Page 46 of The Summer for Us (Golden Falls #1)

JULIETTE

The drive to Laura and Mark’s was quiet. It wasn’t an uncomfortable silence, but I could tell Wes had a lot on his mind. And I did, too.

With one hand draped over the steering wheel, his other hand was holding mine.

As I looked out the side window, I thought back to my first dinner at Laura and Mark’s at the start of the summer and how much had changed since then.

If you told me that Wes and I would be arriving at a future dinner together, hand in hand, I would’ve thought I was being pranked.

But…that’s exactly what was happening.

Everyone in town knew about Wes and me, and I liked that we didn’t have to hide anything. I loved how affectionate he was with me, whether we were at home or out in town. But this was the first time I was seeing his parents since we started to spend time together.

Things were a little bit tense between us, and I hated it.

I had totally forgotten about my laptop, and I hadn’t wanted him to find out that way.

The look on his face pained me, even thinking about it now.

I knew we decided to pause the conversation for the sake of tonight’s dinner, which had been my idea, but there was so much I wanted to say to him.

I didn’t want it to seem like I was running away from Golden Falls, or from him.

I didn’t want to break his trust and make a haste decision.

I didn’t want to be like his ex. I wanted to stay—I just didn’t know if that was the right decision.

The one thing holding me back was my career and ensuring that I had my own life here and wasn’t clinging onto Wes’s life.

“I’m sorry again.” I looked over at him with a frown. “For earlier.”

Wes stopped at the red light and looked over at me, and I didn’t deserve the gentleness in his eyes.

Shouldn’t he be frustrated with me? Angry?

“I know you are, Juliette. You apologized already, and you didn’t do anything wrong, okay?

” He gave my hand a squeeze, but there was hesitation in his eyes.

“Tell me what you’re thinking?” I asked.

He looked forward, continuing the drive to dinner. We were less than ten minutes away.

“I’m thinking,” he started slowly, “that we’ve both been avoiding this conversation, and we’re getting to the point where we can’t put it off any longer.

You need to figure out your plans and I…

need to figure out what comes next.” While I knew Wes cared about me, I also knew his life would continue after I left.

Eventually, he’d find someone to settle down with.

My heart ached at the thought. “But I also don’t want that hanging over us tonight.

I love that you’ve been excited for dinner.

So have I. It’ll be almost all of my favorite people in one spot.

How can I not look forward to that?” he asked with a small smile.

“What do you say we try to enjoy tonight? The rest will be waiting for us.”

I slowly inhaled through my nose and exhaled, nodding. I looked down at my hand in his, setting my other hand on top and running my fingertips over his knuckles. “I say that sounds like a great plan.”

We were the last ones of the group to get to Laura and Mark’s. Similar to the first dinner, Mark was finishing up dinner on the grill with Cooper’s help, and Laura was talking with Lily and Eliza.

I tightened my grip on Wes’s hand. As excited as I was for tonight, I was also anxious. What if Laura and Mark didn’t want me to be with their son because I was going to break his heart? What if they didn’t understand what was going on between us, especially with summer wrapping up?

I knew our relationship was between us…but I also knew how important family was to Wes.

“Look who finally decided to show up!” Lily exclaimed as Wes and I walked through the yard to where everyone was gathered. Lily’s eyes fell to our clasped hands, and she let out a squeal. “Okay, yeah, this is adorable!”

Laura got up from her seat, a smile on her face.

“I’m so happy you two were able to make it.

” She didn’t seem fazed at all by Lily’s comments, which led me to believe she had found out one way or another that I was spending time with her son.

“You look beautiful, Jules,” she said, pulling me in for a hug.

“It’s so good to see you again. Thanks so much for having me,” I responded before pulling back. A part of my worries evaporated with Laura’s words and her embrace.

She then went on to hug Wes. I tried not to listen, but I could hear Laura whisper to him, “I love seeing you so happy.”

Laura then looked at us both, motioning for us to join her at the outdoor table.

“Come on and get comfortable. Dinner’s almost ready, and it’s a beautiful evening.

I’m glad we were able to get everyone together, especially since temperatures are supposed to increase later this week into next.

Make sure you two are getting enough water and taking breaks inside if you need them. ”

There was an August heatwave expected to roll through the Midwest.

Wes let out a small huff, a smile on his face as he rolled his eyes. “Mom, thank you, but we don’t need the reminder.”

She gave him a look. “I’m your mother, Wesley Richards. Of course, I’m going to give you the reminder.”

“I appreciate the reminder,” I piped in. It was true, but I mostly wanted to tease Wes.

Laura turned to me, hooking her arm with mine. “And that’s exactly why you’re my favorite tonight.”

I looked at Wes over my shoulder and laughed when he shook his head. He had a smile on his face, and that’s all that mattered.

One of my favorite aspects of having dinner with the Richards family was the constant conversation.

