If This Was a Movie (Evergreen Park #2)

Chapter 28 – Nate

TWENTY-EIGHT

NATE

“We gotta talk, Dad,” Sophie says the next day as I make her lunch.

I look over my shoulder at her, raising an eyebrow at her stern tone, and see she’s glaring at me.

“Oh yeah?” I ask, and she nods emphatically.

“Yeah. We’re cutting things close, you know.”

I turn back to the sandwich in front of me, spreading peanut butter on the bread and fighting a laugh. “Things?” I never know what crazy shit is going to come out of Sophie’s mouth, but I always love to hear it.

“Jules isn’t in love with you yet,” she declares. “And that’s because you’re doing it all wrong!”

I fail, letting out a small laugh, and I move on to the jelly. She’s not completely wrong: there hasn’t been a major breakthrough between us, no confession of love or outward acceptance of something between us, but I’m okay with it. My sisters and Sophie might think I need to go full speed ahead, but I’m playing it cautious, afraid to scare off Jules before she lets her walls down. Instead, I’m basking in the small wins, like her calling me at night and talking all night about absolutely nothing or watching movies in my lap.

“And how am I doing it wrong, exactly?”

“You haven’t even taken her on a date,” my daughter, who is much too wise for her age, nearly shouts. “You gotta take her out. Give her a grand gesture. That’s how you make a girl fall in love with you.”

I slide the sandwich into a zip-top bag, put it into her lunchbox, and close it before turning to face my daughter, arms crossed on my chest as I lean on the counter.

I sent Jules a text this morning asking if she wanted to get coffee, but considering we were up late as can be talking on the phone, I think she’s probably sleeping in. Last night she told me she didn’t have much going on today except for the holiday party for her kids tonight at the center, which is why I planned on taking her to get coffee and try my hand at a bit more wooing before she has to go.

“What do you know about grand gestures?” I ask.

“Jules taught me all about them. In all of the movies, that’s how the guy wins the girl. You’re never going to convince Jules to stay forever if you don’t give her a grand gesture!”

I sigh, knowing my daughter is not going to like what I have to say next. Neither do I, if I’m being honest.

“Soph, I need to make sure you know that after Christmas, Jules is going to move into her house again.” Her eyes go wide, and I see the dramatics start to win. “Eventually, if things go the way I’m hoping, she’ll move in with us for real, but she’s got a place of her own, baby. And the dance studio. The deal was she’d live in the cottage until things were all done.”

She glares at me now, moving from sad to annoyed.

“But,” I say, cutting off whatever rampage I know is impending. “But if we play our cards right, she’ll be back.” I’ve got a plan, kid. Just give it some time .

The plan is a bit hazy, if I’m being honest, and changes day-to-day to fit what I think Jules is ready for, but it’s there. She takes in my words before finally, thankfully, nodding as if she now agrees we’re on the same page.

“Well, then, what’s your plan?” she asks, arms crossing her chest to mimic mine.

“My plan?”

She sighs as if I’m the most exhausting person on this planet.

“Your plan, Dad. To make her fall in love with you. You’ve gotta take her out.”

I could brush her off, but considering Sophie has spent a good chunk of time with Jules, too, lately, I decided to pick her brain. Maybe I can get some good ideas from her.

“What are you thinking?” I ask. “I’m planning to take her to coffee and on a date today. What should I add?”

She smiles deviously.

“I’ve got an idea,” she says like she’s been waiting for this question, and I can’t help but laugh.

Fifteen minutes later, I’m just getting off the phone, and Sophie is sliding on her jacket when Jules shuffles in the backdoor in sweats and a pair of slippers. As if she rolled right out of bed into the main house without much of a hesitation. I love that—how she’s eager to get here and how she’s getting more comfortable in my place.

“Jules!” Sophie yells, dropping her jacket altogether and running to hug her legs. “I thought I was going to miss you before school.”

Jules’s hand moves, gently brushing back Sophie’s hair I had to do myself this morning, much to her dismay, and smiling down at her.

“I’m sorry, sweetie. I was more tired than I thought, I guess. I usually wake up without an alarm, but I was out like a light. I was up really late last night.” Over my daughter’s head, I give Jules a knowing smile, and she blushes.

She’s so fucking cute.

“Well, today, you need to go with my dad,” Sophie says, fists on her hips and glaring up.

“Do I now?”

“Soph,” I warn. “I’ve got it.” The girl can be a great wingwoman, but with Jules, we gotta play it smart, not overwhelm her. She shifts her glare to me, and I glare back, a battle I win for once when she rolls her eyes and sighs.

“Fine.”

“Now, come on. Get your jacket on, and grab your backpack. You don’t want to miss the bus.” I look to Jules, holding up the discarded jacket as Sophie slides her arms in. “Want to get coffee and check your place out today? I’ll explain all of this.” My hand moves in the direction of my daughter. “Then.”

“Yeah, I’d love that. I have the cast party at six, but until then, I’m all yours,” she says with a smile.

“All right, perfect. Go get dressed, and we’ll meet back here in ten.” She nods, sleep still in her eyes. “And Jules? Dress warm.”

Once I get Sophie on the bus, I step back into the house to see Jules waiting for me in a pair of thick leggings, an oversized cream-colored sweater with a thick jacket over the top, her hair loose and long. It’s casual and so very Jules, and she’s never looked more gorgeous.

When I get close to her, I smile and grab her hand, tugging her to me before pressing her back to the door as I close it and covering her body with mine. When I press my lips to hers, she tastes like the mint of her toothpaste and the strawberry lip balm she likes so much, and I get lost in it.

We stay like that for long minutes, with a good morning kiss and then some before I pull back, pressing my forehead to hers and smiling. This is what I want for us: this easy, free feeling, kissing her without her hesitation, without her second-guessing. I want this every fucking day, and I’m doing whatever it takes to get this. Yesterday, I had to fight with myself not to let things go further, not to make her come on my thigh, because I’m not sure how she’ll react to it, or if that would be too much, too fast. I feel like I’m walking a careful tightrope with Jules sometimes, but my eyes are on the price at the end.

Her.

“Hey,” I say eventually.

“Hey,” she whispers, then clears her throat. “So what is going on? I feel like I walked into a trap.”

I smile wide at her, grabbing her hand and leading her out of the front door and to my car.

“I mean, you kind of did. Sophie yelled at me this morning, told me I’m fucking up making her Christmas miracle come true because I haven’t taken you out on a proper date.”

“A cardinal sin,” she says with a small smile.

“Yeah, nothing like the movies, as you know. Apparently, all of the movies have a grand gesture, and that’s where I’m slacking.”

“Oh, is that right?” she asks, her smile widening, the words playful as her arms stay looped behind my neck, and hope ignites in my gut again.

I just need to maintain this lighthearted, easy way with her. Jules only shuts down when she starts to think we’re moving too fast or when she gets nervous. If I can keep her comfortable and prevent her from overthinking, I think we can work to get past her fears. I help her into my truck, closing the door behind her and walking to the driver’s side.

“So I figured I could appease her, I suppose, take you to coffee,” I say jokingly, and she giggles. “Then we can go check on your place before you head out to your party. My mom is picking up Sophie today, so I don’t have to be back until later,” I say as I pull out of the drive and make my way to downtown Evergreen Park.

With a wide smile, she reaches over and grabs my hand, holding it gently.

“I can be on board with that,” she says.