Something Just Like This Read online

  She doesn’t know how sexy she is right now. I’d love to see her in a jumper, tight against her body, accentuating every curve. I turn my body so she can’t see how hard my private thoughts are making me.

  “I’m sorry about your parent’s divorce.” My parents stayed together up until my mom’s passing, but that last year was difficult. I’m convinced that had my mom gotten better, they may be divorced today. Dad couldn’t handle it. He wasn’t strong enough.

  “It’s fine. I don’t see him much anymore, and well, I talk to my mom but you already know the situation with my brother.”

  “Did you decide if you’re going to see him?”

  “Oh, I made that decision the second my mom asked me, and I’m not changing my mind.”

  She’s head-strong, that’s for sure. It seems when she has her mind set on something, nothing will change it. I like that.

  “Did your sister talk to her daughter about her illness?”

  I should know the answer to this. I should have stayed on my sister’s butt until I knew if she had spoken to her or not. I didn’t want to butt in more than I already had, though. “I hope so. She obviously knows something is going on.” I scoot closer to her. “I don’t want to talk about her, though. Tell me more about you.”

  I slide my arm around her and she pulls into me. I could get used to this.

  12

  Juliette

  Nothing in my life can compare to my kiss with Landon. Through our entire car ride to the race track, the time I spent kicking his butt in the race, and the moment after when I leaned back into his arms all I could think about was that kiss. And it’s all I can still think about. We shared another kiss before we parted for the evening, and it proved just as amazing as the first.

  Last night I dreamed about our kiss. My subconscious found me sprawled out on the roof of my car like Tawny Kitaen in the Whitesnake video “Here I Go Again,” though not close to as sexy and collected as her. As I went to brush my hair out of my face, I not so gracefully found myself planted on the ground. Hitting the floor that hard woke me from the dream, and my arm is sore because of it. At least it only happened in my dream and not in real life. I wouldn’t be able to even look at him.

  My early wake-up call demanded a lot of coffee, and I’m already on my third cup when Carly barges into my office.

  “Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God, you’re here.” She’s flailing her hands in the air out of breath.

  “Where else would I be?” It’s nine-thirty on a Monday morning. Unless I’m on the couch hacking up a lung or living over the porcelain bowl, I’m always at work. I never miss a day.

  She stops for a minute as if she’s thinking of how to answer me. I watch as she shakes her head and whatever thought she had out of it before she sits in a chair in front of my desk. What in the world is going on? She drums her palms on her knees.

  “What is it, Carly? Spit it out.” Whatever it is, she’s making it worse every second she doesn’t tell me. We can go around in circles until lunch, and when she finally tells me, she’ll wonder why she didn’t do it sooner. “You’re freaking me out here.”

  “Okay.” She presses her hands to her mouth and when she removes them her mouth is hanging open. “Okay,” she says again as she smiles. “What are you doing on February tenth of next year?”

  “Let me check my schedule,” I say as I pretend to search through my phone’s calendar. “You know I don’t plan that far ahead. Why? What’s February tenth?”

  “My wedding day!” She jumps from her chair as she yells, and then sits back down once she realizes how loud she said it. “My wedding day,” she says in a normal voice. “Eddie and I are getting married on February tenth and I want you to be a bridesmaid.”

  Am I hearing her correctly? February tenth? Of 2018? She must mean 2019. “You mean a year from now.”

  “No. February 10, 2018.”

  “Are you kidding me?” I toss my phone on my desk. “That’s like two months away! How can you plan a wedding in such a short time? And why do you want to?” Spontaneity is something Carly has, but this is crazy if you ask me.

  Her face drops. “Juliette, I thought you’d be happy for me.” She sinks down into her chair and crosses her arms. “Aren’t you happy for me?”

  Trick question. I’m happy for her if she’s happy. I should have said, Congratulations, Carly. That’s wonderful. I can’t wait to spend your special day with you. Instead, I was a jerk and hurt her feelings. What kind of friend am I?

