The End of Beginning

The next couple weeks continued to pass by in a blur of routine, work, and the occasional distraction.

Julia found herself filling her free time differently these days. She hadn't opened a dating app in weeks, and instead of scrolling through profiles of men who never quite kept her interest, she had picked up her sketchbook again.

It felt good to create something—her pencils smudging across paper, soft lines turning into detailed faces and figures. She wasn't sure what had sparked the motivation again, but she wasn't questioning it.

Her text conversations continued with Joe, falling into an easy daily rhythm.

JOE: You're rubbing off on me. I walked into a bookstore today and ended up spending the entire time judging their organization system rather than actually trying to find a book to read.

JULIA: I'm so proud of you. Was it acceptable?

JOE: Absolutely not. The classics section was next to sci-fi. Anarchy.

JULIA: Disgusting.

JOE: Right? I nearly walked out in protest.

Julia smirked at her screen.

That afternoon, Julia and Chloe went dress shopping for their friends' upcoming wedding.

"I can't believe Sergio and Andrea's wedding is in two weeks," Chloe said, holding up a champagne-colored dress to her body before shaking her head and putting it back. "I feel like it snuck up on me."

Julia blinked, looking up from a navy dress she had been considering. "Wait. The wedding's in two weeks?"

Chloe's eyes narrowed. "Did you forget?"

"Not completely," Julia muttered, suddenly feeling guilty.

Chloe groaned. "Julia!"

"I know, I know," she sighed. "But to be fair, I have a lot on my plate right now."

Chloe sighed, but there was no real frustration behind it. "Well, you are coming, right?"

"Of course," Julia said quickly, flipping through the racks absentmindedly. "How are you feeling about it?"

Chloe exhaled, switching gears. "Honestly? Excited, but also nervous. Ryan's going to meet a bunch of our college friends. And you know how weddings are—they make everything feel more... serious."

Julia smirked. "Ryan can handle it. He's the one that's been obsessed with you for years."

Chloe rolled her eyes but didn't fight her on it. "Still. Big moment."

They browsed in silence for a moment before Chloe turned to her, a little too casual. "So... have you talked to Joe lately?"

Julia sighed. "Chloe."

"What?" Chloe grinned. "I'm just curious."

Julia hesitated before answering, "We text. Pretty often, actually."

"And?"

"And..." Julia shrugged. "I dunno... I like talking to him."

Chloe's smirk deepened. "I bet you do."

Julia rolled her eyes, but a small smile tugged at her lips.

That evening, as Julia curled up on her couch with her sketchbook, her phone buzzed.

JOE: I actually have the evening off for once.

JULIA: Oh wow. A rare moment of freedom!

There was a pause before he sent another message.

JOE: I was wondering...

She waited, watching the typing bubble appear and disappear before another message popped up.

JOE: Do you want to talk? Like, on the phone?

Julia blinked at the screen, her stomach doing an unexpected flip.

JULIA: You mean like a real conversation? With our actual voices?

JOE: I know, terrifying.

JOE: But yeah. Only if you're up for it.

Julia hesitated for only a second before typing back.

JULIA: Sure, let's do it.

A moment later, her phone started ringing.

She took a breath before answering.

"Hey, you," Joe said on the other end of the line.