Something Just Like This Read online

  I don’t move his hand, allowing him to massage me. We’re about to fall back into each other when my phone rings. I groan as I glance at my phone. My mom. And she’s trying to FaceTime. Of course. I can’t deal with this now.

  I try to hit the ignore button, but I miss and press accept. Oh no! I don’t show my face, tossing a shirt on as fast as I can, and push Landon aside. “Mom! Hi!” I rake my fingers through my hair in an attempt to not look like I just had sex. “How are you?”

  Landon is laughing at me. I search around for something to toss at him but the only thing in my reach is a pillow, and my mom would see me throw that. She can’t know he’s here.

  “I’m well, dear. I haven’t heard back from you.”

  “About what?” I struggle with my phone in my hand as I dress, and use my feet to kick Landon’s clothes at him. I mouth for him to put his clothes on. He poses like Mr. Clean, and I don’t hold in my laugh, which is followed by a snort. Oh, great.

  “What’s going on?” My mom peeks around on the screen as though she can see everything in the room. I move to the opposite side my bedroom where Landon is not. “Is everything okay?”

  “Yeah, Mom, it’s fine. I’m ironing.” I leave the bedroom because it’s only dangerous with Landon there and go into the kitchen. “I’m almost ready to leave for work.”

  “I won’t keep you long then. Are you coming on the seventeenth? Hunter would love to see you.”

  “I thought it was the fifteenth.”

  “It was. Something with the paperwork. It’s Sunday now. I want you there.”

  I sigh. I’m tired of having this conversation. Even if I did want to have it, now is not a good time. “Mom, must we do this right now?”

  “Yes, we must. You should be here. He’s your brother.”

  “We’ve been over this a thousand times. I have nothing to say to him, and you shouldn’t either.” I whisper so Landon can’t hear me. He’s aware of the situation but I don’t want him to hear me arguing with my mom about this.

  “Why are you whispering? Is someone there with you?” She squints her light eyes as she searches the screen.

  “No, no one is here.” Landon hops in and out of view in the corner of my screen. Hopefully, my mom didn’t notice. He was quick about it, at least.

  “Juliette Denise Walsh stop lying to me. Who is there? I saw a man.”

  Dammit. I should give her more credit. She’s a mom. She sees things. She knows things. I’m not sixteen anymore. There isn’t a reason to sneak a man around my house though the thought of my mom knowing what we were doing grosses me out. Maybe she won’t think anything of it. She’s so caught up in this Hunter thing it may be okay.

  “Fine.” I turn and call to Landon. He comes to the phone. I take a deep breath and put my phone a far enough distance away from me so we both fit on the screen. “Mom, this is Landon. Landon, this is my mom.” I didn’t expect to introduce him to my mom so soon. Something like that is a big step in a relationship, one I’m not sure I’m ready to make quite yet. Surprise—I don’t have a choice in the matter.

  They exchange hellos and ask how the other is doing. My mom’s gigantic smile is odd, and I can already picture her hanging up the phone and planning my wedding. Great. I’ll never hear the end of this.

  My mom’s smile fades as she tilts her head to the right. “Landon, your hair is a bit messy, and, if I’m not mistaken, your shirt is on backward.”

  “Mom!” Great. She’s figured us out. Landon excuses himself as he fixes his shirt and combs through his hair with his fingers. I shiver at the thought of us being busted. I may be a grown woman but that doesn’t make it less embarrassing.

  “Landon, don’t you think Juliette should come see her brother? I’m sure she’s told you about her brother.”

  Why is she asking his opinion? She’s known him all of ten seconds, and she’s asking for him to jump in on our family matter, one that I don’t even want to be a part of.

  “With all due respect, Ms. Walsh, I don’t think it’s my place to step in here.”

  “You have to have an opinion. I mean, you’re there with your hair messed up and lipstick on your cheek. You have to know Juliette well enough to voice your thoughts.”

  My heart drops to my stomach. Wow. My mom can be pretty ballsy but this may go down in history as the most outspoken she has ever been straight out of the gate.

