“In the parking lot?” It isn’t the first time Jude has asked me. It’s obvious that something happened. I took three wrong turns on the way home. I’ve been responding in one-word sentences, but now that I’ve processed—mostly—what happened, I need someone to confide in. “First there was some kissing.” No need to go into detail. I’m not even sure I could say what happened without sweating through my yoga pants, anyway. “Then we broke up even though we were never dating in the first place. We’ve been ending our non-existent relationship since we met, actually. It’s kind of our thing.”
“Huh.” Jude turns briefly and gives Myles a wry salute. “He just doesn’t want to try the long-distance thing, or…”
I snort. “Oh, we are nowhere near dealing with practicalities like driving distance, whether or not our political views align or if he’ll let me put up my Christmas tree in November. He claims I’m a distraction from the case. He…” It feels weird, talking about Myles’s past out loud with someone else, but I remind myself this is Jude. “Before he turned to a life of nomadic bounty hunting, he sort of mishandled a kidnapping case in Boston. This is the first time he’s investigated a crime since it happened and…”
“He doesn’t want to mess it up.”
“Yes.” I pull my knees up to my chest, wrapping my sweatshirt-covered arms around them tightly. “He’s punishing himself. And I have no choice but to let him. It’s not like we’re boyfriend and girlfriend or something. We’ve never even been in the same place at the same time without an argument breaking out.”
“And yet he spent the night camped outside your window. And he’s pacing at the top of the staircase wanting precious Taylor back inside where it’s safe.”
“Yes. Knowing Myles, he probably hasn’t eliminated the ocean as a suspect.”
Jude chuckles. Scoots closer to me in the sand and puts an arm across my shoulders. “Every once in a while, a guy comes along that throws you off balance, but you’ll find your footing again.”
“Has that happened to you?”
He scoffs, turns his face toward the far end of the beach. “Nope. I was just generalizing.”
I hum in my throat. “Are you sure about that?” I ask, gently poking him in the ribcage. “I’ve always tried not to interfere in your relationships. I’ve never really had to, because you don’t settle into them long enough to warrant a conversation. But…” His muscles are already tensing. He knows where this is going. “Do you want to talk about Dante?”
“God no.” Water droplets fly in every direction when he shakes his head. “No. I definitely don’t want to talk about Dante.”
“Has he been calling you since we arrived?”
“Before we arrived. During. After. He won’t give up.”
“Give up on what? I thought you two were just friends?”
“We are,” Jude rushes to say, slicing a hand through the wind. “Friends. Nothing more. He’s straight, Taylor.”
“I know…”
When they were younger, that seemed to be a concrete truth.
As they grew up, got further into high school…the fact that Jude’s best friend dated girls exclusively didn’t seem like such a given. How could Dante date when he was always with Jude?
“Dude plays Goliath in the Phantom Five franchise. Last I heard, he was moving in with Ophelia Tan—his gorgeous co-star. There is no mistaking his preferences and I wouldn’t want to question them anyway. Dante is Dante. I would never want to change him. I just wish he would go live his incredible life and stop trying to…keep this going.”
I can’t hide my confusion. “Keep your friendship going?”
“It’s complicated, T.” He smiles to soften the steel in his tone. “Just trust me when I say it’s complicated.”
“Okay.” I nod, lay my head on his shoulder. “I’ll leave it alone.”
His cheek rests on the top of my head. “Thank you.” He’s quiet for several moments. “I like uncomplicated a lot better, anyway. You?”
Wiggling my bare toes in the sand, I consider the question. “I don’t know. I’ve been on dates with a lot of uncomplicated guys. They all have their tax portfolios and a best friend named Mark. They golf. They have a favorite dry cleaner. That’s what I wanted. Want. But…”
“The bounty hunter is messing with your head?”
“He’s like eating a spicy breakfast burrito after years of having oatmeal for breakfast.”
He wraps his arm around me tighter. “Dammit, right?”
“Yup. Dammit.”
“The worst part is…I like him. I like him. At first I thought he was flat out mean, but now I just find him honest. And when I think back to the dates I’ve been on with potential husband material, none of those conversations seem remotely authentic. I like being around Myles because I know exactly what I’m getting. He doesn’t lie. Ever. And so when he says something meaningful or kind or complimentary, it’s like…Christmas morning. That sounds so stupid—”