Page 6 of Our Unexpected Beginning (Club Surrender #4)

Julia

J ulia curled up on the window bench looking out to the backyard at Lexi and Noah’s house.

She’d been unable to focus all evening. The group scattered around the property after devouring pizza in the living room.

Lexi and Mia were on the couch chatting about Mia’s upcoming wedding to Nolan.

Wes and Noah were outside battling the kids around the fire making smores while Nolan took Ben from Mia when she was done nursing to sleep in the guest bedroom.

Melody plopped down in front of her with her arm outstretched with an offered burnt marshmallow. Just the way Julia liked them. “Hey, whatcha doin’?” She felt cornered as Julia curled her legs up, unable to find the words to answer.

How was she supposed to tell her best friend that she couldn’t get her mind off of the amazing mechanic dick she’d been getting.

He knew how to play her body like a well-worn instrument.

She’s always played so close to the chest, but it was baffling to her how Graham knew her moves before she did.

Just the thought of Graham’s hands on her made her slick between her thighs and systematically ruined more panties than she could count.

“Contemplating putting together my cat lady starter pack.”

“That’ll be hard considering you’re allergic to them.” Mel giggled. “You could get the hairless ones that look like shriveled balls.” Her laugh was cut short by the look on Julia’s face. “What’s wrong?”

Wrinkling her nose she looked down at her phone. “Why are there no dating apps with qualifications better than a driving test? Too many Joe-schmucks and weirdo’s.” She tossed it on the couch and sighed. “Your ex might be a motherfucker, but this dude is a MOTher-FUCKer!”

“Tell me about it!” Melody laughed at Julia’s disgruntled mimic. “Hey, I thought things were going well with you and Graham.”

She brushed Melody off. “Oh, it’s all fun and games. I’m totally enjoying bouncing on his pogo stick until it’s not fun anymore.”

“That’s a little harsh don’t you think?” Mel looked through the window at Wes and smiled. She turned back to Julia. “You deserve love, too.”

“I’ve had my heart broken too many goddamn times Mel. I don’t want to do that again. The next time I open up to someone will be my autopsy. ”

“I used to say that!” Lexi cheered from the other corner, laughing with Mia. “Mia didn’t like it when I used to say ‘Legs open, but the heart’s closed!”

“Alright, we’re cuttin’ you off Mrs. Hayes.” Mia pulled the drink from Lexi’s hand.

Melody scooted closer to Julia, invading her dwindling personal space. “Oh C’mon, you’ve gotta give it a chance.”

“Let the lust bloom!”

“Lex isn’t wrong…”

Before Julia could answer her phone vibrated, and she reached for it with a sigh.

Auntie:

Hey are you coming up this week?

“Momster?”

“No, Aunt Elaine.” Julia sighed and tipped her head back. “I know she’s been lonely with Uncle Steven and with Dev gone, and I know I don’t go up as much as I should.”

“Hey, if you’re going up there, why don’t you take Graham with you? See each other outside of the club. Dressed.” Melody teased.

“Let those legs fly!”

“No, absolutely no way am I bringing him into that lion’s den. Not with the chance my mother is going to show up. No matter how often Aunt Elaine has tried, I don’t care what anyone says. It’s always a disaster with my mother.” Without her brother as a buffer, it had become unbearable.

“Why? It would be good for you to go with reinforcements. We’ve been friends for too long so you can’t pass me off as your latest girlfriend.”

“We did that once already.”

“Who’s going where?” Wes returned to the room with an arm full of snacks. He handed them each a drink and sat behind Melody on the couch.

“Jules has to make the obligatory visit back home and I thought it would be good for her to go with Graham as backup.”

“And I was telling my amazing and maybe sometimes not-so-bright friend that nobody needs or wants to deal with that. Let alone–”

“It’s not the worst idea.” Wes agreed.

“How on earth is Golden Boy going to fit into all that dysfunction.” Julia scrunched her brows and looked at Melody. She pointed to Wes. “Did you tell him?”

Melody held her hands up in defense. “Oh no. It’s not my story to tell. That hell is all your handbasket!”

“Graham knows his fair share of dysfunction.”

“I know his sister ran away from the sweetest girl I know.”

“That’s her loss.” Melody loved Sarah as if she were her own. There wasn’t anything not to love about the little girl. She was Julia’s favorite painting partner .

“His story is partly my daughter’s story.” Wes reached over and patted Julia’s leg. “If you gave him half the chance, he might surprise you.”

Peer pressure disguised as love.

“I think you should ask him.”

Julia wondered silently. Opening her messages and pulling up their chat, only to close it out and dim the screen.

She repeated the cycle twice before giving in and pulling up the keyboard to text.

‘Hey, so…’ *Message Deleted*

‘Hey, would you be…’ *Message Deleted*

‘Wanna go get tortured…” *Message Deleted*

Graham:

Hey, beautiful.

Fuck.

He must have seen the bubbles.

That meant he had their messages open too.

She couldn't help but feel a little smug at the realization.

Julia:

Hey

Graham:

I was just thinking about you.