  “I…I’m not sure.” He pulls at the collar of his shirt, shifting his head from one side to the other. How do I save him from this conversation? Can I disconnect her without warning? Drop my phone in the sink? Confront her about how inappropriate she’s being? I can’t just sit here and let Landon deal with this.

  “Oh, Mom, someone else is beeping in. It’s work. I have to go.”

  “Juliette,” she says, and I know she knows I’m lying. I don’t care. I keep going with it. The only way I’ll save us from this uncomfortable situation is push forward with the lie.

  “I’ll call you later, okay? Bye!”

  “Nice meeting—” I cut Landon off when I hit the End Call button. “Hey! I was trying to say goodbye to your very kind, very shy mother.”

  “Stop teasing me. I’m sorry about that.” My phone clatters as it hits the counter, my head shortly behind it.

  “Don’t worry about it. I can handle myself.”

  That I know he can. He proved it in the bedroom and was about to again before my mom called and put him right in the middle of our business. Like it or not, though, he’s there. In the thick of it. I’m curious how he views this situation. My mom is right. I’m sure he has an opinion. “What do you think?”

  “About your brother?”

  “Yeah. Do you think I should go?”

  “I don’t know. I’m not sure I’m comfortable getting involved in this. The entire subject seems to be a pretty sensitive one between you and your mom.”

  I’m not asking him to get involved involved. Is it wrong to share an opinion? That’s all I’m asking. I don’t need him to solve the problem, and if he gives advice, that doesn’t mean I’ll take it. I’m only interested in his thoughts. “Well, what would you do? If your brother had been in jail, and your mom was planning this gathering, what would you do knowing what he’d done to your family?”

  He backs up against the table and crosses his arms. “I’d go.”

  “You’d go?” I can’t believe he said that. “You’d go?” I repeat myself at least one more time, trying to make sense of how he could even consider this. I wanted an answer, but I thought he’d side with me. How is he taking her side in this?

  “Yeah. Family is important. I’d want to see my brother after such a long time. He’s been locked up and been through hell, I’m sure. As far as what landed him there, I’m sure he’s completed a rehabilitation program or therapy or something and he’s changed now.”

  “I doubt it.” Does he really think people change that quickly? Two years may seem like a long time but it’s not. I’m sure prison wasn’t exactly the most honest place, either. Fine. Maybe he’s given up forging checks but what if he’s replaced it with something different? What if he comes home and starts selling drugs? Or worse? I don’t want to think about the worse.

  “But you don’t know unless you see him. And I’m sure it will make him happy if you both are there.”

  I don’t care if he’s happy. He didn’t care about my mom so why should I care about him? All Hunter does is think about himself. He’s selfish. He’s a thief. I can’t sit in a room with my forgiving mom and my criminal brother. I can’t do this alone.

  “Come with me.” I can’t believe I make the suggestion but once the words leave my mouth, there’s no taking them back. It may actually be a good idea.

  “Come with you?”

  Uh oh. Repeating what I say isn’t a good sign he’s on board with this. How can I convince him? “Yes. Come with me, and be the buffer between us.”

  “I don’t know, Juliette.” He scratches the stubble on his cheek
. “This seems like something you and your mom need to do together.”

  “I can’t. I can’t do this without you there. I can handle my mom fine but I’m going to say something stupid to my brother. I know it. You can keep me in check.” I won’t say anything regretful in front of Landon. Our relationship is too new.

  He reaches out and takes my hand in his. “I do think it’s important you go.” His lips touch my skin. “Are you telling me the only way you’ll go is if I go with you?”

  That isn’t exactly what I’m saying, but it’s what I’m implying. “Please go with me? I promise if it’s uncomfortable for either of us we’ll leave. Maybe come back here, and I’ll make it up to you.”

  He slips his hands around my waist. “I think maybe you can make it up to me either way.”

  “I like the way that sounds.” I want to keep this up but I can’t be late for work. “We’ll have to finish this later.” And I intend to do just that. “Oh! I almost forgot. Do you have plans on Saturday night?”

