And just like that my world falls apart all over again. At first, all I can do is stare at her as I feel the tears fill my eyes, and the next thing I know, I tip the chair over in my haste to get out of it and run out into the back yard.  The tears are falling in earnest and I just can’t control the shudders working through my body.

Suddenly, strong arms wrap around me and I’m cradled in my dad’s arms. He rocks me back and forth, his big hand running up and down my back.

“Shh, baby girl, it’s okay.”

“No, it’s not okay,” I sob and cry harder, gripping onto his shirt with my fists.

“I take it Nate gave you chocolate cheesecake?” he murmurs with humor in his voice.

I nod.

“Sounds like he likes to spoil you.”

“I can’t talk about him.” I mumble through my tears. “I don’t even know why I’m so upset.”

“Because you love him and he disappointed you, darlin’.”

I lean back and look up at my dad. “I thought I knew him.”

“What exactly happened, honey?”

I shake my head and pull out of his arms, but he leads me to a nearby bench and makes me sit. “What happened?” he asks again.

So I explain what happened on Monday, and as I work my way through the events, my dad listens, his eyes narrowing, nodding, exhaling loudly, and when I done, he looks at me with a sober face.

“Julianne Rose Montgomery, I’m disappointed in both of you.”

“Huh?”

“You need to let him explain.”

I start to shake my head but he lays his hand on my forearm, catching my attention.

“People screw up, Jules. He has some explaining to do, but you wouldn’t let him talk. Let the man talk.”

“You and Will are two peas in a pod.”

We stand and walk back in the house. It’s quiet inside. Everyone looks so somber waiting for us to return.

“You okay?” Isaac asks quietly.

“I will be.” I respond.

Natalie is burping Olivia and I hold my hands out. “Baby. Mine.”

Natalie smirks and hands her over to me. I cuddle Olivia close and smile at Nat. “Thanks.”

“So, no cheesecake.  How about apple pie?” Mom winks at me and everyone starts chattering around me again. I kiss Olivia’s head and look over at Luke who grins and takes a sip of a beer.

***

“So, why did I have to call Will’s phone to reach you?” Natalie asks from the facial bed next to mine. We’ve decided to cash in my birthday spa day. Our heads are wrapped in white towels, our bodies draped in cozy white sheets, and we both have mud masks freshly brushed on our faces with cucumbers over our eyelids.

It’s freaking heaven.

“Because I haven’t turned my phone on in four days.” I murmur.

“Why?” she asks again.

“Because I don’t want to know if Nate’s called or texted.” I respond and sigh as the technician begins to massage my hands.

“But… why?”

“Trying to de-stress here, Nat. You’re not helping.”

“I’m sorry, I’m trying to understand.”

“If he has called,” I say patiently, “I’m not sure I want to hear his voice or his excuses. If he hasn’t called, it’ll hurt.”

“Okay.” She doesn’t sound so sure, but she drops it, and we stop talking and enjoy our delicious facials. We’ve decided to go for the whole princess treatment today, and indulge in one-hour massages, mani-pedi’s and waxing too.

“That was fantastic.” I link my arm through Natalie’s as we leave the spa and take a deep breath of early-summer air. “Tell Luke thanks for me. It’s so nice having an obscenely rich brother-in-law who loves nothing more than spoiling his gorgeous wife, and therefore, his gorgeous wife’s bff gets spoiled too.”

“I will tell him,” Natalie laughs and leads me down the street to our favorite café for lunch. I look over at my friend and smile. She’s is beautiful, with her freshly polished face and chestnut hair back in a loose pony tail.

We order our usual of soup and sandwiches and find a table.

“So, I think you should turn your phone on, friend.” Natalie says with a raised eyebrow. She pulls off her thin green scarf and drapes it on the back of the chair next to her.

“No.” I sip my diet Coke.

“I dare you.” Her lips turn up in a soft smile and I glare at her.

“Don’t be a bitch, Nat.”

“Don’t be a pussy, Jules.”

Fuck.

I hate how well she knows me. She knows I can’t resist a dare. I have four older brothers who got me into all kinds of shit with my mom growing up because of their dares.

“Goddamn it, Natalie,” I mutter and pull my iPhone out of my Gucci handbag. “You turn it on.”

I pass her the phone and she fires it up, watching the screen and twirling a strand of her hair with her fingers.

“Does it seriously take this long for that piece of shit to fire up?” I ask.

“Yes.” She laughs up at me and keeps watching the screen. “Looks like ten voice mails and twenty two texts.”

“Holy fuck. I don’t know that many people.”

“Here.” She tries to hand the phone back to me but I wave it away.

“No. You check them.”

“No, Jules. Jesus, grow a pair and check your phone.”