Jules Mopes
I stared at the screen, the words from Ryan’s text glaring at me in the quiet of my apartment.
You should come, Jules. It’ll be good for you to get away from everything. Besides, Logan’s going to be there.
Logan.
Just seeing his name was enough to make my stomach twist into knots. I hadn’t seen Logan Reid in years—not since I was in junior high school. The last time I’d been around him, I was a quiet, awkward teenager who couldn’t get out a full sentence without tripping over her words. He was Ryan’s best friend, the guy who seemed so out of reach it was almost laughable. He was the guy every girl at school whispered about, swooning over his cocky grin and effortless charm.
I had no clue what he was like now, but something told me I wasn’t ready to find out. Especially not with the way my life had turned out.
My thumb hovered over the keyboard as I debated my response. I could easily tell Ryan no. I could come up with some excuse—work, exhaustion, anything to avoid the awkward tension of spending an entire weekend under his watchful eye. But deep down, I knew he wouldn’t buy it. He never did.
Fine. I’ll go. But don’t think I’m going to be all smiles and sunshine, Ry.
The response came immediately. I’ll take what I can get. Besides, it’s been a while since Logan got to see you. You gonna be able to keep your cool this time?
My jaw dropped, and heat rushed to my face. Are you serious right now? Don’t start with that. I typed back furiously, my thumbs practically stabbing the screen.
Ryan was always like this—teasing, but with a protective streak a mile wide. He loved pushing my buttons, especially when it came to his friends, but I also knew the subtext behind it. He didn’t like the idea of Logan—or any of his friends—messing with his baby sister. He’d made that painfully clear when we were younger.
Ryan’s reply popped up, and I could almost hear the smugness in his voice. Relax, Jules. I’m just messing with you. But hey, if Logan even looks at you funny, I’ll kick his ass. You know that, right?
Oh my God, stop, I texted back, feeling simultaneously exasperated and embarrassed. My heart was racing for reasons I didn’t want to admit. I hated that Ryan still treated me like I was the same shy, awkward girl who needed his constant protection. It wasn’t like I hadn’t heard this spiel before—“Jules, be careful,” “Don’t trust guys like Logan,” “I’ll handle it if anyone gives you trouble.” He meant well, but it was suffocating sometimes.
Still, I couldn’t help but smile a little. As much as I rolled my eyes at his overprotective tendencies, it was comforting in a way. He was the only family I had left, and despite everything, I knew he had my back.
You really need a hobby that doesn’t involve teasing me, I sent, shaking my head.
Love you too, kid, Ryan replied.
After that conversation, I kept trying to psych myself up for the trip, convincing myself it wouldn’t be a disaster. It wasn’t working. Ryan’s teasing about Logan kept bouncing around in my head like an echo I couldn’t shake. Every time I thought about it, my nerves twisted tighter. I didn’t know why I was letting this get to me so much. It wasn’t like Logan and I had any unfinished business. We barely had any business. To him, I was always just Ryan’s little sister—end of story.
But no matter how much I told myself it didn’t matter, the tension was there. And with each day that passed, I could feel the weight of the upcoming weekend pressing harder on my shoulders.
I sighed, tossing my phone onto the couch after re-reading the messages and leaning back against the cushions. Ryan always knew how to get under my skin, but he also wasn’t wrong. I hadn’t exactly kept my cool around Logan in the past. My teenage crush had been painfully obvious to everyone—everyone except Logan himself.
I pulled my knees to my chest, the weight of Ryan’s words settling over me. Maybe I felt like I owed him. After everything he’d done for me over the years, I never quite knew how to say no to him. But it wasn’t just obligation—it was something deeper. It was hard to be around him sometimes. Hard to be around anyone who seemed like they had their life together when mine felt like it was falling apart in slow motion.
Ryan was steady, driven. I wasn’t. And no matter how much I loved him, that contrast was like a spotlight shining on every part of my life I was struggling to piece together
Ryan was thirty-three now, married, thriving in his career, the kind of guy who had it all figured out. Meanwhile, I was twenty-eight, managing a coffee shop and barely scraping by. This wasn’t the life I’d imagined for myself. When I was younger, I had dreams. Big ones. I thought I’d finish college, land a job in marketing, move to a city where no one knew my name, and build something real—something that made me proud. But life had other plans.
Our parents died when I was fourteen, and everything went to hell after that. Ryan was nineteen at the time, just starting college, and suddenly he had to put his entire life on hold to take care of me. I didn’t understand what that really meant for him back then. I was too caught up in my own grief to see how hard he was struggling to keep us afloat.
Ryan became the protector—the one who made sure I was fed, clothed, and had a roof over my head. He worked two jobs, went to school part-time, and somehow still found time to check on my homework and make sure I wasn’t falling apart. He was the only constant in my life, and for a long time, I clung to him like a lifeline. He was all I had.
But as the years passed, things shifted. He built a life for himself, got married, and found success. And me? I… got stuck. I made it to college, but barely. The pressure of juggling work, classes, and the constant weight of being “the one who had to make it” finally caught up with me. I dropped out after two years. I told myself it was temporary, that I’d go back once I got my finances in order. But that never happened.
