I got that but… “She’s never wanted to stay in Cedar Falls,” I argued.
“She never had a reason to,” Jules responded quietly. And then added, “Sure, family is here. Friends are here. But she could visit us. Work somewhere else, come home when she wants. But we both know she’s always wanted a partner in life, like her parents have. Who better than someone she’s always known, who makes her laugh, who truly wants what’s best for her?”
“I do, Jules. Honestly.”
“I know you do. She does too.”
I hoped she was right. If she was, I just needed to prove that to her somehow.
“Figure out why I’ve been chickenshit to tell her sooner. And then find a way to explain that, and show Mae how much I love her. Got it. Anything else?”
She laughed, good-naturedly, making me really believe Jules was on my side. Which surprised me, honestly.
“That’s not enough?” she teased.
“I guess it is. Thanks, Jules.” I stood. Had no plan. But at least I knew where to start.
“Anytime. I hope it works out.”
I paused on my way to the door. “I can tell. Honestly,” I admitted. “I’m a little surprised.”
“Are you? Why?”
I shrugged. “I just figured you saw me as a fuck-up who’s been with too many women to be serious about just one.”
Jules leveled me another one of her laser stares. “You sure that’s not how you feel about yourself?”
Damn.
“Not pulling any punches, are you?”
Her brows raised. “When it comes to my best friend? And potentially her future happiness? Damn right I’m not.”
I wanted honesty, and got it.
“I see why she likes you so much,” I said before passing through the half-open door. “Maybe if this doesn’t work out you can get a therapy license. You’re really good at it.”
“Thanks. I’ll stick to analyzing fictional people.”
I remembered what Mae told me about Jules’s stalled writing career. She’d given me great advice, so I owed her a bit back.
“Sounds like a good plan. Like I said, you’re good at it. Maybe it’s time to pull the trigger.”
With a wink, I left, just catching Jules’s dropped jaw on my way out.
With as much clarity as I’d had all day, my next stop seemed like an obvious one. The sun was out, and I had some thinking to do. Only one thing left to do with my afternoon.
It was time for some fishing to clear my head.
42
MAE
“He went… fishing?”
“Apparently,” Pia said. “He texted me earlier but I was at the doctor’s office and just saw it. Routine checkup. Then Mason said something about him going fishing.”
Mason was the one who sent me over here, to the inn side of the building.
