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Back First Comes Love
Chapters (92)
  1. First
  2. Love Connection
  3. Zero
  4. One
  5. Two
  6. Three
  7. Four
  8. Five
  9. Six
  10. Seven
  11. Eight
  12. Nine
  13. Ten
  14. Eleven
  15. One Month Later
  16. Twelve
  17. Thirteen
  18. Fourteen
  19. Fifteen
  20. Six Months Later
  21. Sixteen
  22. Seventeen
  23. Eighteen
  24. Nineteen
  25. Twenty
  26. Twenty-one
  27. Twenty-two
  28. Twenty-three
  29. Twenty-four
  30. Six Months Later
  31. Twenty-five
  32. Twenty-six
  33. Twenty-seven
  34. Twenty-eight
  35. Twenty-nine
  36. Thirty
  37. Thirty-one
  38. Thirty-two
  39. Thirty-three
  40. I Have Never
  41. One
  42. Two
  43. Three
  44. Four
  45. Five
  46. Six
  47. Seven
  48. Eight
  49. Nine
  50. Ten
  51. Eleven
  52. Twelve
  53. Thirteen
  54. Fourteen
  55. Fifteen
  56. Sixteen
  57. Seventeen
  58. Eighteen
  59. Nineteen
  60. Twenty
  61. Twenty-one
  62. Twenty-two
  63. A Christmas Date
  64. One
  65. Two
  66. Three
  67. Four
  68. Five
  69. Six
  70. Seven
  71. Eight
  72. Nine
  73. Ten
  74. Eleven
  75. Twelve
  76. Thirteen
  77. Fourteen
  78. Fifteen
  79. Sixteen
  80. Seventeen
  81. Eighteen
  82. Nineteen
  83. Twenty
  84. Twenty-one
  85. Twenty-two
  86. Note from the Author
  87. Sneak Peek – To the Stars and Back
  88. Two
  89. Three
  90. Four
  91. Also by Camilla Isley
  92. About the Author

Paul scoffs. “Yeah, for all the good that will do me. Seems clear she doesn’t really love me; that our entire relationship is a big, fat sham.”

“Paul, it doesn’t matter how it started. If Julia really only wanted to annoy me, she would’ve slept with you once and dumped you the next day. She wouldn’t be marrying you.”

“Great, that makes me feel so much better about my future wife.” Paul sighs. “I’ve always known she could be a little spoiled, but I never imagined her to be so mean and petty.”

“That’s only because you’re not a girl.”

“Thank you, I guess? What do you mean?”

“Female psychology is more complicated and”—I lift one hand in small increments—“layered. What she did wasn’t great, but it doesn’t mean she’s all bad. One mean action doesn’t define who she is as a person. You shouldn’t punish her for something that has nothing to do with the two of you.”

“But it does. We wouldn’t be here if she hadn’t randomly decided one day to piss off her sister.”

“But does it really matter?”

“Shouldn’t it?”

“Not really. How many times do people get together for all the wrong reasons? Is dating a guy because you saw him in a bar and found him attractive really any better or more profound?”

“No idea; I don’t date many guys.”

I playfully swat him. “Come on, you know what I mean. First dates are superficial and meaningless most of the time. It’s what comes later that matters. Julia is in love with you, and you’re in love with her. The rest, you can work out.”

“Even if I’m plain and boring?”

“Oh, you know Julia, my sister doesn’t mean half the things that come out of her mouth.”

“So, Jules doesn’t really want to date a tall biker with green eyes and dark hair?”

“I guarantee you she doesn’t. She only wants you…”

Paul’s phone rings from inside the small compartment between our seats.

He picks the phone up and stares at the screen. “It’s her. She’s already called a million times.”

Paul lets the call go unanswered.

“Please text her,” I say. “Tell her you’re coming home to talk. She’s suffered enough.”

He considers this, then starts typing.

“Why are you smiling?” I ask.

With a devilish grin, he says, “After today, I have enough leverage never to touch a vegan meal again.”

And at that moment, as he makes the joke, I know he and Julia will be all right. A huge weight lifts off my chest… only to be immediately replaced by another. One relationship salvaged, but there’s still another I have to mend. I give Paul a hug, then climb out and brave the cold back to my own car.