Chapter 9

Julie

Julie knew she needed to put her foot down and tell Cody she wasn't going, but that wasn't what she really wanted. She'd had a great time the day before, and she honestly couldn't wait to see him again. He was funny, sarcastic, serious, and brilliant all at the same time, and he made her feel things she rarely felt. In that three hours she'd spent with him, she believed in herself, and she felt like someone else actually believed in her too. It was crazy. He was the competition, and he made her feel better than her father ever had.

She took a quick shower and got dressed in a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, feeling better than she had in so long. She was going to be an aunt, had gotten a job she was looking forward to going to, and was about to go out with the most gorgeous man she'd ever met.

“Where are you off to,” Jessie asked, as Julie came around the corner.

“I'm going out,” Julie answered.

“With the guy you wore that dress for last night?” Jessie asked.

Julie nodded and knew her cheeks were turning a dark shade of pink.

“And who is this man?” Jessie asked.

“I met him at school,” Julie said, as she walked over, grabbed her sneakers, and sat down on the couch to put them on.

“Interesting,” Jessie said.

“Why is that?” Julie asked.

“Two days in a row,” Jessie said. “That's not like you. He's definitely put a smile on your face. I can't wait to meet this guy.”

“That's not happening,” Julie blurted out quickly.

“Why not?” Jessie asked. “Is there something wrong with him?”

“No,” Julie answered.

“Are you embarrassed of me?” Jessie asked.

“No,” Julie snapped out.

“Then why?” Jessie asked.

“I have my reasons,” Julie said.

The things she'd heard both her father and her uncle say popped into her mind. They'd called Cody a snake as well as so many other things. Julie wasn't one to care what other people thought. She was going to give Cody the same chance she gave everyone else, and she hoped so much that he didn't make her regret that decision. She also wasn't ready to admit to her sister what she was doing.

“You know that makes me want to meet him even more, right? Jessie asked.

“Not funny,” Julie answered.

“I'm not laughing,” Jessie said. “I'm going to live through you.”

“Why is that?” Julie asked. “You can still date. Being pregnant doesn't stop that.”

“I'm not interested,” Jessie said, as sadness filled her eyes.

“You okay?” Julie asked.

“I'm fine,” Jessie answered, as she pointed out the window to the Corvette that had just parked in front of their apartment. “Go out and enjoy your mystery man.”

As soon as the car door opened and Cody stepped out, Julie took off for the door. There was no way she was letting him come up.

“Damn!” Jessie said, in a shocked tone.

“What?” Julie asked, as she pulled open the door.

“He's gorgeous,” Jessie answered. “Great job, sis. Have a good time.”

Julie turned, stuck her tongue out, and then took off, pulling the door closed behind her. Cody walked around to the passenger side of his car and opened the door for her.

“What was that about? he asked, as she got into his car.

“Nothing,” she said, but she could tell her face was totally giving her away.

“Really?” he asked.

“You going to shut that door, or should I just get out and go back?” Julie asked.

“Smartass,” he grumbled, as he closed the door and walked around the front of the car and back to his side.

“What are we doing?” she asked. “Are you going to try to pick my brain some more?”

“Pick your brain?” Cody asked, as he shook his head.

“Is this a business meeting?” she asked, before looking over to see a shocked look on his face. “I was just asking.”

“No,” he said. “It's not. I totally love hearing everything you have to say about coding and business, but that's not why I called you.”

“So it was my amazing personality then?” Julie asked.

And just like that, any nervous energy filling the car was gone, and laughter was replacing it. The day went great. They went to the park, had a picnic, and even took a walk through the trails. When Cody dropped Julie back off, she was exhausted, but she'd had the best time ever.

“I had a good time,” Cody said, as he opened the passenger side door of his car for her to get out.

“Me too,” she said. “I don't get out often, so I don't have a lot to compare it with, but I really enjoyed it.”

Cody shook his head and a smile filled his face.

“I'll walk you to the door,” he said.

“Thank you,” she said. “That's very nice of you.”

“What can I say,” he began, “I'm a really nice guy.”

When they got to the door, Julie reached for the knob, but Cody reached out and his hand covered hers. Julie turned, and before she knew what hit her, his other hand wrapped around the back of her neck and his mouth covered hers. When his teeth grabbed her bottom lip and pulled it down, a tiny whimper escaped her. He thrust his tongue into her mouth, and her hand went up to grip the back of his head. As his tongue danced with hers, she felt her knees begin to weaken and knew she needed to pull away.

“I should go,” she whispered, when she pulled back to catch her breath.

“Yes,” he said, as he covered her mouth again.

Before Julie knew it, both of his arms were wrapped around her, her back was against the door to her apartment, and she could feel his hardness pressing against her through his jeans. They were deep in the middle of their second kiss when an image of her dad flashed through her mind. She pulled her mouth away as fast as she could, and she scrambled away from him.

“I'm sorry,” Julie said. “I really need to go.”

“So do I,” Cody said, as he took a step back.

