Chapter 25

Julie took a moment to warm up before the children started spilling into the room for her kids’ yoga class. Dressed in fitted black workout pants and a tank top, she folded her body in half and let her arms dangle in front of her. The stretch felt good, like a drug being shot into her body. Working, or playing really, was going to feel good, too. She loved the kids’ enthusiasm and the creative names they gave the moves.

“Ms. Julie!”

Julie straightened just in time to secure herself before Sabrina came barreling into her legs. “Hey, sweetheart.”

Beth smiled from the doorway.

“I’m so glad you could make it.”

Beth nodded. “I wanted Sabrina to know that just because you have a fancy new job doesn’t mean she won’t see you anymore.”

“And Mommy says we’ll still have tea parties together,” Sabrina said.

“Of course we will. You couldn’t get rid of me if you tried,” Julie said, feeling a pang of regret. Lawson had gotten rid of her relatively easy.

Beth walked over and wrapped her arms around her. Now Julie was being sandwiched between both mother and daughter. “You are family now. We love you.”

Another pang.

“And you’re a much better sitter than Uncle Lawson. And probably Ms. Lacey,” Sabrina said.

Julie pulled back and looked down at her. “You’ll love your new sitter. I promise.”

Sabrina shrugged. “She’s not you, though.”

“No, she’s not. But I have a hunch you two will get along great.” Julie looked up, mentally chiding herself for wanting to ask about Lawson, too. She knew that he was supposed to go to Beth’s for dinner last night.

“I’m not allowed to talk to you about it,” Beth said, suddenly straight-faced.

“About what?”

“You were going to ask me if I’ve talked to Lawson and if I knew why he was being such a—” Beth glanced down at Sabrina. “Such a brat. I did, I do; but I promised him I wouldn’t tell you anything.”

Julie furrowed her brow as Beth lifted hers. “Doesn’t matter. I don’t care.” She placed her hands on her hips.

Beth shook her head. “Both of you are stupid idiots.”

“Excuse me.” Julie straightened.

“Which is why you’re so perfect for each other. My obligations as a sister trump those as a friend. But…” She looked sheepish. “You should talk to him,” she said quickly, as if she waited another moment, she might lose her nerve to say anything at all. “Demand answers. Cry if you have to because Lawson hates it when women cry.”

“I’m not going to cry in front of him,” Julie said flatly.

“Fine. Don’t. But go talk to him. Please,” Beth pleaded. She gave Sabrina a little shove. “Ask Ms. Julie nicely.”

“Pleasssssseeee,” Sabrina said, smiling wide.

Julie shook her head, then lifted her shoulders. “Fine. Okay.” Not that there was anything Lawson could do or say to make up for how he’d treated her.

“And you should do it soon. Like this afternoon soon,” Beth added. “Okay, that’s it.” She pretended to zip her lips. “That’s all I’m saying. No more.” She kissed Sabrina’s cheek. “Bye, little yogi. Have fun.”

Sabrina jumped up and down. “Bye, Mommy!”

Julie watched Beth practically run from the room. If Beth thought she needed to go see Lawson again, what could it hurt?

More kids started to file into the classroom. She inhaled deeply and tried to focus on the smiling faces in front of her. “Hi, everyone,” she said in her best singsong voice. The children’s enthusiasm immediately drew her in. “Are you guys excited about learning yoga?”

Everyone cheered. The energy in the room was the exact opposite of what it usually was in an adult class. It wasn’t peaceful, it was exuberant. No way was she going to be able to obsess over her love life right now. Or her lack of love life.

Thirty minutes later, after class had ended, she rolled up her yoga mat and waved goodbye to the last child. Sabrina came back in, dragging Beth behind her.

“Mom says we’ll be back next week!”

“Good.” Julie laughed. “It was great seeing both of you today. And, Sabrina, you did so good. Maybe you can be my assistant next time.”

Beth nodded. “And maybe I’ll join an adult class one of these days.”

“You should.” Julie followed them out and stopped at the reception desk where Allison was seated.

“Looks like you’ve made a bunch of kids happy today,” Allison said.

“I feel better after seeing them, too.” Julie watched as Beth and Sabrina exited the front door.

“I feel the same way after spending an hour in the weight room, watching a bunch of muscle heads. Speaking of which, I scheduled the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new health and wellness center for tomorrow. As my assistant director, you should definitely be there.”

Julie clasped her hands at her chest. “Already?”

“Last minute, I know, but we’re ready. We already have classes scheduled for next week, so it makes sense. And I thought since you’d be running the place, that you would do the honors of cutting the ribbon,” Allison said.

“I’d love to.”

“After that, the place is yours to get up and running. The nutritionist I hired part-time will be able to come in on Thursdays. I’ll get you her phone number so you can get her oriented.”

“Great.” New energy surged through Julie. This was exactly what she was meant to be doing. This was a job that meant something, and it was hers. A fleeting thought of Lawson swept across her mind. A part of her wished she could call him and invite him to the ribbon-cutting ceremony. He’d encouraged her so much along the way, and someone should be there with her, celebrating her successes in life.

