Page 14 of Indescribable Love
“You’re going to need to be more specific than that, Nik.”
“Simon, we’ve been here for four days and you haven’t written anything,” she explained calmly. “I mean…I know you’ve said that you’re playing around with some stuff, and…I realize this was really supposed to be more of a vacation, but you were the one who made the fuss about needing to write and how this was going to be the perfect time for you to crank out some new songs that would get tweaked when we went back on the road with your band.”
Letting out a long breath, Simon raked a hand through his hair. “Yeah, I know…I’m not sure what’s going on, but I’m feeling a bit…”
“Distracted?” she finished for him.
Wow. Am I that transparent?
Nodding, he agreed with her. “Exactly. I can’t seem to find my focus because I’m spending way too much time…”
“It’s this documentary,” Nikki said with a hint of disgust. “I swear, I wish we could just go back in time and tell everyone that we’re not doing it! Nothing good has come from it and it hasn’t even started!” Reaching over, she took one of his hands in hers. “Simon, we’re committed to this, and I know how much you don’t want the deep dive into your childhood. I get it. We all do. But you have to stop obsessing about it. It’s not worth it. That’s why Juliette’s here. She’s going to make sure none of the stuff about your dad comes up, okay? So can you please just…you know…relax? Unclench. Push all that negative crap aside and focus on the music again!”
For a moment, he looked at her like she were crazy. “You think it’s the documentary that’s distracting me?”
“Well…yeah. Isn’t it?”
“Um…”
And because she knew him so well, her eyes went wide. “Oh my God! Is it Juliette?”
“Shh! Jeez, Nik, keep it down,” he hissed.
But she immediately waved him off. “Oh, stop. This house is enormous and she’s two floors up and on the opposite side. We’re fine.” Then she got comfortable. “Sooo…is Juliette distracting you because of work and why she’s here, or is she distracting you because she’s hot?”
All Simon could do was groan.
“You do think she’s hot, don’t you? I mean…come on! I can tell she’s trying really hard to tiptoe around you, and I am dying to see her cut loose and let some of that fiery Italian passion come out in her!”
“Why would you think she’s fiery? She’s been almost…I don’t know…bland. Reserved,” he reasoned. “And that’s a little racist, don’t you think? Automatically assuming she’s fiery just because she’s Italian?”
“Dude, most of my best friends growing up were Italian and let me tell you, they were all fiery and passionate. And not only that, they would do anything for a friend and weren’t afraid to let their emotions fly! I’ll bet you good money that Juliette’s like that.” A slow smile crossed her face. “And I think I know the perfect way to get her to break out of her publicist mode and relax.”
“This I’ve got to hear…”
“I’m going to announce that I’m making lasagna for dinner, or maybe some fettucine Alfredo. I want to see if she’ll offer to help or if she’ll just politely smile and eat it. Food. It’s a universal love language, and people who know good food aren’t afraid to critique it when something isn’t done right.”
“I think you’re forgetting one thing.”
Nikki was already shaking her head. “Not possible.”
“You are the worst cook!” he said with a laugh. “Are you planning on doing the cooking or is Celia doing it? Because I can get on board with Celia’s pasta dishes. Those are amazing. The last time you made lasagna, it came frozen in a box. And it was still partially frozen when you served it. I may not know Juliette well, but I doubt she’d be able to hold her tongue if you served that.”
“Yes, we all remember the frozen lasagna debacle of 2022,” she murmured. “Obviously we’d have to go shopping because I don’t think we have anything on hand to make a big Italian feast.”
“Now it’s a feast?” he asked with another laugh. “I think we need to scrap this idea. It feels like you’re setting her up and any reaction wouldn’t be genuine. And that’s what I want—a genuine reaction or feeling from her!” Another groan. “Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate her professionalism and her commitment to her job, but…would it kill her to just talk to us about something else? Or to let us get a glimpse into who she is outside the job?”
“I don’t think Juliette has a life outside of her job, and that makes me sad.” She paused. “And that’s why we need to do more things that aren’t work related.”
“Weren’t you the one who was just nagging me that I needed to be writing and doing my job?”
“Yes, but that was before I discovered the reason you weren’t writing! If we can get Jules to just be…you know…Jules, then you’ll get out of your head and be able to write. It’s a win-win, Simon. Think about it.”
Sadly, she was right.
“While I get what you’re saying, the whole food thing just feels wrong. There’s got to be another way. I feel like we’re putting her into this stereotype and I’m not comfortable with it.”
Nikki rolled her eyes. “Ugh…sometimes you’re overly cautious and way too nice. Just let me handle this.” She stood and looked down at him. “And now that you know it’s being…you know…handled, can you please at least come up with a song by dinnertime?”