•SAN FRANCISCO, CA•

Julia's POV

"D'you think you'll be okay to do the rest of the problems on your own?"

"Yeah. Imma be straight. I just do the same on both sides?"

"Right, what you do on one side of the equal sign, you must do on the opposite side."

"...Alright. I'll be okay. Thanks for meeting with me Ms. Ricks."

"Of course. And don't forget that you have my number, so you can text me if you are still a bit confused. Sound good?"

"Mhm. It does."

"Good. I'll see you next week, okay."

"'Kay. See ya."

I closed the tutoring video conference program and signed out for the day. My arms stretched high above my head as my muscles writhed within my legs.

"MMMM!" I let out a booming groan and stared into the now darkened desktop screen.

Two tutoring sessions never sounded like a big deal until I actually had to sit down with students and help them through an 100-question algebra packet, or proofread their six-page essay about the role of society in the global hunger crisis.

I fully enjoyed doing both. Education is what I went to college for after all, but it was just very draining teaching for five hours.

It's even more difficult because I'm not face-to-face like when I worked at the elementary school.

But I can't go back to that.

I made the mistake of trying to rejoin the classroom setting a few months after loosing Nick and had a complete mental breakdown in the middle of the cafeteria. The school, Wellerd Academy, was a private facility, similar to where I worked before.

Matias and I figured the more similarities to my previous employment there were, the easier it would be to get back into the swing of things.

Highly inaccurate.

Highly inaccurate and highly traumatic.

Not only did I fiercely fight intrusive flashbacks almost every hour, but when a student who looked like my son from behind passed me in the cafeteria; I fell apart like an 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle.

After that, we decided it was best if I use my skills in another way- a way where I didn't have to enter the classroom setting but would still find satisfaction. So for the past year I've been tutoring middle school, high school and college students online.

So far, so good.

The alarm on my phone went off, letting me know it was almost 7 P.M, and that I needed to start getting ready for tonight.

My feet pushed my rolling chair from under my desk, and I spun around as I stood and stretched out again.

I had mixed feelings about tonight. On one hand I was thrilled to have a night with my girls where I could get blindly drunk-something I hadn't done in a while- and just let loose. On the other hand, I wouldn't have minded a chill night snuggled up with Mat and a glass of wine.

I slid open our bedroom door, my tongue running over my lips as they still lovingly tingled from Mat's kiss earlier.

We'd kind of talked about it, but I was really bothered that we still hadn't spent any quality time together since he'd come home. I guess Catalina was right- it was an occupational hazard.

As the moments we had in front of our driveway replayed behind my eyelids, so did the thought of that random Jeep.

I'd seen cars park beside our house before. It wasn't as if we lived in a private neighborhood, but I've been living with shady people all my life; and shade recognizes shade.

I flopped down at my vanity mirror, ready to apply my makeup and moisturize my curls when the door chime sounded.

Hanging on the fringes of the chime was the ornery voice of my soon to be step-son. He rambled on about what I could only assume was his soccer game that Matías missed last week. Danny was amazing player - a true prodigy.

I supported his every game, made snacks for the team, personally ordered him customized gear, and made sure he was taken care of during practice sessions. If someone were to ask me why I put in so much effort, my knee-jerk response would be because Daniel's a sweet kid and he deserves it for all his hard work.

But that would only be a half truth.

Pounding footsteps rolled from the staircase and echoed past my half open door.

I turned toward the noise- ready to stand-when a pouty Daniel barged into our bedroom and dropped his bags at the threshold.

His rosy olive cheeks slacked as his wrinkled lips poked out.

".....Juliaaaa." Daniel whined.

"Welcome back, Jellybean." -I held my arms open and he flounced toward me-, "What's with all the poutines?"

"Coach called Daddy today and told him him how good I was last week. He said I was so good that he wants me to play in this special tournament next month."

"But that all sounds like good news. I would've thought you'd be happy."

"Daddy says I can't go...." He slumped his head onto my chest.

"Awe. Did he say why? He doesn't usually say no to special games."