  “I’m sorry, Carly. Yes, I’m very happy for you.” I wish I could have a double take. Why aren’t we given do-overs in life? I walk around the desk and wave for her to stand up. I embrace her. “I can’t wait to spend your special day with you.”

  There. Hopefully, I’ve righted my wrong. I can’t believe I reacted in such a jerky way. Being honest is important, but there’s a lot to be said about tact, and I didn’t seem to have any of that during that moment.

  “Thank you. It means a lot to me you’re there. I know that this is not a lot of time but I want to be married to Eddie for as long as I can. The sooner we’re married the better.”

  Landon comes into my mind at that moment. I can’t help but think of his sister and understand what Carly is feeling. Having that piece of paper between them doesn’t change how they feel about one another though. That piece of paper can make life more difficult if things don’t work out.

  I guess I never expect things to work out. That’s part of my problem.

  “Let me know if there is anything I can do to help.”

  “Well, my sister Rachel is the Matron of Honor and, unfortunately, she lives in Minnesota.”

  “That is unfortunate. I can’t imagine being forced to be a Vikings fan.”

  “Ha, ha. Hilarious. Anyway, she can’t come visit until Christmas, and I’m trying to finish as much as I can before then. The quicker I get it done, the less I have to worry about things going wrong.”

  “And you want me to help you.”

  “Yes. Would you?”

  A glance at the calendar on my desk sends a sharp pain through my head. There are only twenty-one days until Christmas. She wants to plan an entire wedding in twenty-one days? A hall, an officiant, flowers, dresses, centerpieces, music, food, a bachelorette party, a shower. That’s a lot in such a short time. I’m efficient and can complete tasks on a short deadline, but a wedding is a tall order.

  “It’d be an honor.”

  “Yay!” Carly claps her hands and hugs me. “Eddie and I are meeting with the band on Saturday morning. The florist could fit us in but only at the same time. I need you to meet with the florist.” She yanks a sheet of paper out of her pocket. “Saturday at eleven.”

  “You want me to pick out your flowers? Shouldn’t you and Eddie do that together?”

  “I already know what I want.” This time she goes for her back pocket. “Here. This is from Brides magazine. I want exactly this. Not a shade lighter. Not a shade darker. I’m giving you a blank check for the deposit.”

  I open the check and it’s signed by Carly with the florist’s name already filled into the “Pay to the order of” section. My heart quickens for a moment as I think of Hunter and all the blank checks of our mother’s he wrote out to himself, forging her signature. Even though she pre-filled in the information, having this makes me feel a bit naughty.

  “I shouldn’t.”

  “No. You should and you will. I need you, Juliette. Please help me and Eddie.”

  She needs me, really needs me, to help her with this. Even though I’m not Matron of Honor, I’m a crucial part of making the wedding of their dreams happen.

  “Besides, if you don’t do it, I’ll make you sing karaoke at the holiday work party.”

  She wouldn’t because no one forces me to do anything. I realize she’s joking, but her plea is real. I slide the check into my briefcase well aware Bridezilla has officially arrived.

  13

  Landon

  The
re is nothing I hate more than glitter on a tree. Tinsel comes close, but glitter takes the cake. I love the ornament Abby made me, despite the glitter, and place it on the branch. I’m covered in it and look as though I just stepped out of a strip club. Ugh. But, Abby took the time to make it, complete with a photo of her inside it. This much glitter should be illegal. I put it in the center so when she comes over she sees it right away.

  Never in my life have I decorated my tree on a Monday afternoon. I like to do it on a weekend, but with no job I have all the time in the world. I’m finding it much easier to get through my days if I spread my tasks out. I put the tree up over the weekend and the lights and decorations today. Tomorrow I will tackle the outside decor. No need to rush.

