Jude Donnelly and his knee don’t stand a chance.
After work, I head home and immediately change into a sports bra and some shorts before unrolling my yoga mat.
I’ve been flustered all day, thanks to Jude. I seriously underestimated the potency of, well, him. Being close to him, even in a professional setting, hearing that deep rumbly voice and seeing the muscles bunch and relax as he moved his finely honed body…dang. It got me so wound up and twisted inside, I need a sweaty flow to settle myself.
Especially considering Kat is coming over for a girls night in. And the last thing I need is for Jude’s sister to figure out my teenage crush has never gone away.
I finish my practice and take a quick shower, pulling on clothes with minutes to spare before girls night.
“Honey, I’m ho-ome!” Kat sings out as she pushes open my door. I finish braiding my damp hair and go to take some of the bags from her.
“Did you remember my spicy sweet chili Doritos?” I demand, rifling through the bags.
“Of course, I did. And the sour Skittles. I swear, you have the palate of a ten-year-old when it comes to junk food.”
I pull out the gummy bears that are her candy of choice and wave them at her. “And these are just so mature?”
“Give me those,” she demands, swiping the bag from my hand. “I also grabbed some of those weird sheet masks for our faces. I’ve been wanting to try one but not around Hunter.”
“Listen, if the guy can’t handle you looking all creepy with a face mask on, is he even in love with you?”
We both dissolve into giggles. The truth is, Hunter and Kat are what true love is made of. And I’m not jealous. Not even a little.
Okay, maybe a little.
After loading our plates up with the Chinese food that was delivered moments before Kat’s arrival, we pour some premade margaritas and head over to the couch.
“Margaritas and mandarin chicken. Perfection,” Kat sighs as she takes a bite of food.
“Promise me we’ll still be doing this every month, even when you and Hunter have a million kids to chase after,” I say before lifting my own chopsticks to my mouth.
My best friend shoves me with her shoulder, making me drop the noodles I had just picked up. “Hey!”
“Hey, yourself. Why would you even ask me something like that? Girls night in is sacred, and no man or child is coming between that.”
I drop my head down onto her shoulder. “That’s what I hoped you would say.”
We finish dinner quickly, clean up the leftover food, and grab our snacks, as well as a refill of margaritas.
“Face mask time,” Kat announces, pulling out two packages. It’s impossible to contain our laughter as we peel the slimy-feeling masks out of the wrapper and lay them on our faces.
“Oh my God.” I almost choke on my margarita when we go into the bathroom and see ourselves in the mirror. “These things are beyond bizarre.”
“Definitely no photos allowed tonight.” Kat giggles.
We head back to the couch and sit down, sipping our drinks through straws.
“Listen, I know you won’t be able to tell me anything because of patient confidentiality, but now that you’re treating Jude, I was hoping I could ask you something.”
My entire body freezes at Kat’s hesitant words. Slowly, I lower my glass down to the table and turn to her, nodding in a gesture for her to continue.
She sits up and faces me. “We’re worried about him, Lil. He’s not the same. He’s so withdrawn and angry all the time. I know he’s got a perfectly valid reason to be angry at the world right now, but he’s shutting all of us out. I was just hoping since you’ll be with him almost every day, you could, I don’t know, talk to him. Get him to open up, maybe. Convince him to talk to someone.”
“Oh.”
“I’m sorry, I know it’s a weird thing to ask. You’re a physical therapist, not a mental one,” Kat rushes on to say. “But he knows you, and maybe he’d trust you enough to just talk. Please, Lily.”
I grab her hand and squeeze it tightly.
