Inside, they are just entering the living room when Julia comes out. Her jaw drops but she keeps herself collected. “Hey, everyone.” She waves tentatively.
“What are you doing?” Jared says.
She freezes.
“Get over here for some hugs,” he finishes.
Her shoulder shrugs and she steps forward.
“She can’t hug, remember?” Dylan jabs Jared in the ribs, making him wince.
Julia sucks in her lips, holding back a smile before she lunges at Jared and he catches her. They hug, followed by the rest of the team. By the time she’s done, she wipes at her eyes quickly.
“I thought you all were mad at me,” she admits softly.
“No way!” Febin says.
“We were just waiting until the time was right,” Jared says, excitedly chewing his lip ring.
“Sit, sit.” Julia waves them to the couch and chairs. “We will talk after I get some drinks.”
“Are you happy?” I ask her as we grab lemonade and iced tea for everyone.
“You knew they were coming?” she asks between filling glasses with ice.
“Of course. They’ve been wanting to see you since the hospital, but I wanted to give you time to heal. They’re up to something.”
She sets down her glass and hugs me. “I was so afraid I made you lose them. Afraid that I lost them too.”
“Never,” I whisper in her hair. “We all love you. We’re a family.”
She shudders out a sigh before collecting herself and carrying the tray of drinks into the living room.
Julia is a happy hostess. I love it. I love her. I’m staring because when she looks at me, she widens her eyes and gestures her head back to Febin who’s been talking about all the shows they’ve finally been able to catch up on. She smiles and shakes her head as I bring my attention back to him.
“So did you tell her yet?” I ask.
“Nope. We were waiting to make sure you were healthy. We weren’t ignoring you, Julia.” Kate says.
“I thought maybe—” Julia says, tucking her hair back behind her hair.
Jared holds her gaze as she sets a glass down in front of him. “Just know there is nothing people could tell us to make us think differently about you. Nothingyoucould tell us. We trust and love you.”
Her smile is so big as she says, “Okay. I love you guys too.”
“We brought you the final version of the Shemesh-Tek fertilizer. We’ve had some free time. This one is perfect.” Dylan gestures to the front door. “But we left it outside because that shit reeks.”
“This batch is far superior. Sprinkle it over the plants and blast it with your UV light twice a day and they should be back in no time,” Febin says flatly.
The whole room stills. Febin chomps happily on a sugar cookie, unaware of the bomb he accidentally dropped.
“Uh,” Julia scratches the back of her neck.
Febin looks around. Blinks. Then says, “I said something wrong, didn’t I?” His gaze fuzzes out before coming back in focus. “Oh. I meantaUV light. Not yours. We don’t know about your powers.”
Julia’s eyes are wide as her hand stills in mid-air. I laugh and shake my head.
Jared drops his head into his hand. “Jesus.”
