I shook my head. “God, you were cute…and a little weird.”
“Cute? That is the most pathetic thing I’ve ever read. In my defense, I probably wasn’t even twelve when I wrote that.”
I reached for a pen and found a blank spot on the page next to that passage. “Let me,” I said before writing a response into the journal.
After, I read it aloud to her.
“Dear Twelve-Year-Old Juliette, This is your boyfriend writing from the future. I’m happy to report that you turned out a lot smarter than one might’ve guessedbased on this entry. That said, I can attest to the fact that while I do think you’re funny, I much prefer being the one to make YOU laugh. Also, you look far more delicious than a cannoli (you’re at least the level of the finest tiramisu). You taste better than that, too. Trust me, you don’t want me to be texting you all day—that would be annoying—but I will always be here for you, if you need me. I love dogs and hope to get one when we get our first house together. I don’t have hair exactly like a Disney prince, but I’m built better and could take down any one of them in a fight. As luck would have it, I am not rich, so no worries about money ruining us. But you asked for a smart guy. If you’re talking about street smart, I’m your man. I’m not the most book-smart guy you’ve ever met, but I hope I make up for that in the way I protect you, in the way I love you. So, to summarize, I’m hotter than a Disney prince, and holy cannoli, I love you.”
xo,
Wes
CHAPTER 35
Wes
Three months later
“Why can’t they just do the training over Zoom?” Juliette sat down on the edge of the bed next to my half-packed suitcase.
I folded a pair of jeans and a Henley, set them inside, then tossed in socks and underwear before flipping the top shut. “They want me to demonstrate some things in person,” I explained, zipping the bag. “Most of the actors they hire have never held a gun or crashed through a door.”
A lot had changed over the last three months. I was no longer doing private security. Instead, I was teaching actors how tolooklike real cops on TV and in movies. The week after we’d gotten back from New York, I’d worked a security gig for a big-shot producer. We started talking, and when I’d mentioned I was a former NYPD detective, he’d asked if I’d check out some footage for a newLaw & Order-type series he was producing. One of the actors was supposed to be in a high-speed vehicle pursuit, but he came off more like he was playing avideo game. I gave the guy a few pointers, and the next thing I knew, other producers and directors were calling me to consult on their shows. That single afternoon had snowballed into a lucrative business pretty fast, and as of next week, I was already bringing on another former cop to help me keep up with the workload.
Juliette let out a sigh. “I just… I like when you’re here at night.”
There was nowhere I liked being more than next to her. And that’s exactly where I’d been for the last three months. We hadn’t spent a single night apart since I’d flown to New York with her to see her mom after her dad got arrested. I didn’t want to leave her now. And lying about why I was going back to the East Coast made me feel a hell of a lot worse.
I swallowed. “It’s only one night. I’ll be back late tomorrow before you go to bed.”
“Where did you say you were doing the training?”
I hadn’t.“It’s an on-location shoot, somewhere downtown.”
“Oh.”
I avoided her eyes, focusing on getting the rest of my crap together. I just couldn’t look her in the face and lie—not again. Been there, done that, and I’d sworn I’d never go down that road with her again. But this particular white lie felt like a necessity.
I looked at my watch. I was going to get to the airport way earlier than necessary, but that was better than digging myself any deeper with Juliette. Leaning down, I brushed my lips over hers.
“Traffic is going to be a bitch, so I’m gonna get on the road.”
“All right. Call me later.”
“Love you.”
She smiled. “Love you too.”
Her words warmed my chest. I didn’t think I’d ever get tired of hearing them.
Outside, Tommy was sitting in the car. When he saw me coming with my suitcase, he got out and started up the walkway. We met halfway, and he set a hand on my shoulder.
“Take good care of my girl while I’m gone,” I said.
“Will do. And good luck, man.” He lowered his voice. “With the boss.”
***
