Never, that’s when. Kat could have the fancy suite. This was all the luxury Julia needed. The mattress in her place was barely bigger than a toddler bed … She swore she could buy crib sheets and they’d probably fit. But it was the only thing that worked in what passed for a bedroom in her tiny apartment. But oh, to be able to roll over and over and—she rolled again—yep, over, and not fall off the bed? Heaven.

There were times Julia wished she’d never moved out of the place she’d shared with Kat and Andie, but it was a step she’d always believed she needed to take. Part of the ladder to full-fledged adulthood that had been drilled into her since childhood. A ladder lined with rungs of responsibility, like living on her own, establishing job security, and maintaining a long-term relationship. She’d managed the first, was working on the second, and the third … well, she wasn’t even sure she wanted the third to happen.

Maybe she’d change her mind. When she was ready. When the right person came along.

But part of her worried she’d never be ready. Or that the right person would never come along and she’d finally give up and just settle, commit to a long-term relationship with someone not because she couldn’t imagine spending the rest of her life without them but because it was better than being alone. And wasn’t that worse? After having a front-row seat to her parents’ relationship, she thought so.

She knew that, for some people, being alone was the happy ending they wanted. They lived full, contented lives, and that was great. But she also knew she wasn’t one of those people. She wasn’t built that way. On some fundamental level, Julia craved a life partner. A soul mate.

Deep down lurked doubts that scared her, fears drifting in the darkest parts of her heart that she didn’t want to study too closely in the light. But here, in this giant bed, those doubts crept out of hiding. Maybe it was being alone in such a big bed, surrounded by so much empty space. Maybe it was all the feelings stirred up last night as she’d stared into a certain pair of gray eyes and talked and laughed.

And wanted.

And dreamed.

Tendrils of the dream she’d been having drifted to the surface, curling around her thoughts. Julia flopped onto her back, trying to make sense of the vague images and lingering sensations. Her head was hazy … and she was horny as hell.

She was having a feelings hangover. Last night, she’d gotten drunk on the heady cocktail of easy conversation, warm smiles, and meaningful glances. Not to mention all that “accidental” touching they’d been doing. What she was experiencing now was simply a reaction to the buildup of endorphins from spending all that time with Luke.