over the past month her resolve returned. She thinks she could handle spending a day or two with him without getting intimate.
“Thanks Will. That’d be great. I think a friend of mine is having a party Saturday night. Would you like to come with me? Or do you want to go see your brother?”
“I’d love to go with you. Let me get a pen. I need your address.”
There’s a reason people with money leave New York City in the summer… it’s a hot mess. The sun beats down relentlessly on the city streets and sidewalks, steam rising, the air thick with humidity and the foul stench of millions of bodies confined to close quarters.
It’s slightly more bearable in Brooklyn, the trees lining the streets giving the impression of fresh air and more open spaces.
They planned their travels so they’d arrive in Brooklyn at approximately the same time. A little after ten Saturday morning, Julia pulls the rented truck up to her new apartment building and spots Will’s Jeep parked in front. He’s leaning against his car with a big grin, looking impossibly handsome in his khaki shorts and light blue t-shirt.
Her heart skips a beat at the sight of him, and she closes her eyes, takes a deep breath, and remembers the promise she made to herself before she pulled out of the driveway this morning.
Perspective! Do not let your heart take over rational thought.
“How long have you been here?” she smiles, stepping down from the cab of the truck.
“Just a few minutes. Good timing!” Will picks her up and swings her around. “It’s so good to see you Jules!”
“You too, Will,” she sighs, her resolve melting as his arms tighten around her. This is going to be much harder than she thought…
It takes them almost an hour to carry in all of her boxes. Her apartment is in an old brownstone and there’s no elevator, so they’ve had to carry everything up two flights of stairs with every trip.
Thank god Will’s here , is the only thought running through Julia’s head by the time they finish. She thought she was going to pass out about half way through, though Will's done the majority of the heavy lifting, carrying three boxes for every one of hers.
She still can’t believe he drove three hours to help her move in. She’s so used to doing things for herself, it never occurred to her to ask anyone for help with this move. Having been the de facto adult in her life for so long… it’s nice to lean on someone for a change.
Once everything is in the apartment and her boxes are stacked in the appropriate rooms, Will opens his tool chest and goes straight to work, hanging curtain rods and shades, and putting her bookshelves together.
Watching him from the corner of her eye, Julia unpacks her clothes and books, then makes her bed, increasingly surprised by how organized and efficient Will is, qualities she’s never had occasion to witness before now.
“Do you need something?” Will asks, interrupting her musings.
“Huh? What?” she sputters, dropping a pillow.
“Julia, you’re standing there staring at me,” Will laughs. “I thought maybe you needed my help.”
She shakes her head, trying to snap herself out of her fog.
“No…no. Just tired.”
Will rises and massages her shoulders, and it feels so good, she tilts her head back and leans against him, a groan escaping from her lips.
“Do you want to take a break?” Will whispers in her ear, sending waves of desire through her body, her knees almost buckling beneath her.
Julia turns around and studies his face, can see the longing in his eyes, a reflection of her own. She’s bites her lip, the heat rising to her cheeks, and takes a step back. This isn’t supposed to happen , she reminds herself, and folds her arms across her chest, a barrier between them.
"Sure,” she forces herself to adopt a cheery tone, and turns away from him. “We’ve been at this forever.” Julia walks toward the door and straightens out her ponytail. “I’m starving.
“Thanks Will. That’d be great. I think a friend of mine is having a party Saturday night. Would you like to come with me? Or do you want to go see your brother?”
“I’d love to go with you. Let me get a pen. I need your address.”
There’s a reason people with money leave New York City in the summer… it’s a hot mess. The sun beats down relentlessly on the city streets and sidewalks, steam rising, the air thick with humidity and the foul stench of millions of bodies confined to close quarters.
It’s slightly more bearable in Brooklyn, the trees lining the streets giving the impression of fresh air and more open spaces.
They planned their travels so they’d arrive in Brooklyn at approximately the same time. A little after ten Saturday morning, Julia pulls the rented truck up to her new apartment building and spots Will’s Jeep parked in front. He’s leaning against his car with a big grin, looking impossibly handsome in his khaki shorts and light blue t-shirt.
Her heart skips a beat at the sight of him, and she closes her eyes, takes a deep breath, and remembers the promise she made to herself before she pulled out of the driveway this morning.
Perspective! Do not let your heart take over rational thought.
“How long have you been here?” she smiles, stepping down from the cab of the truck.
“Just a few minutes. Good timing!” Will picks her up and swings her around. “It’s so good to see you Jules!”
“You too, Will,” she sighs, her resolve melting as his arms tighten around her. This is going to be much harder than she thought…
It takes them almost an hour to carry in all of her boxes. Her apartment is in an old brownstone and there’s no elevator, so they’ve had to carry everything up two flights of stairs with every trip.
Thank god Will’s here , is the only thought running through Julia’s head by the time they finish. She thought she was going to pass out about half way through, though Will's done the majority of the heavy lifting, carrying three boxes for every one of hers.
She still can’t believe he drove three hours to help her move in. She’s so used to doing things for herself, it never occurred to her to ask anyone for help with this move. Having been the de facto adult in her life for so long… it’s nice to lean on someone for a change.
Once everything is in the apartment and her boxes are stacked in the appropriate rooms, Will opens his tool chest and goes straight to work, hanging curtain rods and shades, and putting her bookshelves together.
Watching him from the corner of her eye, Julia unpacks her clothes and books, then makes her bed, increasingly surprised by how organized and efficient Will is, qualities she’s never had occasion to witness before now.
“Do you need something?” Will asks, interrupting her musings.
“Huh? What?” she sputters, dropping a pillow.
“Julia, you’re standing there staring at me,” Will laughs. “I thought maybe you needed my help.”
She shakes her head, trying to snap herself out of her fog.
“No…no. Just tired.”
Will rises and massages her shoulders, and it feels so good, she tilts her head back and leans against him, a groan escaping from her lips.
“Do you want to take a break?” Will whispers in her ear, sending waves of desire through her body, her knees almost buckling beneath her.
Julia turns around and studies his face, can see the longing in his eyes, a reflection of her own. She’s bites her lip, the heat rising to her cheeks, and takes a step back. This isn’t supposed to happen , she reminds herself, and folds her arms across her chest, a barrier between them.
"Sure,” she forces herself to adopt a cheery tone, and turns away from him. “We’ve been at this forever.” Julia walks toward the door and straightens out her ponytail. “I’m starving.
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