Now here I was, running a coffee shop and sharing a tiny apartment with Gracie, my best friend since high school. My life was… fine, I guess. It wasn’t exactly what I wanted, but it was manageable. Comfortable, even. At least that’s what I told myself when the loneliness crept in late at night.
But Ryan didn’t see it that way. Every time we talked, I could hear the worry in his voice, the subtle questions about my plans and future. He never said it outright, but I knew he was disappointed. He wanted more for me. Hell, I wanted more for me too. I just didn’t know how to get there anymore. The idea of starting over, of taking another risk, scared the hell out of me. And it was easier to avoid those feelings than to confront them head-on.
Which brought me back to this trip. Spending an entire weekend with Ryan meant facing the unspoken tension between us—the reminders of how far apart our lives had drifted. And then there was Logan. The wildcard. I hadn’t thought about him in years, but the idea of seeing him again made my pulse race in a way that both excited and terrified me.
The last time I saw Logan, he was eighteen. Confident, charming, always a little cocky but somehow still likable. I used to trail after him like a shadow whenever he and Ryan hung out. Not that he ever noticed. To him, I was just “Ryan’s kid sister,” the girl who blushed every time he looked in her direction. It was embarrassing how much of a hold he had on me back then. I told myself I’d grown out of it, that I wasn’t that girl anymore. But now that I knew I’d be seeing him again, all those insecurities came rushing back.
By the time the weekend rolled around, I’d managed to distract myself with work just enough to keep from spiraling completely. But now that it was time to leave, there was no avoiding it. My stomach churned as I grabbed my bag and glanced around the apartment one last time. Gracie would be picking me up any minute, and there was no turning back now.
Gracie and I had been inseparable since high school. She was the firecracker to my cautious planner, the loud voice that urged me to take risks when I would have otherwise played it safe. Where I overthought everything, Gracie acted first and worried about consequences later. And though her approach sometimes led to chaos, I couldn’t deny that I needed her push more often than not.
She was still that same bold, unapologetic force—but now with a few more responsibilities and an impressive résumé to match. She was finishing her master’s degree while juggling a corporate job I’d never have pictured her in back when we were teenagers. Something about supply chain logistics or operations—she’d explained it to me once, but my eyes had glazed over halfway through. Despite how out of character the job seemed, she was thriving, though she still loved to joke that her soul slowly died a little more every time she wore business casual.
Ryan, of course, thought she was absolutely insane. “That friend of yours is a menace,” he’d said on more than one occasion, usually after hearing about some wild scheme Gracie had dragged me into. But he couldn’t deny that she made me laugh like no one else could. He found her antics hilarious, even if he’d never admit it to her face. Deep down, I knew he appreciated how she kept me grounded—and occasionally nudged me out of my shell.
Logan had heard stories about Gracie through Ryan, though they’d only crossed paths a handful of times over the years. Gracie and I had been just as inseparable as Logan and Ryan were, but with the guys being about five years older than us, they weren’t around much when we were younger. Still, they knew each other enough to exchange the occasional greeting at family events or school functions. I wasn’t sure how much Logan really remembered about her, but knowing Gracie, she’d be more than happy to fill in the gaps if they spent more time together.
She was nothing if not an open book—and she had an uncanny knack for reading people. It was one of the reasons she could always tell when I was holding something back.
I let out a slow breath and shook off the nerves fluttering in my stomach. Gracie was always telling me to stop living in my head so much. This weekend was going to test that advice to its limits. Friendsgiving was supposed to be a fun, easy gathering, but the thought of seeing Logan again after all these years made my pulse race in a way I wasn’t ready to confront. Would it be awkward? Or worse—would it be nothing at all?
Maybe it was stupid to feel this nervous about a trip with family and friends. But I couldn’t help it. It felt like everything I’d been avoiding—my failures, my insecurities, my past—was all about to collide in one long weekend in the mountains.
I sighed and grabbed my bag from the closet, tossing a few things inside. Maybe this trip wouldn’t change anything. Maybe I’d come back feeling just as stuck and lost as I did now. But part of me couldn’t help but hope for something more. A spark. A sign. Anything to shake me out of this rut I’d been in for years.
As I slung the bag over my shoulder, I glanced out the window. The city lights were starting to flicker on, casting a soft glow against the fading sunset. For a brief moment, I let myself imagine a different version of my life. One where I wasn’t scared to take chances. One where I wasn’t constantly comparing myself to my brother. One where I felt… free.
But that version of me felt like a distant dream.
With a deep breath, I grabbed my phone and jacket, letting the door click shut behind me.
“Here goes nothing,” I muttered under my breath.
A car horn blared outside, snapping me out of my thoughts. I peeked through the window and saw Gracie waving from the driver’s seat of her beat-up sedan, grinning like she was about to take me on the adventure of a lifetime.
“Let’s go, Jules!” she called, her voice muffled by the glass but unmistakably exuberant.
