Chapter 30

Julie

Julie walked toward the stairs to see Jason coming down them.

“Did you see Cody up there?” she asked.

“I did,” Jason answered. “I think he was with Jessie.”

With Jessie, Julie thought. What was he doing with her?

Just as Julie took the first step, she looked up to see Cody coming down them fast.

“There you are,” she said. “Jason said you were up there with Jessie.”

“With Jessie,” he said. “Yeah. Listen.”

“Are you okay?” she asked.

“I'm not,” he answered. “I've got to get out of here. I'll meet you at your parents' in the morning.”

“In the morning?” she asked. “Why's that?”

“I just can't right now, Julie,” he answered, as he looked into her eyes and thought about Jason's words. “I'm going to the hotel. It's not like your parents were going to let us sleep in the same room anyway, and it's getting late. I'll go there, and then I'll be at your parents' house in the morning.”

“Cody,” Julie said, reaching out to grab his hands in hers. “What's going on?”

“I need some air,” he said. “That's all.”

“Cody,” she said, as tears formed in her eyes.

“I'll see you in the morning,” he said, as he pulled his hands from hers and turned toward everyone else. “It was nice meeting all of you. Congratulations Gavin and Gracie.”

Then he turned, walked toward the front door, and was gone.

“What was that about?” Julie asked, as she looked up the steps at her sister. “Is there something going on between you and Cody?”

Jessie took the last few steps, as she looked at Julie.

“What? No!” Jessie snapped, as she pointed across the room. “Jason told you he loves you.”

“What?” Julie gasped out, as she turned toward Jason. “You told her that?”

“Not me,” Jessie said.

“What the fuck did you just say?” Julie's dad barked out, as he crossed the room in just a few steps.

“Jason,” Heath snapped.

“I told him not to fuck up with you too,” Jason said, as he began walking toward her.

“Him? No,” she said, as she held her hand out to stop him from coming even closer. “Did you tell him that you told me you loved me?”

When Jason didn't answer, Julie shook her head.

“How could you?” she snapped out, as she pulled that same hand back and then smacked him across the face with it. “You were the one that left. Then you went on to move from one woman to the next like some celebrity player. What gives you the right to try to fuck up the only relationship I've ever cared about?”

“The only relationship you've ever cared about?” Jason asked, with shock in his tone, as his hand moved up to rub the spot on his cheek that she'd just slapped.

“You heard me,” Julie snapped out. “You're supposed to be my best friend, but a best friend would never do what you just did. Did you honestly think I'd be okay with you telling him that?”

“He doesn't deserve you,” Jason said.

“And what, you do?” she yelled.

“No,” he yelled back. “I don't, but he doesn't either.”

“That's not for you to decide, Jason. I just don't know about you anymore,” Julie growled out, as she looked away from him and over at her dad. “Can you give me a ride?”

“Like he's going to take you to that fucker,” Jason snapped out.

“Jason,” Heath yelled. “If you say one more damn word, I'm going to come over there and smack you upside your head. I can't believe you.”

“I am,” Julie's dad said, as he put his arm around his daughter.

“Seriously!” Jason snapped.

“Yes,” her dad answered. “I might not like the guy when it comes to business, but my daughter loves him, and he was there for my girls when none of us were. So, yes, I am going to take her to him.”

Then he turned toward Julie.

“Let's go.”