".....'Cause it's next month in 'Syrupcues'".

My brows furrowed as I consolingly rubbed Danny's back and mouthed the word to myself.

'Syrupcues'?

I shook my head, deciding to figure it out later.

"Well Jellybean, he probably said no because the wedding is next month too."

"But that's not fair."-Daniel stomped, his voice on the edge of tears-, "He always misses my games and now I'm gonna miss a super special one."

I pulled him from my body, cupped his cheeks and lifted his eyes to meet mine.

"I'll talk to your dad- see if we can work something out, 'kay?"

Daniel replaced his 8-year-old arms around my torso- thanking me with a tight squeeze. I returned the tender embrace, holding his little body close as my hand caressed his curls.

I loosened my grip letting Danny go, as a weary Matias trudged into the room.

His wet curls from this morning were now dry and tousled while his once coolly open forest-green bomber jacket was now fully zipped.

"Daniel go get cleaned up so you can eat and I can help you unpack." Matias rigidly directed as his hands hung stiffly in his pockets.

Danny gave me one last bear hug before grabbing his bags and dashing out of the door, closing it behind him.

I watched him leave then leaned back and crossed my legs, my expecting stare traveling up and down my fiancé's disheveled appearance.

"Don't give me that look Jules. I told him no."

"Just because it's in the same month as our wedding?" I cocked an eyebrow.

"Because it's on the same weekend as our wedding. Not to mention it's in Syracuse."

I swiveled back to my mirror and grabbed my eyeshadow brush, dabbing it in a shimmery bronze, "From here to New York is only six-

"Syracuse in Italy." Mat steadily sat on the ottoman while he stretched out one leg.

The hand holding my brush lowered as my frown made direct contact with his matter-of-fact gaze.

"Oh, well...that's different."

"Mhm..."

"Okay, but Italy is like- what- seven hours ahead-?"

"Nine hours." Matías sighed as he leaned back on his elbows and let his head tip backwards.

"Alright, even better. So we leave a few days before..."

"Jules."

"...go to the tournament..." I continued, my thoughts racing.

"Ju-li-a."

"...and catch the red eye back."

"Julia!" -Matías shot up from the ottoman and stood directly in front of me-, "The answer is no. I want that day to be perfect for both of us; and if we're groggy there's no way we'll enjoy it."

Daniel's sad, disappointed cinnamon eyes twinkled past my mind and I slumped back down to my vanity stool.

Matias kept some distance between us as his forehead creased and he gave a lopsided grin.

"Mi dispiace, Mariposa. I know that's not what you wanna hear right now, but-

"-It'll all work out in the end." I finished our newly developed mantra.

With his arms still tucked snuggly at his side, Mat leaned down and planted a quick kiss on my forehead then strode to our bathroom.

He was absolutely right. That wasn't what I wanted to hear. Danny works harder than any other kid on that team. He deserves every opportunity coming to him, and I wasn't going to let it be taken away because his father didn't want to be there.

I leaped to my feet and marched to our bathroom door, ready to barge in. As I turned the handle I realized something that never happened before.

The door was locked.

"Mat?" I jiggled the knob just to be sure.

"Sí?" A barely audible groan paired with his drained response.

"The door's locked."

"I know. Just give me a minute baby. Go ahead and get dressed. I promise I'll be out before you leave."

My feet took reluctant steps from the door as I picked at the gel polish on my fingers. Thankfully I wasn't able to ruin it, but my coursing mind would ruin my night if I stood in place too long.

In one swift motion I pivoted back to my makeup, gathered a few items and relocated my glam session to our walk-in closet across the hall.

Again I repeated what seemed to be today's tagline.

No overthinking today.

A/N: when I tell you guys that the words in this chapter got away from me; please believe it.🤣

It wasn't supposed to be this long and end right here. But I guess Julia is writing her own story.

Anyway, hope you all had a beautiful week. If you didn't I'm always willing to talk or listen. Stay smiling my loves!

Oh ONE MORE THING! The next book I write will be fantasy. 🧝🏾‍♀️🧚🏾‍♀️🧜🏽