The Winner

Temptations

*Julia*

We arrive at the Food Truck District, where everyone wanted to go, and where no alcohol is served, and Trisha finds us a picnic table. By looking at the pictures on the trucks, James shows me what he would like to eat. Tacos. He smiles over at me, letting me know he remembers our first time hanging out together. We both ordered from this exact food truck. It was one of my favorite days.

James noticed I wasn't ordering food, so took it upon himself to hold up two fingers to the worker. Two orders. He's making me eat. It's like he can read me like a book. He just knew I was gonna try and get away with skipping out.

Everyone orders different things, and we all sit together like we're a group of friends. In a way, we are. Well, more of family who sometimes can't stand each other.

Nate stays quiet while he eats a Taco Salad. I know something else happened and can tell it's weighing on him. It had to have been bad if he didn't want to say it in front of everyone.

James sees I'm not eating and puts his taco back on the wrapper, staring me down. I sigh and give him a little nod, putting the taco back in his hand to help him and grabbing one for myself. I can feel everyone looking at me. They know the first few bites are the hardest, especially now that I'm up against women like Mila Giovanni.

"Jules. Please, just eat." Nate whispers while looking at me from across the table. I do, but it takes me a while to get myself to start. Halfway through the meal, and Trisha doesn't feel well. There are bathrooms here, but they are more like outhouses and pretty gross, but she doesn't have a choice. Surprisingly, it's Paul that goes to help her and not Nate.

"I'm pretty sure that's supposed to be your job." I whisper, knowing other people are around and nothing has been announced.

"Whatever. He wants to deal with it, let him." Nate keeps his eyes on his food. He really has no interest in their situation, does he? I raise an eyebrow and then ignore him the rest of the time there, talking to James instead. But the only thing in the back of my head is Mila.

Once back at Nate's apartment building, the driver helps Nate and James with the bags.

"You guys coming up?" Nate looks over to Paul. But Trisha answers with shake of the head. She's having a hard time keeping food down lately due to her pregnancy and just wants to go home.

"I'm gonna go down to the gym. Wanna come, James?" I wait for James to nod and take his hand. We quickly walk to the elevator without waiting for Nate. I can hear them talking as the doors open.

"She's pissed." Trisha blurts out.

"Yeah, thanks for your help with that."

"You're a piece of work, Nate." Paul chimes in. "She already struggles with eating. Now she's gonna be even more self-conscious. C'mon, Banks."

I press the close button and glare at Nate until the doors shut.

I get James set up on the treadmill for slow walk and make him hold on to the sides, just for now until he gets used to it, and I walk on the one right next to him. No one is here. No one is ever here, so I vent to my best friend.

"Why the hell wouldn't he have told me days ago that Mila Giovanni was walking around naked all day while they filmed? It should have been the first thing he told me. Not the first thing Susan Hardy tells me." I see James nod from the corner of my eye.

"I mean, I KNOW he's attracted to her. He'd be lying if he denied it. But he should have said something if she was being inappropriate. And then to go into his shower with him?? You can't tell me they didn't do anything. That's bullshit."