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"No. I want to be near my family. I want a support network," Julie says. "Some of us need that."
"Jules—"
"Whatever. I didn't come here for this, but… I should go. I didn't want to ruin your morning. And I just… I'm sorry, Patrick. You seem like a good guy. I hope my sister is more honest with you than she is with me." Julie stands and grabs her stuff.
Imogen watches her leave.
I don't think. I run after Julie.
ChapterForty
PATRICK
Ifind Julie sitting on the steps of the apartment complex.
"Hey." I sit next to her. "You want to stay here or take a walk?"
She looks up at me with surprise. "Did Immy put you up to this?"
"No."
She wipes a tear from her eyes. "Sorry. I really didn't want to crash your date."
"It's okay."
"It's not. It's really rude."
"I forgive you," I say. "And I'll forgive you more if you let me buy you a coffee."
"That seems backward. Shouldn't I buy you a coffee to apologize for interrupting?" she asks. "I mean, you two were totally going to do it before I showed up right?"
"We were sleeping," I say.
"Then for waking you up," she says.
"Okay. You are an Orange County girl. You must have money." I stand and offer my hand.
She lets me help her up. "Okay, Mr. I Live Off Abbott-Kinney. Do tattoo artists really make this much money?"
"No." If we're getting real, I might as well talk to her. "This was my sister's place. She left it to me."
"Oh. Shit. Right," she says. "And I'm complaining my sister doesn't talk to me."
"It's not a competition." I move down the stairs and motion for her to follow.
She does. "Old and wise?"
"Basically."
"Can you afford that?" she asks. "Whatever was left on the mortgage?"
"Her life insurance covered it."
"Oh."
"It's standard with loans these days." I lead her around the corner where Abbot-Kinney begins. It is a hipster street, but it starts slowly, with the yellow California casual lemonade and salad place. Then a coffee shop. "What do you normally drink?"
"My parents make this Vietnamese iced coffee," she says. "But like… a bougie version, with less sugar, and coconut milk. They made that for Imogen, you know. Because she's lactose intolerant. Mom says it was the key to their business hitting the next level."
