Chapter 5

Zoe watched me closely, suddenly asking, "Why are you being so quiet?"

I looked up.

She was staring straight into my eyes, as if trying to read my mind.

I put my spoon down. "What time did you leave last night?"

Zoe's eyes shifted ever so slightly.

Julian stood up a bit straighter.

Zoe quickly laughed it off. "While you were in the shower. How long was I supposed to stay?

"You think I want to play third wheel?"

She used her fork to slide a piece of egg onto my plate. "Why the sudden interrogation?"

"Just wondering," I replied.

Zoe looked at me, her voice softening. "Are you freaked out about last night? Because I wore your slippers?"

I didn't say a word.

She kept explaining. "My heel broke and it was giving me blisters. I just threw them on for a minute. I'll buy you a new pair today."

I shook my head. "You don't have to."

Her lips parted, but Julian stepped over, placing a glass of warm water right next to my hand.

He said, "Mia, last night was entirely my fault. I was just so excited you came home early, I totally dropped the ball on taking care of you."

Zoe immediately laid into him. "Glad you know! Her pants were soaking wet and you didn't even notice her.

"You were too busy staring at the dinner. Julian, where is your head at?"

I gripped the glass of water, looking right at Zoe. "Yesterday, you asked what I even had inside my head."

Zoe's expression instantly went rigid.

Julian froze, too.

"I actually thought about it later," I said softly.

The fake smile vanished from Zoe's face completely. "Mia, I was just running my mouth."

I nodded. "Yeah."

The dining table fell into a tense silence.

Finally, Julian tried to clear the air. He picked up the freshly ironed white shirt and stepped in front of me.

"How does this look? Think it'll pass?" His eyes were soft, acting as if nothing had happened last night.

I looked at the shirt.

I was the one who bought it for him.

I had told him he looked good in white, that it made him look clean-cut.

At the time, he had leaned down to let me button his collar, asking with a smile, "Should I wear this when I meet your parents then?"

I had said yes.

Now, he was actually wearing it.

The fabric was flawlessly pressed, the cuffs spotless, and he had even swapped his watch for a low-key style my dad would prefer.

Zoe walked over and smoothed his collar, her fingers pinching the edge and pressing it down.

Julian lowered his head to make it easier for her.

Neither of them said a word.

It was only after she finished that Zoe realized I was watching.

Her fingers froze against his collar.

Julian looked down at her, too.

Zoe snapped her hand back, feigning annoyance. "It was wrinkled. I just don't want you embarrassing Mia."

I looked down and pushed the half-eaten bowl of oatmeal away.

"Let's go," I said.

Julian's face lit up instantly. "Alright."

*****

Before we left, he grabbed my scarf and wrapped it around my neck.

Zoe stood in the foyer, looking down as she slipped on her boots.

I noticed the faint silver scuff mark by the front door was still there.

As Julian wrapped the scarf around me, his fingertips brushed against my chin.

"Cold?" he asked.

I shook my head. "No."

He smiled. "Don't be nervous today. I'll be on my best behavior."

Zoe chimed in from the side, "You'd better be. This is the first time Mia's brought a guy home in years. If you screw this up, I'll seriously kick your ass."

Julian laughed. "Copy that."

He reached out for my hand.

I stared at it.

In the past, whenever he offered his hand, I'd take it without a second thought.

This time, I just froze.

The smile on Julian's face slowly faded.

I shoved my hands deep into my coat pockets.

"My hands are freezing," I said.

"I'll warm them up for you," he offered.

"No, thanks."

My voice wasn't loud.

Julian didn't reach out again.

As the elevator doors slid shut, Zoe stood next to us.

She kept sneaking glances at me.

Finally, she leaned in and murmured, "Mia, are you still mad?"

I stared at our reflections in the elevator doors.

I stood in the middle.

Julian was to my left.

Zoe was to my right.

It looked so perfectly symmetrical.

It was just like the countless dinners, road trips, and movie nights we'd shared over the past three years.

Julian was holding the gourmet coffee blend for my dad, Zoe a pastry box for my mom.

Both of them looked ready to help me check off a massive milestone.

"I'm fine," I said.

Zoe's fingers tightened around the ribbon of her gift box. "Whenever you say you're fine, you're definitely not."

Julian looked over too. "Mia?"

The elevator chimed as we reached the lobby.

The doors slid open, and I walked out first.

"We're gonna be late," I said.

My parents' place wasn't far from Julian's apartment.

Julian drove, while Zoe sat in the back with me.

She claimed she was just dropping the gifts off with us on her way to meet a client nearby.

I didn't call her bluff.

My favorite playlist was playing softly over the speakers.

Terrified of making me carsick, Julian drove with frustrating caution.

Zoe used to tease him endlessly about how much he babied me. "You're too scared to even tap the brakes, Julian. What is this, a cheesy rom-com?"

Julian would just glance at me in the rearview mirror. "She has a sensitive stomach. Jerky movements make her sick."

Then Zoe would turn on me. "Mia, seriously, what kind of high-maintenance princess are you?"

I listened to the music for a while before breaking the silence. "Zoe."