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Yeah, the likelihood of that happening was slim to none, especially considering Bailey had told Henri he needed a time-out. Not that Henri could blame him; he’d put his cop in one hell of a position, but at the same time had known there was no way he was going to lie.
Bailey deserved to know the truth, deserved to know whom he was trusting. Henri’s one regret? Not telling Bailey sooner and giving him a chance to walk away.
Henri climbed out of the car and made his way up to the front door. Christ, he had no idea what he was going to say when he got inside, or even where to begin. How did a person tell the closest people to him that he had possibly put their freedom in jeopardy?
Yeah, Henri didn’t think he’d need to worry all that much about going to prison once he got through explaining why he was there, because Joel would likely kill him.
Henri stopped at the front door, shut his eyes, and took in a deep breath, and when he raised a hand, about to knock, the front door was pulled open and he found himself standing face to face with Robbie.
Dressed in black pants, a burgundy dress shirt, and a black vest that had a cherry embroidered on it, the princess looked sharp, put together and…about to walk out the door.
“Henri, hi,” Robbie said as he reached for a black puffer jacket hanging on a hook by the door. He slipped into it and then reached for a scarf. Henri noted the perfect hair, dark eyeliner, and lip gloss, and hoped Robbie wasn’t about to tell him he was—
“I’m sorry, I just got a call asking if I could come in tonight because someone is sick.”
You’re fucking kidding me, Henri thought. Of the three men who lived in this house, Bright Eyes had been the one Henri was relying on to keep him alive when he delivered his news. But now that Robbie was leaving, that left Henri with—
“Priest is still at work. He has a big case right now and his hours have been insane, but Julien’s upstairs. It’s his night off, and he’s great to talk to.”
Henri opened his mouth, about to say, Thanks, but no, thanks, but Robbie took a step forward and put a palm to his chest.
“Now before you say no, and turn around and get in Priest’s fabulous car and drive off, just remember: Julien is practically Bailey in this situation.” Robbie paused and screwed his forehead up for a moment. “Well, you know, minus the sexy police uniform and the power to put you in prison. But what I mean is, when Julien and Priest got together, Julien had to accept and deal with everything that came with him. So did I.”
“Then why can’t I talk to you?” Henri asked.
“Because he’s leaving,” Julien said from behind Robbie. “And I’m not.”
Henri wasn’t sure how long he stood in that stare-off with Julien. But when Robbie leaned up, pressed a kiss to Henri’s cheek, and said, “Be nice. Julien is very sweet,” Henri returned his attention to the princess and promised he would.
Robbie waved to Julien, who winked at him and ran out the door, and Henri found himself in the least likely scenario he could imagine: standing in Joel’s house with his first husband…Henri’s replacement.
“Bonsoir, Henri. Won’t you come in?” Julien didn’t bother waiting for an answer; he turned on his bare feet and headed up a short flight of stairs that led from the entryway to the first floor. Resigned to his fate, Henri followed.
It was crazy that even after all these years there was still a very real tension between the two of them. Each man knew where the other stood, and they’d even been civil to one another on occasion, but never had they found themselves in this scenario before—alone, with no buffer, no one to intercede and remind them they needed to be friendly.
Julien walked across the living room to the bar. He was wearing these loose white yoga-looking pants and a fitted black t-shirt, and there was no denying he was incredibly attractive, which annoyed Henri to no end. Was it so much to ask that there be one thing wrong with him?
Julien looked over and noticed Henri standing at the top of the stairs. “You can come in, you know.”
“I know,” Henri said like some petulant teenager, and when Julien smirked and turned away to grab two tumblers from the cabinet behind him, Henri let out a sigh.
Jesus, what is it about this guy that makes me so petty? It’d been years since that horrible day in L.A., and not only were Julien and Joel happily married to each other and Robbie, Henri had fallen in love with someone along the way too.
