The Man Who Waited vs. The Man Who Wasted novel Chapter 449

Penelope put some food on Jocelyn's plate.

"Jo, who are you texting? Eat your dinner."

Jocelyn put her phone down, seeing no reason to hide it.

"Adrian."

"Is he harassing you again?"

"No, he just let me know he's selling the house at Oakhaven Estates. I still have some things left over there, so he was asking if I wanted them back."

"Are you going to go get them?"

"The things inside are really important to me. I'll figure out a time to meet up with him and grab them."

"If they're important, you definitely need them back. Why don't you have Julian go with you?"

Jocelyn glanced at Julian.

His eyes were cast down, making his expression unreadable.

"Penelope, Mr. Vance is a very busy man."

Julian spoke up quietly. "I'm actually not that busy."

Jocelyn suddenly felt like she had no polite way out.

To be completely honest, she really hated having to rely on him over and over again.

Julian offered an alternative. "I can have Kyle drive you."

"Speaking of Kyle," Jocelyn began, carefully choosing her words. "Julian, you should probably have him go back to working for you. Caleb is already in jail. I don't think I need a bodyguard anymore."

"Just to be safe, let's wait a little longer," Julian insisted.

Penelope agreed. "He's right, Jo. Give it some more time. You're carrying a baby now. If anything happens, that's two lives on the line."

She had a point.

Jocelyn relented. "Alright. I guess I'll have to impose on Kyle a little longer."

Julian offered a faint smile.

"He's actually perfectly happy looking after you."

"He told you that?" Jocelyn asked.

"Not explicitly. He just mentioned that you're a really good person."

Jocelyn chuckled softly. "I really like him too."

Julian's brow furrowed slightly.

"You like him?"

"Yeah, of course. He might not smile much, but he's a really great guy."

Penelope shot Julian a sidelong glance and laughed.

Jocelyn couldn't resist trying a piece herself.

The flavor rivaled the finest restaurants she'd ever been to.

This was really his first time making this?

Jocelyn couldn't stop herself from reaching for a second piece, then a third...

Watching her eat with such genuine delight, the corners of Julian's lips pulled upward.

"Is it really that good?"

"Mhm, it's amazing. These are the best ribs I've ever had. Plus, I've always loved ribs."

Penelope nodded in sudden realization.

"Ah, so that's why."

"What do you mean, 'that's why'?" Jocelyn asked.

"I was wondering why Julian suddenly wanted me to teach him how to make ribs. Turns out, it's because a certain someone's favorite dish is ribs."

Jocelyn froze, her heartbeat skipping its rhythm yet again.

"How... how did you know I loved ribs?"

She had no memory of ever telling him that.