Total pages in book: 151
Estimated words: 139803 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 699(@200wpm)___ 559(@250wpm)___ 466(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 139803 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 699(@200wpm)___ 559(@250wpm)___ 466(@300wpm)
I leaned up on my tiptoes to press a kiss to his lips. He sighed softly before he laced his fingers in my hair and angled my head to deepen the kiss. I couldn’t help the moan that slipped from my lips as I pressed myself closer to him, my sickness momentarily forgotten as I got lost in Julian.
Vincent cleared his throat next to us, breaking us apart. A blush tinted my cheeks while Julian scowled at his best friend. “What?” Julian growled.
“No need to suck her face off in class,” Vincent said in a nonchalant manner as he dropped into his seat. “I hear you guys going at it enough at home.”
Julian narrowed his eyes at Vincent. I slipped my hand under Julian’s shirt, knowing my touch would calm him. He flickered his blue eyes down to my face. With a muttered curse, he clenched his jaw and stepped back from me, shaking his head.
“I may be civil with you for her sake, Vincent, but we are in no way, shape, or form okay,” Julian spit as he sat in his seat. I sat in my own with a tired sigh, watching as Vincent clenched his jaw, glaring down at the floor. “I still haven’t forgotten about the dumb shit you said to her about me.”
I pressed the tips of my fingers into my eyes, feeling extremely exhausted. I wasn’t dumb. I knew Julian was still pissed at Vincent about what had happened almost a week ago, but I also knew that Julian was forcing himself to be civil to Vincent for my sake.
I just wished that they could move past what had happened. They were friends long before Vincent and I were. I hated the knowledge that I was coming between two almost life-long friends.
Julian gently grabbed my wrists and pulled my hands away from my face. His blue eyes were filled with concern as he ran his eyes over my tired face. “You okay, babe?” he softly asked me.
I nodded once and pulled my wrists from his hands. He sighed in irritation. It was clear to him that I was lying to him, but the professor had just walked into the room, preventing him from pressuring me into an honest answer.
I pulled my phone from my pocket and texted Desiree.
* * *
It’s time for Julian and Vincent to kiss and make up. What do you have in mind?
* * *
I slid my phone back into my pocket and wrote down some important keynotes the professor said during his lecture as I waited on Desiree to text me back. I knew she was just as bothered as I was about the fight between the guys, so I knew she would help me do whatever was necessary to get them to fix their shit.
My phone vibrated in my pocket. I set my pen down on my notebook and pulled my phone out to read Desiree’s message.
* * *
They have an extra long practice after your last class. Meet me at Starbucks once you get out of class.
* * *
I sent her back a thumbs-up emoji. I was just about to slide my phone back into my pocket when my phone vibrated with another message, this one from Julian.
* * *
I don’t know what I did, babe, but I’m sorry. Please don’t stay mad at me. Whatever I did, I’ll fix it.
* * *
I sighed softly and slid my phone back into my pocket. I turned my head to look over at him. His blue eyes clashed with mine. There was a hint of fear in his eyes—fear that he would lose me.
I silently reached over and placed my hand in his, a silent reassurance that he and I were okay.
Though once Desiree and I came up with a plan to force Julian and Vincent to work through their problems, we might not be anymore because I knew Julian enough to know that he would be pissed.
He didn’t deal with shit until he was damn good and ready to.
He squeezed my hand and brought it up to his lips to press a kiss to my knuckles. I love you, he mouthed.
A soft smile touched my lips. And I love you.
He grinned before he set my hand back in my lap, focusing his attention back on the professor.
* * *
✶ ✶ ✶
* * *
Desiree handed me a dragon fruit drink with a smile on her face. “Caffeine is bad for the baby,” she said in way of explanation. “So, I got one of your other favorite drinks.”
I smiled at her in thanks. “You’re the best,” I told her with a grin.
She shrugged her shoulder with a cocky smile on her face. “I know,” she responded with a grin.
I rolled my eyes at her as we sat at a table in the food court. “So, this is what I have in mind,” she said, diving straight into the reason we were meeting up. “I know Vincent is trying to give Julian his space, and you know Julian isn’t going to deal with the shit between the two of them until he’s ready. He’s one of the biggest grudge holders I’ve ever known,” Desiree admitted.