Julie saw a look on his face, and if he hadn't been the one to initiate the kiss, she would have thought it was regret. Maybe it still was, she thought. As he turned and walked back to his car, she couldn't help but feel her own dose of regret. Partly because she knew she was going against her family, and partly because she'd pulled away from his kiss. As soon as he drove away, she opened the door and instantly jumped.

“That shit was hot,” Jessie said, as she stood just inside the window. “You got it bad.”

“I do not,” Julie snapped. “It was just a kiss.”

“That was not just a kiss,” Jessie said. “Were you there? That man wanted a kiss, and he took it. He's into you just as much as you're into him.”

“He is not,” Julie said. “Neither am I. It doesn't matter. It would never work anyway.”

Without even giving her sister a second, Julie took off for her bedroom and closed her door behind her. She didn't want Cody to think she was out of her mind, so she grabbed her phone and sent him a message, hoping it would take away the negativity her tiny freak out had most likely given him.

Julie: Thank you for today. It was really nice.

She grabbed her laptop, sat down on her bed, and did the only thing she ever did when she was nervous or stressed. She worked.

Before long, her classes started, and she was deep in the middle of teaching. After an entire month, she was still loving it just as much as she had the first day. How could her dad have acted as if what she was doing was less than what she would've been doing with him, she wondered? Cody hadn't acted like it was less of a job than what he did, so why had her father?

Between her schedule and Cody's, they were only been able to get together once a week, and each time they did, they met at a restaurant for dinner. When they were done, Cody would walk her to her car, and before she'd get in, he'd lean in and kiss her. Kissing him was amazing, but not one of those kisses had even come close to their first. When she'd get home, she'd text him to let him know she was there, and he'd let her know when he was as well. They spent at least a few minutes on the phone each day, some days much longer than others, and as soon as they hung up, she couldn't wait to talk to him again. Some days they talked about her classes and others they talked about development. It didn't matter what it was they talked about, she enjoyed it. He really was a great guy. Her dad and uncle had been wrong. She was sure of it.

Julie had just come in from class, and her phone rang. Excited to talk to Cody, she swiped her finger over the phone, as she kicked off her shoes, without ever looking at it.

“Hey there,” she said, with happiness filling her words. “How are you this fine day?”

“You sure sound happy,” she heard his words, and she froze.

It wasn't Cody at all. Instead, it was her father, and she couldn't help the disappointment that filled her. She hadn't talked to him since she told him she wouldn't be coming home. It wasn't like she never called home. It just hadn't been her father she'd been calling. Julie text her mom every day. Some messages were short, and some were longer, but she never missed a day. Her dad hadn't exactly been trying to contact her any more than she was him, and she was okay with that.

“I am,” she said. “What's up? You sound pretty happy.”

“Oh, I am,” he said. “You're never going to believe what I have to tell you.”

“I can't imagine,” she said. “All of your competition went away?”

Julie knew that wasn't the case. She was very aware that his competition was right there, closer than ever.

“Very funny,” her dad answered. “That fucker hasn't gone anywhere.”

“You do know that you have more than one fucker you're competing with, right?”

“Julie,” her dad snapped into the phone.

“Just checking,” she said.

“You ready to hear what I have to say?” her dad asked.

“Sure,” she answered. “My classes are going really well by the way.”

“That's great,” he said. “You're going to change your mind about all that teaching business.”

“Really?” Julie asked, with aggravation filling her tone.

“Yes,” he answered. “It's about your brother.”

“Mom said he's home,” Julie said. “How's that going?”

“Good,” he answered. “Great actually. He's coming to work with me. Can you believe that?”

Julie heard his words, and it felt like he'd just kicked her in the stomach as hard as he could. He'd said with me, not for me. Why was the one person that wanted nothing to do with the business was the one person their dad wanted next to him? She'd worked her ass off, but that still hadn't mattered, not one bit.

“Really?” she asked. “You know he doesn't like what you do, right?”

“He came to me,” her dad said. “He said he was ready. I told you that you needed to come home, didn't I? You could be here with us. That's where you're supposed to be. Why don't you pack up your stuff and get home? You belong here.”

“What am I supposed to tell my students?” she asked.

“Your students,” he said, as if he hadn't even thought of that. “Just have them put someone else in your place. We need you here, Julie.”

“Are you actually hearing the words you're saying?” she asked.

“Of course I am,” he answered. “You're my little girl, and you're supposed to be here.”

“You drive me crazy,” Julie snapped.

“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” her dad snapped back.

“Nothing, dad,” she said. “It means nothing. I have to go. I have to plan for class tomorrow. I like what I'm doing, and I can't stand that you're brushing it off like it's nothing. I committed to teaching these classes. My students need them for their degrees. I will finish teaching them.”

“Then as soon as they're over, you'll come home,” he said.

“I have to go,” she said.

“Julie,” he snapped. “This is serious. It's the family company we're talking about.”

“The family company,” she whispered. “What a joke. Goodbye, dad.”

