Where We Belong (Carolina Rebels 6)

“You’ve been quiet. Too quiet,” Cal says as we walk toward our apartment doors.

I shrug. I still don’t feel the need to speak.

“I’m worried, Collin.”

“I’m fine.”

“Yeah, that’s what you keep saying, but I’m having a hard time believing you.”

We’ve reached our apartments now. I don’t know what he wants from me, but he obviously isn’t going to get it. I turn away from him and insert a key into the lock. Cal gets the message and does the same. I spot Julie within seconds of entering my apartment, but Marmalade greets me first, rubbing against my legs as I close and lock the door.

Julie leaves the kitchen to rush over and hug me. “I’m glad you’re back.”

“What? You miss me?”

She laughs. “Of course I did. I’m fixing chicken Alfredo for lunch. Maybe you should put your things away and make sure I haven’t completely taken over your bedroom.” Her smile wobbles with worry.

Instead of responding, I kiss her temple and walk away from her. Her things are everywhere. It’s almost overwhelming to see my apartment populated with things that are not mine, to realize that I no longer live alone. While I like that Julie is here, right this very second, I wish she wasn’t. All I want to do is fall face forward on my bed, cover my head with a pillow, and lie there until I decide to get up. Something tells me Julie will not accept that behavior.

I toss my bag near my closet, take a deep breath, and return to the kitchen where Julie places two plates on the bar. We sit down and begin to eat.

“I’ve been applying for jobs,” Julie tells me.

“That’s good.”

“How—”

I hold up my hand. “If you’re about to ask me how I’m doing, don’t. I’m tired of that question.” For the first time since we sat down, I look over at her. She seems worried now, but she nods. “Do you feel good about the move and everything? What did your parents say?”

Julie talks and I’m sure I hear what she says, but I don’t process her words. I mostly asked so I wouldn’t have to talk anyway. But then, Julie finishes her recap and asks me a question.

“You have the next week off, right? What are you going to do with your time?”

“Stay home. Some of the guys are going on vacation, but I’m not unnecessarily traveling during the season, even for vacation.” Plus, I promised her a date. If this world loves me at all, I’ll have enough energy and be in a decent enough mood to take her somewhere and make it enjoyable.

As we finish off our meal, she reaches over and rests her hand on my leg. “Do you know what I think we should do?”

Oh, fuck. I don’t want to do anything.

“Be completely lazy today,” she says.

I grin and lean over to kiss her softly. “I knew there was a reason I liked you.”

Julie puts the dishes away while I sit on the couch. Marmalade sits on the back of the recliner and watches me with careful eyes. The fucking cat acts like he’s the king of my apartment. As if the top of the recliner is his throne where he overlooks the kingdom of the living room, and Julie and I are his lowly subjects.

“Why are you glaring at Marmalade?” Julie asks with a laugh as she sits down next to me.

“Look at him. He’s acting as if he owns this place. Maybe I should bring Otis over here. He might hate cats and decide to eat him.”

Julie laughs as she backhands my stomach. “That’s mean!”

“What’s mean is a cat deciding to intrude in my home.”

Julie chuckles as she shakes her head at me, but it makes me smile. My first true smile of the day. Julie takes control of the remote and for the rest of the day, we watch movies in blissful silence. She slowly moves closer and closer to me. Soon, we touch from shoulders down to our hips and down to our knees. I crack a smile when she not-so-casually yawns and lifts my arm to rest over her shoulders and dangle down her chest. She cuddles into my side.

“You’ve been quiet today,” Julie comments that evening.

“Just that kind of day.”