Jerome

As the man approaches, Julia can't help but feel a bit nervous. He looks like he could be a football player, and she's not used to being hit on by such large and intimidating men.

"Hey there, beautiful," the man says with a charming smile. "I couldn't help but notice you checking me out."

Julia blushes and looks down, feeling embarrassed. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to stare," she says, taking a sip of her drink.

"No need to apologize," the man says, taking a seat next to her. "My name is Jerome. What's yours?"

"I'm Julia," she says, smiling back at him. "Nice to meet you."

They engage in small talk for a few minutes, with Jerome asking about her day and how she likes the restaurant. Julia can't help but feel a bit flustered, as she's never been approached like this before.

As they talk, Valentina walks in and spots Julia at the bar. She walks over and greets her with a hug.

"Hey, girl! Sorry I'm late," Valentina says. "Traffic was a nightmare."

Julia introduces Valentina to Jerome, who greets her warmly. They chat for a bit before the hostess comes over to let them know that their table is ready.

As they make their way to the table, Jerome leans in close to Julia and whispers in her ear. "I hope I see you around here again sometime," he says, winking at her.

Julia blushes again, feeling a bit flattered. "Maybe you will," she says, smiling back at him.

As they sit down at the table, Valentina can't help but notice Julia's flushed cheeks. "What's going on, girl? You look like you just saw a ghost," she says, giggling.

Julia laughs along with her, feeling a bit embarrassed. "I don't know, I just feel a bit nervous," she says.

Valentina rolls her eyes playfully. "Don't be nervous, silly. We're just here to have lunch and catch up," she says, grabbing the menu.

Julia nods, feeling a bit more relaxed. As they peruse the menu and chat about their lives, she can't help but think about Jerome and how he made her feel. She pushes the thought to the back of her mind, knowing that she needs to focus on her family and not get distracted by handsome strangers.