Page 79 of Any Kind of Life
“I think it’s a great idea.” Juliet held Paige’s hip and leaned in to kiss her. The one thing they hadn’t lost lately was the intimacy of cuddles and kisses. “Do we need to go out to get some supplies in?”
“No, I think we’re good. They’re bringing stuff with them.”
Juliet wrinkled her nose. “Paige, you can’t invite friends over and ask them to bring their own food and drink.”
“I…can, and I did. Hannah was fine about it.” Paige waved a hand between them, focusing on the tacos. “Unless there was something in particular that you wanted, we have plenty of stuff here. I did a huge shop a few days ago, and you’ve barely touched a thing.”
“Okay, okay.” Juliet took a step back and pulled out a stool at the breakfast bar. Once she was sitting comfortably, she fisted her hand under her chin and gazed back at Paige. “Have you spoken to Stephen recently?”
“Only to let him know we’d still be paying him while the bar is closed.”
Juliet nodded. “Was he okay about it?”
“About being paid to not work? I’m sure he was more than okay about it.” Paige laughed and plated up lunch. “He did say he was ready to go back whenever we decide to reopen. That he wouldn’t look for another job.” Paige eyed Juliet as she said that, gauging her reaction to the idea of the bar opening again one day. She only wore a neutral look, though. “If that’s something you ever want to do.”
“Which?”
“Reopen the bar,” Paige said. “You may never want to step foot in there again.”
“Oh, Cara has taken enough from me lately. There is no way she’s taking the bar, too. That place is what it is because of us. We met there, Paige. We fell in love there.”
“I know. But I also know that it may not be so easy for you to go back there. Fuck, I found it hard enough during those days when you were…recovering. Asleep.”
“In a coma.” Juliet corrected.
“Y-yes. That.” Paige hated remembering that time. Even if Juliet was sitting in the kitchen right now, even if she had just kissed Paige, when she was taken back to that time, her stomach churned. “Anyway, it’s not important right now. And if it’s never important again, I get it. That’s all I wanted you to know.”
“I’d…like to go there.”
Paige watched Juliet for a moment or two, trying not to make a big deal out of them going to the bar. “O…kay.”
“I’m serious, Paige. If I’m ever going to get back to some kind of normal life, the bar is the place to start. After all, it was the place where it happened. If I cannot bring myself to go inside, then I think it’s safe to say we have to let it go.”
While Paige would be a little upset to see the bar under new ownership, she didn’t hate the idea completely. Juliet’s mental health was the only thing that mattered. Now and in the future. “Whatever you want to do, okay? Whenever you’re ready, you just let me know, and I’ll be by your side.”
“It’s just the thought of seeing my own blood on the floor that worries me.”
Paige smiled. “All taken care of, babe. Henry and I tried to get rid of it, but we chose to lay new flooring in that area instead.”
“You see, now this is another reason I’m marrying you.”
Paige grinned as she left their lunch ready on the counter and stepped between Juliet’s legs. “Oh, yeah? Do you have a list or something?”
“Far too many to list.” Juliet held Paige’s jaw gently. “But mostly because I’m madly in love with you.”
“Well, that’s enough for me.” Paige leaned in and kissed the tip of Juliet’s nose. “We’re going to be okay. Whatever happens in the future with the bar, we’re always going to be okay. I promise you.”
“I know.” Juliet lay her head against Paige’s chest and sighed. “You’re the only thing I’m sure about lately.”
Chapter 28
“How are you?” Caz handed Juliet a glass of wine and joined her on the couch. “I was so happy when Hannah called to say you and Paige had invited us over.”
Juliet regarded Caz with a thankful smile as she stared down at her glass of wine. Paige and Hannah were chatting with one another in the kitchen while they put a cheese board together, and in this moment, life felt normal. It felt far less intense than it had recently. “I’m okay. Feeling fitter every day.”
“Good. That’s great news.” Caz had texted Juliet several times over the last few weeks, often hinting at them visiting. But it had taken Paige contacting them for Juliet to go through with seeing them this evening. “We sort of gathered that we’d hear from you whenever you felt up to it.”
“You have Paige to thank for this,” Juliet said, smiling weakly. “If it was left up to me, I’d have just festered here again tonight, staring at the TV but not taking any of it in.”