  “Only if you make some for us.”

  “Good. I have my holiday party at Booker & Smith, and I want you to be my date.”

  “I’d be honored.” He points to the box still sitting in my living room. “I’m sorry we didn’t put the tree up.”

  I don’t want that thing in my house, but I can’t very well tell him that. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll get to it.”

  “I’d love to help you.”

  “That’s okay. I’ll get around to it. Thank you very much for delivering it.”

  “No problem. I couldn’t let you go through the holidays without a tree. What kind of elf doesn’t have a tree?”

  An elf who hates Christmas that’s who.

  17

  Landon

  The phone call comes on Monday after my weekend with Juliette. I shouldn’t be surprised when the number flashes on my screen but I am. My heart rate quickens when I pick up the phone.

  “Landon! How are you?” Jeff’s voice echoes through my ear, and I shiver.

  “Good morning, Jeff.” I greet my old boss with a fake smile. I have to actually plant the fake smile on my face to make it believable myself. As if it wasn’t bad enough running into him at the mall, now he’s on the other end of my phone.

  “I hope it’s a fabulous morning for you.”

  Well, let’s see. The company I spent fifteen years with let me go, and I’ve yet to find something. Right now the only positive thing going on in my life is Juliette. He’s got some nerve asking me such an asinine question. “I can’t complain.” Though I can, and I probably should.

  “I’m sorry to bother you. I’m sure you’re busy. Since I ran into you yesterday, though, I’ve been doing some thinking.”

  “Okay.” I don’t know where he’s going with this. Jeff has never been one of my favorite people. Sure, I tolerated him. I had to—we worked together, and he was my boss. I don’t have to be nice now, but I know karma can be a bitch, and you don’t want to burn a bridge in case you need it to cross over the water in the future.

  “This isn’t something I want to discuss on the phone. Is it possible for you to meet me for lunch?”

  A meeting. A lunch meeting. The last time we had a lunch meeting he dismissed me, asking me not to return. The thought of sitting across from him and sharing another meal isn’t appealing. Seeing him yesterday was bad enough. Something could be wrong with my severance package, or maybe I left something in my office. I don’t want to go, but I’m curious what this is about, and he took the time to call me.

  “Sure. I’m free for lunch today. Can you meet me at Cardinal Cafe at noon?” That’s thirty minutes from now which gives Jeff plenty of time to wrap up things around the office and meet me.

  “Perfect. See you then.”

  I hang up the phone, uncertain what this can all be about. I want to call Juliette but she’s on a conference call from now until one today. She told me about it last night, her nerves taking over. The last thing she needs is me bothering her.

  I turn on my computer and shut it off right away. I can’t concentrate thinking about what Jeff wants with me. Cardinal Cafe is only about ten minutes from my house. Either I stew over our future conversation sitting at home, or I do it at the cafe with a drink in my hand. The latter seems a much better idea.

  The hostess seats me near the window. I’m close to the door, and when people enter the breeze is cold, but I don’t mind. I browse through the menu as if I don’t already have it memorized. I’ve been here enough to know they feature lobster mac and cheese on Mondays, a kale salad with chicken on Wednesdays, and, like most places in Wisconsin, fish fry on Friday. The mac and cheese is tempting, but I can go for a third-pound burger with three different kinds of cheese melted on top. I’ll probably order that.

  “Hey there, Landon.” My favorite waitress, Marnie, greets me, her voice rising with every word. “I haven’t seen you in here for the past few weeks. You’re usually here every day.”

  “Sorry about that.”

  “Can I start you off with a drink? Your usual?”

  “No coffee today. Bloody Mary please.”

  She presses her notepad against her stomach. “A Bloody Mary? Is everything okay?”

  Marnie has been my waitress here for the better part of a year. She knows what I like to order, and when I veer off track, she knows something isn’t right. A coffee would be great, but I need some alcohol, and this place makes the best Bloody Mary. I don’t know how they do it, but they’re amazing. “I lost my job.” Saying it out loud to someone other than my sister or Juliette lifts a thousand pounds off my chest, like I’ve let go of a century long secret.

