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The restaurant is relatively slow for a Friday night The owners know Luke, so they escort us to a private booth near the back where on’t be noticed

After chips and salsa have been delivered, and we’ve all ordered, we sit back to sip et to know Nate

"So, Nate, what is it that you do?"

Luke asks

"I work at the same investment firm as Julianne," he responds and smiles down at Jules

My eyebrows cliaze with my own

Julianne? No one calls her that

Jules narrows her eyes athave you been doing that?"

Luke asks, oblivious to our silent conversation

"About eight years"

We make small talk for the better part of our meal Nate is polite, attentive, and clearly completely taken with Jules

And it’s coh and squeezes and I link h his

"Do you sail?" Nate asks out of the blue

"I’ve been a few times, but I haven’t in a while You?"

"Yes, actually, I have a catamaran docked in Seattle Would you two like to join us one afternoon for a tour around the Sound?"

Luke looks down at ht nod

"Sounds fun"

The check arrives but I pluck it off the table before anyone else can

"You’re not paying for this" Luke digs for his wallet but I hold the check away fro your ive ainst my chest as I pull my card out of my wallet

"Godda and slow When I pull back we’re both out of breath "Let ue with you when you do that" He lealy as I pass the check and e with curiosity and then breaks out in a wide grin

"Dude, you’ve got it bad" He says to Luke

"You have no idea," Luke gruh Shot, please" I pass irl at the movie theater and set seats up in the back so we can be inconspicuous and leave after everyone else when it’s over

"This is the last daruh at hie tubs of popcorn and buckets of soda to share and find our seats Even though we’re more than thirty minutes early I’m surprised to see a handful of people already seated in the theater