  “Jingle Bells” plays in the background, one of my favorite songs of the holidays. I’ll never forget how upset it made my mom whenever Courtney and I changed the words Jingle Bells to Batman Smells. She’d scold us every time, telling us how inappropriate we were being. I’m positive I caught her laughing on more than a few occasions. She didn’t want to admit she thought it was funny, but I knew the truth.

  The chorus is about to come on when my door bursts open and Courtney yells, “Batman smells!” as if she has telepathic powers. Without so much as skipping a beat, we finish the chorus together as she crashes onto my couch.

  “Can I sleep here forever?” She mumbles into the cushion, her face pressed against it and her butt raised in the air. “Wake me up in a week.”

  “Nope. You can help me finish decorating my tree, though.”

  She groans in protest, but lifts herself off the couch to join me. “I’m only asking for a little sleep. Even an hour. Can you give me an hour?”

  I want to. I want to offer her my bed to take the longest nap she possibly can. The problem with that is I know my sister. “You won’t sleep. You’ll lay there and worry about Abby and Audrey, and then be mad at me for letting you.”

  “I won’t.”

  “You will.” I hand her an ornament. “Start with this one.”

  She pauses.

  “What?”

  Of all the ornaments to give her, I handed her that one. “I’m sorry.”

  “I didn’t know you had this.”

  “I didn’t either.” I take it from her and dangle it in the air. The moon is about an inch and a half in diameter with a heart in the center.

  “She gave me this when I was five. She said she loved me to the moon and back.”

  “I remember. I challenged her, arguing that Jupiter was farther, and Pluto was the farthest, and why didn’t she love you that far?”

  She nods. “Yeah, and she called you a stinker and gave us the biggest hug. I miss her hugs.”

  I put my arm around my sister, and she lays her head on my shoulder. “I told Abby.” She sniffles and lifts her head up. “I told her and she cried. And when I started crying she stopped. She told me I don’t need to worry.”

  I suck in my tears before they escape. My eyes are burning as I try to hold it in.

  “How did I get so lucky to have such an amazing daughter? I love her so much. Both my girls.”

  “I know.”

  “What if the worst happens, Landon? She thinks she understands but she doesn’t. She’s too young. And Audrey won’t even remember me.”

  “You can’t think about that.” But we can, and we should, which is why I met with Juliette in the first place. I want to be sure that even with Arthur there to support the girls that they’re taken care of. “Arthur.” I say his name out loud, not even realizing I’ve done it.

  “What about him?”

  “You never told me what was going on. Come on, Courtney, be honest with me. What’s the deal?” I don’t want her to keep this from me. We don’t keep secrets from each other. We shouldn’t start now.

  She wipes her nose on her sleeve. I cringe, but I’m sure she’s had worse on her clothes with a baby in the house.

  “He’s a great dad. He’s home with Audrey now, and he’s picking Abby up from school.”

  I like Arthur. I always have. We were never best buds or anything but we’d share the occasional beer and spit our political views at each other in fun. And when my mom died, he was a rock for both me and Courtney. This talk about him leaving doesn’t add up.

  “What’s going on? Why does he want to leave?”

  “He doesn’t want to. I told him to.”

  “You what?”

  “I told him to. He can’t watch this. He can’t watch me go through the chemo and the radiation, my hair falling out, how weak I will be. That’s not me, Landon. I’m not weak. I have never been.”

  She’s correct. She’s always been strong, willing to take on everything and everyone. Bold, courageous, persistent—all words people use to describe my sister. She could have been a full-time lawyer and mom. Even though she could have made it work, she didn’t choose that path. She devoted her life to her children, and I know it’s tearing her up inside that she has no choice in this.

  “Courtney, isn’t that what marriage is about? You’re there for each other through the good times and the bad? Arthur will be your strength when you can’t be strong.” She continues to place ornaments on the tree. I place my hand on hers. “You’re shaking.”

  “I’m so scared, Landon. My girls are so young. I’m so young.”

  “I know.” I embrace her and she holds on tight. “I’m here for you. We all are. Don’t push Arthur away when you need him most. You love each other, don’t you?”

