“Next week, I want you to bring in a story. You can write it, draw it, perform it, I don’t care. I want you to tell me whatyou loved most about class and what your favorite thing we baked was. Then, I will randomly pick a winner from whoever participated in the homework assignment. That person gets to choose our final dessert the week after, which sadly is our last class of the summer session.” I pause while the kids animatedly express their displeasure over ending class. “We’ll make it the best class yet, and instead of one hour, it will be two hours. The first hour, we’ll bake. The second, we will have a pizza party to celebrate.”
Excitement echoes through the room as I say goodbye, trying my best to ignore Harrison until I hear my name slip from Willa’s mouth.
So I walk closer as I begin to wipe down the tables, pretending I don’t hear anything.
“Claudina loves Juliette, and I trust her, and I think you might too.”
“Willa,” Harrison’s deep voice snaps with a warning tone.
Willa doesn’t know about me and Harrison…well, not exactly.
I never told Harrison, but once we were out together, Willa was at the same restaurant. She’s never mentioned it, and neither have I, but we both know what he and I were doing.
A week later, Willa was at the party brunch and overheard me talking about him to Adriana in the ladies’ room.
Again…we never mentioned it.
“I’m just saying you don’t have much of a choice. Someone needs to watch Claud while you go to Bermuda. I can change my schedule if you need?—”
“No,” he cuts in. “You’re not doing that. I appreciate it, but you’re not missing the birth of your niece because of a last-minute meeting I need to attend.”
“Well, what will you do then?”
Attempting to get closer to listen, I bang my knee into the corner of the table.
“Ah.” I scrunch my eyes up. Lord, that’s worse than hitting your funny bone. I rub my knee and notice Willa and Harrison staring at me.
“Are you okay, Juliette?” Willa asks while Harrison stares down at my leg, his nostrils flaring. I rub my knee and fake a smile. “Yup. Just clumsy.”
Harrison’s phone rings. “Shit,” he grumbles, then looks at me, then Willa, and I know he wants to say something. But he can’t. “Claud, let’s go, angel. Something important came up, and Daddy needs to leave right this second.”
My phone buzzes on my nightstand, and I turn to see it’s Harrison. When I notice the clock says midnight, I pick it up straight away, worried.
Hi, baby. Are you up?
Yes.
My phone rings a second later, and Harrison’s name flashes.
“Hi.”
“Jules.” He sighs, his voice husky. “It’s good to hear your voice, beautiful.”
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah.” He hesitates. “I’m really stressed at the moment and needed to talk to my girl.”
His girl?
I’ve always loved hearing him say that, but now it feels like a slap in the face.
“Jules.”
“I’m here. Obviously the line’s still on,” I snark.
“What’s with the attitude?”
“I’m just thinking how I don’t feel very much likeyour girllately.”
