“I think it changes attitudes and perceptions. I don’t think it can change the people themselves. I guess it’s different when you’re with your soulmate, though. And no one can say that Adam and Mia aren’t fated for each other.”
“Souls can’t mate. Only bodies…” I’m hit with the image of Jenna and I together on her bed, her body against mine. I wonder what her skin feels like. Is it as soft as it looks? I want to know.
“People can be fated for each other. They have their one true love,” she replies.
I shake my head. “That sounds ridiculous. What if your soulmate was born on another continent? Or fifty years after you?”
She shrugs and then relaxes her shoulders. “That’s just what I believe.”
“And you? Do you think you would know if you met your soulmate?” I’m suddenly hoping—even though I don’t believe in this—that she thinks I’m her soulmate. That would make things so much easier. That would give her the reason to stay.
“I already did…a long time ago.”
A weight drops in my stomach. She loves someone else? Then why isn’t she with him? Maybe he doesn’t want her. No, that can’t be right. I can’t think of any idiot who wouldn’t want Jenna.
But my throat’s closed up. I can’t ask. I want to change the subject, so I do.
“My dad and stepmother are having a family dinner tonight. It’s a regular thing on Sundays, and I usually go alone. Will you come with me? Adam and Mia will be there. And you could meet my sister and brother-in-law and my two nephews.”
She’s quiet for a few moments. “We haven’t gotten very far in our work, though. I’d like to try some yoga next.”
“I know some yoga. My martial arts trainer uses it to warm up.”
“Okay. I’ll come to dinner on the condition that afterward we go to your house to try working on some new exercises.”
“It’s a deal. I’ll pick you up at five-thirty?”
“That sounds good.” I drop her off minutes later and drive home, trying not to think of Jenna and her soulmate. The impossible seems to be slipping out of reach, and if I let it, I will lose hope. I can’t allow that to happen.
Chapter 15
Jenna
William picked me up right on time—of course he did. He was wearing a knit shirt and jeans, looking even more stunning than in his medieval garb.
We pulled into the driveway of a large home in the hills of North Tustin. I noted with surprise the butterflies in my stomach when I got out of the car and reminded myself that I was just meeting the family of a friend. Usually, I was pretty chill about meeting the parents. I’d been in enough short-term relationships that I knew it happened around the tenth date or so—maybe a month or two into the relationship. It was easy to measure a guy’s enthusiasm by how quickly he dragged you out to meet them. First date? Hell no. The guy was potential stalker material, which meant cut and run quickly. If the guy waited too long or made vague excuses when the subject came up, then he had something to hide.
Fortunately, I had the perfect excuse—albeit a shitty one—to never return the favor. But at least I never had to disappoint my parents by taking a soon-to-be ex to meet them.
But this was…I didn’t know what this was. William and I weren’t dating. We were hanging out. Working toward a common goal. Okay, and kissing. There had definitely been kissing.
William led me into the house without a word, and I was greeted at the door by Mia’s mom—William’s new stepmom—Kim. I’d met her before and she gave me a warm hug.
“Jenna, so glad to see you.”
“Great to see you, too. You look fantastic!” And she did. Marriage agreed with her.
Mia’s mom met Adam’s uncle, who was also William’s dad, not long after Adam and Mia had begun dating. They’d fallen in love and married, beating Adam and Mia to the altar. Some of our friends—especially Jordan—liked to tease Mia and Adam about being “kissing cousins.” But I thought the whole thing was wonderful. Seemed you could meet your soulmate at any stage of your life.
I wished my mom would be open to finding love again, but Papa had been her soulmate, and so for her, it was over. Why look for someone else? In that, I agreed with her.
Mia appeared beside her mother. They strongly resembled each other, both dark hair, brown eyes, tall and slender. But Mia didn’t have a smile on her face—it was more like a frozen grimace.
“Jenna! What a surprise to see you here.” Her eyes darted to William. She leaned over, and he stooped to bring his cheek to her level for a kiss. “William, you didn’t tell us Jenna was coming. I’ll go set another place at the table.” Then without even looking at me, Mia spun around and left.
“So let’s get you introduced to the people you haven’t met. Peter’s in the kitchen.” Kim took my arm. “Liam, Adam wanted to talk to you, but he’s on the phone right now. Something about work.”
My eyes darted nervously around the room. All at once, I realized that it had been a mistake for me to come with William. Everyone here was going to get the wrong idea, and naturally, William could not have predicted that, with his myopia toward social situations. He was just imitating the rest of his family members, who’d likely brought their dates from time to time. Suddenly, the butterflies were buzzing wasps.
I entered the crowded kitchen, instantly assailed by the scent of cheesy, meaty, garlicky goodness hanging in the air. Mia had her back to me, pulling out utensils from a drawer. A tall gentleman in his early fifties was easily recognizable as a Drake, and there was another woman who looked to be about thirty years old.
Kim began making introductions. “Peter, this is Mia’s friend, Jenna. She came with Liam.”
Peter struck me as a quiet, stoic type, not unlike his son, though he did manage eye contact. Nevertheless, they were unmistakably father and son. “Great to meet you, Jenna. I’ve heard about you from Mia. All good things. Welcome, and I hope you like lasagna.”
“Love it, thanks.”
“Here’s Britt, Liam’s big sister,” Kim continued.
“Please don’t use ‘big’ to describe me. Good God,” she said, placing her hands on her hips. “I’m already feeling self-conscious about these love handles. Still haven’t made any progress on the new springtime diet!”