There was never a dull moment as we sat around the table, from Lily and me sharing how Eliza kicked our butts during yoga to Cooper talking about all the ways a six-year-old put him in his place during recent programming he helped run for the summer camp kids.

And, of course, I had to share the story about how I had accidentally scared Wes a couple days ago when he got home from work.

“I don’t think he’s ever yelled so loudly,” I said in between laughs, while everyone else was cracking up, too.

“I had no idea you were over!” Wes defended, the corner of his mouth twitching. I could see how badly he wanted to smile. “And then you pop out of nowhere without making a sound. That’s not natural.”

“Only thing that would’ve made it better was getting it on video.” I reached over for a napkin, blotting the tears from laughter from under my eyes. “Maybe next time.”

“Oh, I’d pay good money for that.” Cooper rubbed his hands conspiratorially.

“I’ll see what I can make happen,” I said with a grin, to which Wes wrapped an arm around my chair, pulling me closer only to tickle my side. If I thought I was laughing before, it was nothing compared to this. “Wes!” I said in between laughs, swatting his hand away.

He stopped after a few moments, leaning over. “Better watch it, city girl,” he murmured against my ear, pressing a kiss to my temple.

I blushed, but luckily the table’s attention had already moved on to the next conversation.

I took a moment to soak it all. How comfortable I felt around everyone. How they had welcomed me in. I hadn’t been part of a bigger dinner like this since my parents moved to Florida, so it was nice to get that this summer.

“I’m so glad we made it tonight,” I whispered to Wes.

He looked down at me, a smile on his face. “Me, too. And I’m sure there’s still more antics to come,” Wes said as Eliza was pushing Cooper’s phone away.

“Jeez, Cooper! Warn us next time?—”

“Oh my god,” he said, annoyed. “I literally did, Eliza.” Cooper let out an exasperated sigh. “I said, ‘Look at this snake I saw while out in the parks today,’ but you weren’t listening?—”

“I also didn’t hear you say anything,” Lily interrupted, siding with Eliza.

“Of course, you didn’t, because you were talking to her!” Cooper hung his head and looked over to Wes for help.

“I heard him loud and clear,” Wes chimed in.

With Laura and Mark not getting involved, the group looked in my direction.

My eyes widened. “I don’t want to get involved in this!”

“Jules is automatically on our side. That’s just how it works!” Eliza said to him with a sarcastic smile.

Cooper rolled his eyes, running a hand through his dirty blond hair. “I need another beer.”

Wes reached over to the cooler, pulling out two bottles. “One step ahead of you.”

Once dinner wrapped up, Laura and I teamed up in the kitchen to get the various plates and silverware into the dishwasher. Cooper and Wes were starting a bonfire while Mark cleaned the grill. Eliza and Lily had called Jade for a few minutes to catch up.

“I appreciate the help, Jules, but I really want you to know that I’m fine in here,” she assured me for the fifth time.

I let out a gentle laugh. “I’m happy to help. Really. It’ll go faster with the two of us, and then you’ll be able to see the revamp we did to Eliza’s studio.” Eliza promised to show Laura the photos once we got settled around the fire.

“I’m so excited to see. I remember all the ideas Harper, Eliza and Cooper’s mom, had for her own studio, and I love that Eliza is making it her own. She reminds me so much of her.” Laura had a wistful smile on her face.

“You two were close, I take it?”

“Very much so. Harper was my best friend, and we talked about how it would be a dream come true if our kids were best friends, too. And it happened. Maybe Harper and Rob aren’t here to see it themselves, but I see them every day in Cooper and Eliza.

I love those kids like they’re my own, and that’ll never change.

That’s the nice thing about family. It isn’t defined by blood.

” Laura looked over at me. “And it’s easy to bring someone new to the mix at any time. ”

“Oh, um, I appreciate that?—”

“I might’ve overstepped, and I apologize for that, but I want you to know you always have a place here. Regardless of your plans after the summer. You’re always welcome—please don’t forget that.”

“That means…” I paused, clearing my throat.

“That means the world to me. Thank you, Laura.” I set the final couple of plates into the dishwasher as I gathered my thoughts.

“I’m not sure what my plans after the summer are.

I like it here, a lot, but I never planned to stay.

” I hadn’t said any of this out loud, but talking to Laura was natural, especially after her kind words.

“Well, Jules, that’s the thing. Plans change, and that’s okay.

The only constant thing in life is change.

Doesn’t mean it isn’t scary—because it is—but it’s also beautiful.

Because it means even if things aren’t going your way one moment, they might the next.

” Laura turned the water off, drying her hands with a towel.

“You’re going to figure out the right thing for you.

I know it,” she assured me, giving my hand a squeeze.

Laura’s words were exactly what I needed to hear, but it didn’t mean things were any easier.

I thought back to the start of summer—about how much I needed change.

How I found that change in Golden Falls.

That was a perfect example of things not going my way, but now I was here, and it felt like everything was right. Except I was never meant to stay.

So, what happened next?