I grabbed my bag, locked the door behind me, and headed down to meet her. Whatever the weekend had in store, one thing was certain: with Gracie by my side, it was going to be anything but boring.
“Finally!” she called out as I opened the passenger door and climbed in. “I was starting to think you were gonna bail.”
“Tempting,” I muttered, tossing my bag into the backseat before buckling up. The familiar smell of Gracie’s perfume—something citrusy and sweet—filled the car, grounding me in the present for a moment.
“Bail? You? Nah.” Gracie glanced at me with a raised brow as she pulled onto the street. “You’d never risk disappointing Ryan. I mean, it’s not like he’d guilt-trip you for the rest of your life or anything.”
I rolled my eyes. “Exactly. He’s practically perfected the art of subtle guilt. It’s exhausting.”
Gracie snorted. “Oh, please. Ryan just wants you to be happy. You act like he’s the dad from 10 Things I Hate About You or something.”
“He’s close,” I grumbled. “You didn’t see the text messages. He was already teasing me about Logan.”
Gracie gasped dramatically, her eyes wide as she stole a quick glance in my direction. “Wait, Logan Logan? Ryan’s super-hot best friend Logan?”
“Can you not?” I groaned, sinking lower into my seat. “I already have enough anxiety about this trip without you reminding me how much of an idiot I used to be around him.”
“Oh, come on, Jules! You had the biggest crush on him. It was adorable.”
“Adorable for who? I was a walking disaster,” I shot back, glaring at her. “Every time I tried to talk to him, I ended up sounding like a malfunctioning robot. And Logan? He probably didn’t even know I existed beyond being ‘Ryan’s kid sister.’”
Gracie shook her head, chuckling softly. “You’re too hard on yourself. You were like, what? Fourteen? Give yourself a break.”
“Yeah, well, unfortunately, I still remember it like it was yesterday.” I sighed and stared out the window as we drove through the city. The lights blurred in the distance, and the familiar ache of insecurity twisted in my chest. “He’s probably this ridiculously successful, polished guy now. Meanwhile, I’m managing a coffee shop and trying not to have an existential crisis every other day.”
Gracie didn’t answer right away, which was unlike her. Usually, she had a quick quip for everything. Instead, she reached over and squeezed my hand briefly before returning it to the steering wheel.
“Look, Jules. You’re allowed to feel stuck, but you’ve got to stop comparing yourself to other people. Including Ryan. And Logan, for that matter.”
I opened my mouth to argue, but she cut me off with a sharp glance. “Seriously. You’ve been through a lot. No one expects you to have it all figured out. Not even Ryan, no matter how much he nags.”
“Yeah, well, it doesn’t feel that way,” I mumbled. “Every time we talk, it’s like he’s waiting for me to magically get my shit together. It’s like I’m some... project he can’t walk away from because he feels responsible for me.”
Gracie sighed, her expression softening. “Ryan’s not perfect, Jules. He’s probably just worried because he doesn’t know how to help anymore. But that doesn’t mean he’s judging you.”
I didn’t respond. Maybe she was right, but it didn’t make it any easier to shake the feeling that I was falling behind in life—stuck while everyone else moved forward.
The car fell into a comfortable silence as we left the city behind, the skyline fading into the distance. The road stretched out ahead of us, winding through patches of trees and open fields as we headed toward the mountains. The sun had dipped lower, casting long shadows across the landscape, and I found myself relaxing, if only a little.
“Okay, enough brooding,” Gracie announced after a few minutes. “We need a game plan for this trip. What’s your strategy for not losing your mind around Logan?”
I groaned. “Gracie, there is no ‘game plan.’ I’m going to avoid him as much as humanly possible. Hopefully, Ryan will be too busy with whatever Friendsgiving nonsense he’s planned to notice.”
Gracie snorted. “Avoid him? Yeah, that’ll work. Especially when you’re stuck in a cabin with him for a whole weekend. You’re going to crack the second he smiles at you.”
“I will not.” I crossed my arms defensively. “I’m not a teenager anymore. I can handle it.”
“Uh-huh. Sure. And if he offers you a drink or some charming small talk?”
“Then I’ll politely decline and go hide in my room,” I said, trying to sound more confident than I felt.
Gracie gave me a skeptical look. “You’re so full of it. But hey, if you need a wingwoman, I’ve got your back.”
I couldn’t help but smile. “Thanks, Gracie. I’ll probably need it.”
The conversation drifted to lighter topics as the drive continued. Gracie filled me in on her latest work drama—something about a coworker who kept stealing her favorite snacks from the break room—and I let myself get lost in the familiarity of her voice. It was comforting, a reminder that no matter how messy life got, I still had people who cared about me.
By the time we reached the foothills of the mountains, the sun had dipped behind the peaks, painting the sky in shades of pink and orange. I rolled down the window, letting the crisp, pine-scented air fill the car.
“Wow,” Gracie said softly, her eyes fixed on the view ahead. “This is exactly what we needed.”
I nodded in agreement, my anxiety easing just a little. Maybe she was right. Maybe this trip was exactly what I needed—to get away, breathe, and maybe, just maybe, find a little clarity in the chaos.
