he was still mad. That’s two brothers against their
friend. She had to put a stop to this now. “First of all this is Julian we're
talking about. Joo-lee-anne . Remember him? Your best friend. The guy
who's been like a brother to all of us?”
“Not like me! I don't go around smooching my sister!”
Luke objected and was promptly hushed.
“Both of you are completely off base here. This is a
misunderstanding. It was an accident. He was thanking me for the Rubik’s Cube.
He leaned in to kiss my cheek; I didn't know he was going to do that. I turned
my head and he planted one on me accidentally.”
...and then I kissed him back. Carolyn shoveled a
spoonful of cereal into her mouth to make sure she kept that detail to herself.
“It was all quite innocent actually—” she swallowed,
“until Muhammad Ali over here went ballistic. I thought you were going to hit
him. What was that about, Rhys? I'd like to know. I've never seen you act like
that.”
Rhys just looked at her as if he had no inkling how to
respond to her.
“Luke? Would you care to explain his actions to me
because they seem a little extreme?”
“Look Carolyn,” Luke started, “I have to ask, is there
something going on between you two?”
She could hardly believe what she was hearing. Was Luke
seriously asking her if Julian was cheating on his fiancée with her?
Luke continued, “I saw you on the porch with him the
other night. The two of you looked pretty close. You were huddled in the dark,
holding hands. I didn't say anything before, but now that this has happened I
feel like I have to ask.”
They’d gone running the other night and then had come
back here to cool down. Julian had been so...lost was the only way to describe
it. Sometimes, I just want this he had said to her. She’d thought that
he meant a calmer life. Had he meant that he wanted her? Her heart started to
pound in her chest. Her brothers were watching her, waiting for her to say
something but she could barely admit to herself how the thought of a
relationship with Julian made her feel. He was a great guy. Smart, handsome,
funny, ambitious. A girl could do worse.
When she remained quiet, Luke continued to press, “It's
for your own protection. We care about you. We don't want you to get hurt.
Believe me, it kills me to think that Julian could treat you like this, but if
he is then we can't allow that to happen.”
Finally, Carolyn found her voice, “You have no idea how
wrong you both are. I appreciate your concern, but I've got this under control.
“Listen to me, Julian was going through some basic
pre-wedding jitters. What you were spying on, Luke, was me helping him through
that. Last night's accidental kiss was completely a separate thing. Do you
understand?” She looked pointedly at Rhys. “Now please, I think that Jules can
really use a friend now. I think he's scared about taking this big step and now
his best man has flipped out on him. Plus, you almost ruined Cera's big night!
You should apologize to her, too. Will you please call him and fix this thing
before it ruins everything? Please?”
Rhys relented, “Alright, if you say so. I feel bad about
this happening on Cera’s opening. Maybe I did overreact. I will talk to Julian
and see what he has to say.”
“Rhys! He deserves an apology.”
“Carolyn,” he was using his authoritative don't push me
voice and she couldn’t help but back down, “I said I'll talk to him.” She could
tell that he was immediately sorry for his harsh tone. He softened it and
changed the subject. “You better get ready; you're going to be late for work.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
Milan was sitting in the dressing room waiting for the
attendant to bring her dress. She daydreamed about the wedding and how
everything was going to be perfect.
Last night had put all her fears to rest. Spending the
day with Carolyn had ironically put Milan's mind at ease, especially after
spending the evening with Julian. He had been
friend. She had to put a stop to this now. “First of all this is Julian we're
talking about. Joo-lee-anne . Remember him? Your best friend. The guy
who's been like a brother to all of us?”
“Not like me! I don't go around smooching my sister!”
Luke objected and was promptly hushed.
“Both of you are completely off base here. This is a
misunderstanding. It was an accident. He was thanking me for the Rubik’s Cube.
He leaned in to kiss my cheek; I didn't know he was going to do that. I turned
my head and he planted one on me accidentally.”
...and then I kissed him back. Carolyn shoveled a
spoonful of cereal into her mouth to make sure she kept that detail to herself.
“It was all quite innocent actually—” she swallowed,
“until Muhammad Ali over here went ballistic. I thought you were going to hit
him. What was that about, Rhys? I'd like to know. I've never seen you act like
that.”
Rhys just looked at her as if he had no inkling how to
respond to her.
“Luke? Would you care to explain his actions to me
because they seem a little extreme?”
“Look Carolyn,” Luke started, “I have to ask, is there
something going on between you two?”
She could hardly believe what she was hearing. Was Luke
seriously asking her if Julian was cheating on his fiancée with her?
Luke continued, “I saw you on the porch with him the
other night. The two of you looked pretty close. You were huddled in the dark,
holding hands. I didn't say anything before, but now that this has happened I
feel like I have to ask.”
They’d gone running the other night and then had come
back here to cool down. Julian had been so...lost was the only way to describe
it. Sometimes, I just want this he had said to her. She’d thought that
he meant a calmer life. Had he meant that he wanted her? Her heart started to
pound in her chest. Her brothers were watching her, waiting for her to say
something but she could barely admit to herself how the thought of a
relationship with Julian made her feel. He was a great guy. Smart, handsome,
funny, ambitious. A girl could do worse.
When she remained quiet, Luke continued to press, “It's
for your own protection. We care about you. We don't want you to get hurt.
Believe me, it kills me to think that Julian could treat you like this, but if
he is then we can't allow that to happen.”
Finally, Carolyn found her voice, “You have no idea how
wrong you both are. I appreciate your concern, but I've got this under control.
“Listen to me, Julian was going through some basic
pre-wedding jitters. What you were spying on, Luke, was me helping him through
that. Last night's accidental kiss was completely a separate thing. Do you
understand?” She looked pointedly at Rhys. “Now please, I think that Jules can
really use a friend now. I think he's scared about taking this big step and now
his best man has flipped out on him. Plus, you almost ruined Cera's big night!
You should apologize to her, too. Will you please call him and fix this thing
before it ruins everything? Please?”
Rhys relented, “Alright, if you say so. I feel bad about
this happening on Cera’s opening. Maybe I did overreact. I will talk to Julian
and see what he has to say.”
“Rhys! He deserves an apology.”
“Carolyn,” he was using his authoritative don't push me
voice and she couldn’t help but back down, “I said I'll talk to him.” She could
tell that he was immediately sorry for his harsh tone. He softened it and
changed the subject. “You better get ready; you're going to be late for work.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
Milan was sitting in the dressing room waiting for the
attendant to bring her dress. She daydreamed about the wedding and how
everything was going to be perfect.
Last night had put all her fears to rest. Spending the
day with Carolyn had ironically put Milan's mind at ease, especially after
spending the evening with Julian. He had been
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