  Marnie covers her mouth with her notepad. Lifting it off, she says, “That’s horrible. I’m so sorry. When?”

  “A few weeks ago. It’s fine. I’m still trying to figure things out. I might go into business for myself.” I keep saying that but I have no clue what I’d even do.

  “Good for you. I could never do something like that.”

  Marnie is an intelligent woman. She’s kind, detail-oriented, and outgoing. If anyone can start a business and succeed, it’s her. “Sure you could.”

  “I don’t know about that.” She clicks her pen and presses it to the paper. “What can I get for you today, besides the Bloody?”

  “Actually, I’m meeting someone—my old boss—so I think I’ll wait until he arrives to order any food.”

  “Don’t wait on account of me.” Jeff slides onto the seat across from me.

  “Well, speak of the devil.” Not too far from the truth, either, considering.

  “Nice to see you again.” He reaches over and shakes my hand. “Miss, that Bloody Mary sounds great. I’ll take one of those, too.”

  “Excellent. I’ll be back with those in a few minutes, and I’ll take your order then.”

  We wait for Marnie to move to the next table before either of us speaks. I figure I might as well start. “So, to what do I owe the pleasure?” I’m being facetious, but he doesn’t know that.

  “We’ll get there in time.” He flips through the menu, and then sets it back down. “Were you shopping very long the other day?”

  “No. After we finished at the dress shop we met with a florist.”

  “A florist? Are you getting married and didn’t tell me?”

  “No.” Even if I were getting married I doubt my ex-boss would be on my invite list. “Juliette is in a friend’s wedding, and she was helping her out by dropping the deposit off.”

  “That’s nice of her.” The ice clanks in the glass as he drinks his water. “I know we didn’t have an opportunity to go into much detail when we ran into each other, but how have you been doing these past few weeks? Any prospective jobs?”

  “Nah.” I might as well be honest. “I haven’t been looking too seriously. The job market is flooded with retail right now. Unless I plan on working the holiday shifts at Target, there’s not much for me. I’m not about to be thrown out on my ass if that�
��s what you mean.” Granted, I can’t afford to not have a job for much longer either. I’m fairly frugal and that allows me to pad my savings. I don’t want to have to constantly be dipping into savings, though, either.

  Jeff chuckles, and I cringe remembering now how much I hated when he did that. He never knew the appropriate time to laugh. He’s a tad socially awkward when business isn’t involved. Put him in an office in front of clients, and he owns the room.

  “We miss your sense of humor in the office.”

  “Is that so?” I don’t expect him to tell me they miss me at work. “Well, it’s too bad I don’t work there anymore.” Sarcastic, maybe. Regretful I said it? No.

  Jeff sets his glass of water back on the table, taking his time as though the bottom of the glass has to roll out one vertebra at a time. “Do you want to be?”

  “What?”

  “Working there again?”

  If I’d had anything in my mouth, I would have had to spit it out. “Are you offering me my job back?” I’ve been gone for three weeks, and they can’t handle it without me. I could have predicted this.

  “Not quite.” He bursts my bubble faster than I can blow one. “We’ve eliminated your position since the company that purchased us kept their guy on. I spoke with my manager, though, and we can bring you back as an independent contractor. Do you think that is something you would be interested in?”

  How do I answer him? I’m not sure if that’s something I want. Being fired after fifteen years sucked. The stability, the routine, the insurance is gone. I’m forced to find all of that again, and it’s not easy. Go back to work for Jeff though? As much as I liked my job, I couldn’t stand working with him. He’s good at his job, but he’s cocky and sexist, a combination I’m glad I don’t deal with anymore. I’m not having much luck securing a job, though, so I have to do something soon.

  “I thought you were asking me to lunch to tell me I forgot a stapler or something in my office.”

  “Not quite.”

  “I gather that. Look, I need some time to think about this, Jeff. I’m not sure how I feel walking back into that building and seeing everyone’s faces.”