Julie shook the thought away. Kat and Val would be there for her. And Beth and Sabrina. She had people, albeit all females. They were people who loved her, though. That was all that mattered. And if Lawson ever truly loved her, he wouldn’t have broken up with her without any real explanation. “I’m going to throw everything I have into this new job,” she said. Which wasn’t much. First Daren and now Lawson had taken a piece of her. She’d gone and seen Daren and taken back her confidence. Now she was headed to Lawson’s place. She’d given him her heart, all of it. Now she was going to take it back. For good.

Since joining the Corps he’d moved three times. That’s why he was a man of few belongings. Belongings that he was ready to start boxing up.

Lawson circled the grocery store parking lot, landing a spot close to the entrance. In a military community, boxes were a hot commodity. No need to put them in a recycling bin here. They were recycled by giving them to the Marines with orders, something he didn’t have yet, but he was sure were coming when he met with his commander tomorrow morning.

“Got any boxes?” he asked the young cashier up front.

She popped a bubble in her gum. “Check in the back,” she said without even looking up.

“Thanks.” He walked in that direction, avoiding the condom aisle. That had gotten him in trouble last time.

“Boxes?” he asked the young man beyond the swinging metal doors. The kid’s head was shaved, which made Lawson suspect this was a second job along with the Corps.

“Take as many as you need, man. Where’re you going?” he asked.

Lawson shrugged. “All I know is I’m going.” He gathered up several boxes that were already broken down and nodded at the guy. “Thanks.”

He carried them to his truck, thankful that he hadn’t run into anyone he knew. He hadn’t grown up in a small town, but one thing he’d learned since living in Seaside was that you should always be prepared to see a familiar face. He hoped he wouldn’t see anyone today, though. Hope dissipated as he approached his driveway.

Julie’s car was parked there. Great. As if he hadn’t hurt her enough.

She stepped out as he parked and leaned against her closed door. She was dressed in fitted yoga pants, just like she’d worn when he’d run into her at the Veterans’ Center a couple of months back. She had her hair swept up in a ponytail, revealing a long kissable neck. “What’s going on?” she asked, crossing her arms in front of her.

Lawson mirrored her posture, crossing his own arms. Hers was to guard herself from being hurt by him again. His was to guard himself from pulling her into his arms and carrying her inside. “Hey, Julie. What are you doing here?”

“I spoke to Beth this afternoon.” Her chin lifted just slightly.

Oh, shit. Beth had promised him, and he was going to let his sister have a huge piece of his mind once he sent Julie on her way. Then he was going to pin her to the ground like he’d done when they were kids and muss that don’t-touch-me hair of hers. Payback was a bitch. “She shouldn’t have told you.”

Julie’s eyes narrowed. “I would have preferred to hear it from you.”

He shook his head, then opened his passenger door and pulled out the boxes from the grocery store. “I didn’t want to discuss it. I still don’t. I knew that being ordered to move at the drop of a hat was part of the deal when I joined the military. I’m a Marine. This is my job.” Turning back to her, he paused.

Her eyes were wide, shimmering with what he feared were tears. “You broke up with me because you’re moving?” she asked quietly.

“Beth didn’t tell you that?” he asked, cursing under his breath. “You tricked me.”

“And you were planning on moving without even telling me.”

He sighed. “I thought it’d be easier that way.”

“Easier for who? You? Because I’ve been tormented wondering what’s wrong with me, that you love me one day and decide I’m unlovable the next.” Her voice was rising along with the flush color of her cheeks.

“I never meant to hurt you, Julie,” he said. “I only wanted to—” Love you. I only wanted to love you. Protect you. And instead he’d done the opposite of those things.

She was watching him intently. She took a step toward him. “You said you love me the other night. Why are you pushing me away now? Was I just fun while you were here? And now that you’re leaving, I’m baggage? Is that it?”

He shook his head. “No.”

“Uh-huh.” Her eyes were brimming with tears, but she was doing her best not to cry. She was strong. “You made me fall in love with you. How could you…?” She swallowed. “I told myself that I was going to wait before I fell in love again. If I ever fell in love again. And then you came along and swept me off my feet. Did I ever really mean anything to you?”

She’d never know how much. “Look, we moved too fast,” he said. “I never should’ve said I loved you. That was a mistake, and I’m sorry.”

The tears started sliding over her cheeks now. He resisted lifting his finger to wipe them away. She shook her head. “A mistake. I agree. Good luck and goodbye, Lawson.” Opening her car door, she got in and backed out as quickly as she could. He felt like punching something as hard as he could. Felt like jumping in front of her car, pulling her out of her driver’s seat, and kissing her stupid.

Instead, he carried his boxes inside and started packing. The quicker he got his orders tomorrow morning and moved to Camp Neally, the sooner everyone could move on with their lives.