Julie hit the button to end the call, and she knew it wouldn't be long before she'd either hear from him or her mom, depending on how he was really feeling. Julie knew her brother was home, but she also knew that he didn't want visitors, and she'd respected that. When her dad told her Gavin was coming to work with him, she couldn't believe her ears. Her brother, the guy who couldn't write a line of code to save his ass, was working with their father, but Julie, who could write code in her sleep, was invited to work for their father. What a load of shit, she thought. Julie knew, in that moment, that she'd made the right decision, and she honestly wasn't sure that she'd ever work in the family business again. The craziest part of the whole thing was that it wasn't her she felt bad for, not at all. It was her brother. He'd never wanted a damn thing to do with that business, but their father had been pushing him since he was a little boy to pay attention, learn, and follow in his footsteps. Footsteps that Gavin honestly couldn't stand. Why, after serving his country, having his best friend killed beside him, and being injured himself, would he want to step into the one building he'd always avoided? Julie had no idea. All she knew was that she felt bad for him but also felt so much anger toward their father.

When her phone rang, Julie jumped. Then she looked at the screen and breathed a tiny sigh of relief. It wasn't her father or her mother. It was Cody.

“Hey,” she said, as she answered the phone.

“Hey,” he said. “What's up?”

“Not much,” she said.

“You sure?” he asked.

“Positive,” she answered.

No matter how hard Julie tried to push her father out of her mind, she couldn't do it.

“What's wrong?” Cody asked. “You don't sound like your chipper, smartass self.”

“Nothing,” she said. “I'm fine.”

“Was it your classes?” he asked. “Do I need to kick some young punk's ass?”

“No,” she said. “It has nothing to do with class. It's a family thing. I'm trying to get it out of my mind, but it's really pissing me off.”

“Pissing you off?” he asked. “That doesn't sound like you. I think you need a time out.”

“A time out for saying pissing me off?” she asked.

“Yep,” he answered. “I'm on my way.”

“What?” she snapped out. “You can't come over now.”

“Why not?” he asked, with a growl. “You got a guy there?”

“No,” she said, totally shocked by his response.

“Good,” he said. “I'm on my way.”

“Aren't you working?” she asked.

“I'll work tonight,” he said roughly.

“Won't this break our once a week dinner?” she asked.

“It sure will,” he said sternly. “I'll bring dinner.”

“My sister is home,” she said.

“I'll bring enough for her too,” he said. “I'll be there in thirty.”

With that, he was gone. Julie jumped up, ran into the living room, and started picking things up.

“What's going on with you?” Jessie asked, from her usual spot on the couch.

“He's on his way over,” Julie yelped out. “He's bringing food.”

“Who?” Jessie asked, with confusion in her tone.

“Him,” Julie said, barely able to breathe from how fast she was moving.

“The him that has my sister a tangled mess?” Jessie asked.

“Get dressed,” Julie yelled out, as she ran into the other room. “He'll be here in thirty minutes.”

“I'm fine like this,” Jessie said.

“You're wearing pajamas,” Julie said, as she stopped and narrowed her eyes at her sister. “It's the middle of the afternoon.”

“On my day off,” Jessie said. “It's not me he has the hots for anyway, and I'm just fine in my stretchy pants. They fit my belly. I won't be changing.”

“Whatever,” Julie yelled out, as she began again. “He does not have the hots for me.”

“Oh, he most definitely does,” Jessie said. “Will you slow down.”

“No,” Julie snapped out, as she whizzed by again. “I don't want him to think I'm messy.”

“He might as well,” Jessie said, with a laugh. “Do you want him to find out later, once he's madly in love with you?”

“Shut up!” Julie yelled out, as she shook her head. “It's not like that. It's business.”

“Oh, I'm sure it is,” Jessie said. “It's business, and he's coming here.”

“Ugh!” Julie let out.

Jessie got up and caught Julie's arm on her way by. Julie turned toward her, and she laughed.

“I'm just happy I finally get to meet him,” Jessie said.

“I'm not,” Julie said, and Jessie gave her a confused look.

“Why is that?” Jessie asked.

“No reason,” Julie said, as she pulled her arm away and hurried to her room.

“Something tells me I'm not the only one with secrets,” Jessie said.

“No secrets here,” Julie yelled, as she walked back into the room.

“Then why don't I believe you?” Jessie asked.

Just as Julie opened her mouth to reply, there was a knock on their apartment door.

“Shit!” Julie gasped. “That was not even close to thirty minutes. He had to have already left work before he even called me.”

“More like he already had the food when he called you,” Jessie said.

“I swear,” Julie snapped out, as she headed toward the door. “That man does whatever the hell he wants.”

“Sounds interesting,” Jessie said.

Julie stopped at the door and looked back over her shoulder at her sister.

“Not funny,” she snapped, as she took a deep breath, turned back toward the door, and turned the knob.

Please let this be okay, Julie thought in her mind over and over, as she pulled the door open.