I don’t hesitate. “Deeply. She’s the one.”
He doesn’t look as shocked as I thought.
“You’ve told her?”
I shake my head. “No. I plan to do it sooner rather than later. She knows, though.”
He narrows his eyes. “How do you know?”
There are not many people I would share my feelings with, but because Nate’s already in love, he’ll understand. “There is this feeling whenever our eyes lock.”
“What feeling?”
“Like our souls are talking,” I say and huff out a laugh. “Do you hear me right now? Who would have ever thought this is where I’d be.”
“I have to admit, not me. But once I saw you two together for the first time, I knew.”
Huh?“You did?”
He smirks. “Well, that’s not exactly true. At first, I was blown away that you went for someone so much younger than you. Then I met her, and I got it.”
“Got what?” Who cares about our fucking age.
“Jules is ordinary…and extraordinary all at the same time. If I had to pick anyone for you, she would be the one.” I gulp down my emotions. I’ve never needed someone else’s approval, but it feels nice for Nate to feel the same way. “All the other women you’ve been with are models, socialites…women you were expected to be with. Jules is the woman who will ground you and raise Claudina the way you want her to be raised.”
“How’s that?”
“She’ll raise Claud in a home, not a house. She will prioritize her time and her family above all else. I already see she does, and because of that, it proves age is only a number.”
He hit it spot on. “I couldn’t have said it better myself. I hope Seb sees what you see.”
He smiles sympathetically. “He will. Give him time.”
My phone buzzes with a text from Leo.
You’ve got to see this.
He sends me a quick video of Claud and Jules together. I play it again, and again like I don’t believe it.
Then again, while warmth runs through me.
She’s dancing. And she is absolutely beautiful.
Deep down, I knew Jules had been craving this, but to finally take the step and conquer the fear of dredging up old memories…that’s huge.
And after all this time, it’s Claudina who gets her to face her fears.
Jules is moving around the room like an angel. You would have never known she was in an accident. Her body glides around the dance floor with an air of elegance. I wish I had seen her in her prime.
Claud is sitting in the middle of the floor, crossed-legged, just as in awe of Jules as I am.
Don’t let them see you. I don’t want to interrupt it.
Got it—I’m leaving now.
I think about going down there myself, but this is a moment they should have together. I don’t want to ruin it.
“It’s the summer. Why can’t I stay up late with the grown-ups? I’m not even tired,” Claud says as she yawns. She’ll be out like a light in five minutes. “Where’s Juliette?”