  I can feel her nodding into my chest. “Thanks, bro.”

  My phone bounces on the table as it buzzes. I continue to comfort my sister.

  “Go ahead and get that.”

  “No, it’s fine. I’m here for you. My phone can wait.”

  “Nope.” She sucks in a breath. “I’ll be fine. Answer it.”

  I struggle with the decision. I don’t want to seem uninterested and like I’m not there for her. When she insists on something, though, you do as she says. I pick up my phone, and Juliette’s photo fills the screen.

  “Hi!” I stand from the couch and walk toward my kitchen. “How’s your day going?”

  “Hey yourself,” she says, and I harden at the sound of her voice. “Any plans tonight?”

  “Not that I know of. I’m putting my tree up now.”

  “I don’t put one up.”

  “You what?” I can’t believe someone doesn’t put up a Christmas tree. I wait all year to put mine up. I love it.

  “I don’t put up a tree. Is that against the law?”

  “No. It’s just weird.”

  “Call me weird then. Anyway, my friend is getting married, and I’m in her wedding. She said I can pick out whatever dress I want. I know it’s not a dream date, but do you want to come with me, and I’ll put on a fashion show?”

  Can you display the undergarments, too? I want to ask, but I don’t. I’ve been on many trips with my sister and Abby for clothes. I can handle this. And any excuse to spend time with Juliette is one I’ll take. “Definitely. It’s a date.”

  I hang up the phone and turn around, my sister standing right in front of me. “Geez! Are you trying to give me a heart attack?” I clutch my chest.

  “A date? Who do you have a date with?”

  Crap. I should have known Courtney would eavesdrop. She has always listened in on my conversations from the time I was a teen. Juliette and I just started dating. I don’t want to jinx this. I can’t jinx it.

  “A woman.”

  “Well, no crap, Landon. Come on, now. Spill it.”

  She won’t give up until I give her the information she wants. Persistent isn’t maybe an accurate word to describe her. Pushy. Annoying. Nagging until you give in. Yeah, that probably describes her better.

  “Look—don’t get all crazy when I tell you.”

  “Crazy? What do you mean crazy?”

  She knows very well what I mean. She can either become overly protective or very pushy when it come
s to my relationships. I will try and keep it simple. “I met her at the mall when I took Abby to see Santa.”

  “So just this past week?”

  “Yeah, and I’ve seen her every day since.”

  She’s beaming, and I already know what she’s thinking. Here comes pushy Courtney.

  “So it’s serious!” She claps her hands together.

  “Serious? Courtney, I just met her.”

  “But you’ve been out with her multiple times in a week! You really like her. Oh my gosh! I’m so happy for you!”

  “Slow down. I’m not marrying her or anything.”

  “Yet.”

  I roll my eyes. “Just because she’s the first woman I’ve dated in who knows how long doesn’t mean I’m going to marry her.”

  “Landon, please, you barely give women the time of day. If this girl caught your attention, she’s special. What’s her name?”

  “Juliette.”

  “Juliette! Oh my gosh, that’s perfect!”

  And that’s the thing about Juliette, I truly think she may be.

  14

  Juliette

  Asking Landon to accompany me dress shopping may go down in history as the stupidest idea ever. Maybe not, though, I mean, he agreed to go. I want to spend as much time as possible with him, and I have to get this done, so why not combine the activities? Besides, asking him proves I’m better at this assertiveness than I thought. A few days ago the thought of initiating an invitation on a date freaked me out. Now I’ve not only asked him out again, and he said yes, but I plan on inviting him to my company holiday party, too.

  It’s like I’m a whole new woman.

  I pick him up on Saturday morning when warmer temperatures welcome us. September was normal, but October and November both boasted higher than average temperatures. Mother Nature threw a snowstorm into the mix, but today is a mild forty degree day, crazy for December in Wisconsin. I’ll take it, though, and toss on my jean jacket instead of my puffy, winter blue one.