Listen to Your Heart(31)
This is good news.
“Does that mean I can drink some more?”
“I think you’ve had enough. Come on.”
Jules stands up and takes my hand, helping me to my feet. I stagger all the way to my bedroom, not even bothering to change before I collapse on my bed. My mind goes blissfully black, and I fall into a peaceful, dreamless sleep.
When I stumble into the kitchen the next morning, I’m surprised to find Jules there, standing at the island and pouring coffee. I vaguely recall something about the living room floor and a big bottle of whiskey, but it’s all kind of jumbled in my brain.
“You’re home?”
“I am.”
“What’s today?”
“Saturday.”
Thank God. I sit down on a stool and bury my throbbing head in my hands.
“Do you want some coffee? Juice?” she asks.
“Juice sounds good. My throat feels like sandpaper.”
Juliana pours me a glass and places it on the island.
“Take these,” she says, handing me two aspirin. I swallow them down as she climbs onto the stool next to me.
“Why are you home? I haven’t been passed out for two weeks, have I?”
“No. We need to talk, Caleb. You said you’d explain everything when I got home. I’m home.”
Sighing tiredly, I close my eyes and finish my juice.
“More?” she asks.
I shake my head. “I didn’t mean for you to cut your trip short. I’m sorry, Jules.”
“Don’t be sorry. Just tell me what’s going on.”
Taking a deep breath, I turn toward my best friend and try to think of what to say. I’m not even sure where to start. But because she’s Jules—and she knows me better than anyone—she doesn’t need me to say a thing. She already knows.
“You’ve met someone.”
The kindness in her voice nearly breaks me.
“It doesn’t matter, Jules.”
“Of course it matters. And it’s wonderful.”
“It’s not. She doesn’t want me.”
“I find that very hard to believe. Any woman would be crazy not to fall in love with you.”
“Really? You never did.”
She laughs softly. “No, I never did. I am somehow immune to Caleb Lynch’s charms. And he’s immune to mine.”
“Maybe we should force ourselves. Life would be so much simpler.”
“You shouldn’t have to force it, Caleb.”
I don’t want to be a choice you have to make. I want to be your heart’s only option.
The words rattle around in my brain. Bile rises in my throat.
“How did you know?” I ask. “How did you know that I met someone?”
“When I was leaving, you asked if I’d ever met someone who took my breath away. I could tell by the look in your eyes that you had.”
“It doesn’t matter. She won’t wait.”
“Wait for what?”
“For me.”
“Why would she have to wa—?”
“I’m in love with our wedding planner.”
The words spill out before I can stop them. Silence hangs in the air as my best friend tries to make sense of my confession.
Juliana frowns. “I . . . don’t understand.”
“I didn’t mean for it to happen, I swear.”
“No, I mean I really don’t understand. You fell in love with Lynsey?”
“No! I fell in love with Skye.”
“Oh! Skye . . .”
“Yeah.”
Juliana gazes at me with an expression I can’t describe. Shock. Wonder. Surprise.
“You’re in love with our wedding planner.”
I nod.
Juliana bursts out laughing.
“What the hell, Jules?”
She keeps cackling. “I’m sorry. I’m just so relieved it’s not Lynsey! That never would have worked.”
I climb off the stool. “It’s no problem, Jules. I’m just having a nervous breakdown. And I’ve broken the heart of the only woman I’ve ever really cared about, but sure . . . laugh it up.”
Stalking out of the kitchen, I head to my bedroom and slam the door behind me. I fall down on the bed and throw a pillow over my face.
Less than a minute later, she’s knocking.
“Can I come in?” she asks faintly.
“Whatever.”
Slowly opening the door, she walks in and sits down on the bed.
“I’m sorry, Caleb.”
“It’s fine.”
“It’s not fine. You’re obviously really crazy about this girl and seriously stressed out about it. What I don’t understand is why.”
I roll over onto my side. “We’re engaged, I’m in love with our wedding planner, and you don’t understand why I’m stressed out about it?”
“It will be quite the story to tell your grandchildren someday.”
“You suck on so many levels.”
“Sorry, I’ll be good.” Juliana grins and lies down next to me. “All right, Lynch, spill your guts. I want to know every single detail.”
So I do. I tell her about meeting Skye at guitar class, our trip with her nephew to Burger Palace, and our amazing first date at The Boombox.