
I pick up her phone to order some authentic NY style pizza, when in Rome after all, but I can’t help noticing two of the notifications on her Home Screen.
Lisa:You’re bringing him to Mom’s house TOMORROW?
Lisa:Do you really think that’s the best idea?
I would never intentionally go through her phone, but it’s not like I need a lot of context to understand those messages.
Is that what we have to look forward to at dinner? Does her family think she’s making a mistake? Are they right? Will she regret throwing away her life here to run away with me?
I stuff the feelings down and order the pizza, making the bed on autopilot with some sheets I find in the closet.
The walk-in is a huge slap of color, filled mostly with her professional clothes and a few shirts and blazers that must belong to David. Half of the things in there would be impractical on Gili Telu and the majority of them wouldn’t fit in a suitcase anyway. I hadn’t realized how much she’d be leaving behind by coming to stay with me.
The house is cluttered, but homey. I know a lot of the bits and bobs belonged to her Gran, but the vibes are all Junie. Walking through the house feels like biting into a warm chocolate bikkie, but I reject the comfort. I just got here, and everything I’ve learned only proves what a fool I’ve been.
When she gets out of the shower in an adorable pink robe, I want to throw her on the bed and roll around the sheets until they smell like nothing but us. But instead, I step into the washroom behind her and let all of my self-pity swirl down the drain.
Junie is too good for me. This whole thing might’ve been a mistake.
Chapter 25
Junie
I want to show Steven around Eastern Pines, but I’m still reeling from last night. Shocked and angry doesn’t begin to cover it. David was still living in my house—in Grannie’s house! What kind of self-respecting man surrounds himself with another woman’s doilies?
I’m furious with myself for trusting him, and I’m humiliated that Steven had to see that. What must he be thinking? The entire time we were hooking up on the beach, there’d been another man living in my home.
I’m mortified. So as much as I was looking forward to giving him the grand tour, I’m grateful for the chance to sneak away and run some errands on my own while he relaxes around the house.
I’ve worked at Harper Realty since the day they opened, and at one point, I thought they considered me part of the family. As the company grew, so did my responsibilities, but the pay never seemed to increase even as the Harper family upgraded their cars and clothes over the years.
