“Really?” I asked, and Liam didn't even bother with answering. I placed mine and Julie's snacks on the counter and the woman rung them up too, frowning bitterly the entire time.
Liam grabbed his things, and he leaned forward slightly. “Don't tell our girlfriends. They would be devastated,” he told her, and then walked out, missing the way the old woman's eyes widened and looked to me as if I were a terrorist.
I ducked out of the store quickly, coming up behind Liam and punching him. “That was definitely not funny, you douche-bag!” I told him.
Julie and Hilary were smiling. “What did he do this time?” Hilary asked, looking in the direction of our voices.
“Your boyfriend had those people thinking he was my boyfriend. They might shoot us if we don't get going,” I told them.
Julie came around to me, smiling widely. “Leaving me for my brother, huh?” she asked.
I leaned down and kissed her. “I wouldn't leave you for the most beautiful woman in the world,” I told her.
“My brother isn't a woman, so you could always-”
“Just shut up and kiss me,” I told her, to which she laughed and obliged. She reached up and planted a sweet kiss on my mouth.
“Disgusting!” Liam yelled, having already gotten Hilary into the front. He was standing above the cab and frowning. “That's my sister, man!” he accused me.
“Shut up,” I told him, and kissed her again. Julie laughed, and then we got into the bed of the truck. We leaned up against the glass, and she smiled at me as we drove away.
And I wondered how I had ended up here, sitting beside her, driving away from everything with my best friend and the love of his life. How had I ended up so happy, and how had I ended up with someone so perfect?
It was definitely a question that didn't need to be answered. Some things were better left unsaid.
♥
We drove into Nashville around three or four that afternoon. It was unlike anything I had ever seen, with the people and the buildings. It seemed everywhere we turned, there was a music reference, and not just country.
Julie looked to me, smiling as she admired the sights. “This is amazing!” she said emphatically.
“You're amazing,” I told her, and she laughed, shaking her head.
“Suck up.”
I smiled and leaned forward to the window. “So, where are we headed?” I asked Hilary. Liam was too focused on driving to turn around and talk.
“He said something about a hotel first, then somewhere to eat. He said he wants to go to the Grand Ole Opry and sing,” she said, and though she wasn't looking toward me, she was smiling.
I laughed and came back to Julie. She had begun to resemble a kid, pointing at the various things and people that caught her attention. I just admired her, and watched her joyful expression.
Eventually, Liam pulled up to a motel, and parked. He turned around, and Julie and I came to the window.
“This place good? They should be relatively cheap, and there's a pool,” he replied.
I looked to Julie, and she nodded, so I shrugged. “Fine by me,” I replied. I looked at Julie again. “Will you and Hilary be okay while Liam and I get a room?” I asked.
Julie nodded and smiled. “I'm going to call my folks while you're gone. We'll be fine,” she assured me.
Liam and I left, and went inside the main office together. We decided on two rooms rather than one. Figured it saved everyone some embarrassment.
When we came back out, Liam drove around to the room, which was on the first floor for Hilary. The motel lacked an elevator, and she wasn't accustomed to stairs yet.
Julie was quiet, but she was pretending to be happy. To a guy that couldn't hear the strain in her voice, and a girl that couldn't see the worry in her eyes, they couldn't see it, but I could.
Our rooms were next to each other, and the pool wasn't too far away. I grabbed Julie's bags and then my own. Liam did the same for him and Hilary.
“Thirty minutes? Get freshened up, and then we're gone,” Liam said, and I finger-gunned him to show my approval. He and Hilary went into their room, and then I followed Julie into ours.
“I'm going to take a shower,” Julie said immediately, grabbing clothes and a bag that I assumed had her soap and things. She was already heading toward the bathroom when I closed the door behind us.
“Okay,” I said as the door closed to the bathroom. I wasn't sure if she had even heard me.
I laid my bag on the bed, and pulled out the things I had brought. I grabbed some fresh clothes, and began taking my shoes off. I tucked my bag under the bed, and flipped on the TV as I listened to the shower.
Julie wasn't in there long. Ten minutes, tops. It was probably less than that, but I wasn't counting. I was just listening, and waiting for her to come out.
When she did, she was wearing one of the hats she had gotten from Ava. The black ski hat, a pair of cut off shorts and a faded red Goo Goo Dolls tee.
“How do you do that?”
“Do what?”
I smiled. “Look so beautiful without even trying? It's not fair for ugly people like myself,” I replied.
Julie smiled and rolled her eyes. “You are really sucking up today, aren't you?” she asked, and went back to her bag, rummaging through it.
“Just trying to keep my woman happy,” I reminded her.
She took out a pair of
