Page 142 of Secrets Hidden In The Glass

“Oh, our friendship is over. I need someone who makes my toes curl,” he said as he captured her hands and kissed her cheeks. “I’ve missed you.”

“I’ve missed you too.”

“Besides the boy toy, you’re good?”

She nodded enthusiastically, banishing any thoughts of her biological mother from her mind. “Amazing.”

Julian studied her closer. “I’ve been worried.”

She frowned, seeing the genuine concern in his eyes. “I just needed some time off—to put the glass and soldering iron down for a while. My art was smothering me.”

“But you’re okay otherwise? Before you left… Well, let’s face it, sugar pie, you were a mess.”

“I’m in a really good place—really happy. Nate makes me happy.”

“I love hearing it—seeing it.” He sighed and looked down before he met her gaze again. “Sugar pie, I need to tell you something.”

“Okay.”

“There have been some rumors swirling around.”

Callie rolled her eyes. “Let me guess. You and I are lovers.”

“Not quite.” He put his hand on his chin and narrowed his eyes, as if considering. “But I have no doubt we’d be excellent in bed. We’re both so damn good-looking.”

She laughed. “I don’t think that’s ever going to happen.”

“A shame, really. Imagine how brilliant our kids would be—paint or glass. They could never go wrong.”

She smiled again. “You have a point there.”

“Callie.” The humor left his eyes as he tugged on her hands, pulling her farther away from the crowds. “I probably should have mentioned something on the phone the other day, but I wasn’t sure…”

Her stomach twisted with unease. “Julian, what is it?”

“I’ve heard some stuff about you having a nervous breakdown.”

She blinked, completely taken by surprise when she shouldn’t have been. “What?”

“There are whispers that you’ve been off getting therapy at a private facility for your”—he cleared his throat—“fragile mental state.”

Her mouth fell open before she closed it. “I took a vacation. My first in five years.” Whether she’d been teetering on the edge of losing it before she left for Carter Island should have been her business alone.

“I know. One of the reporters from People asked me about it a couple weeks ago. Of course, I adamantly denied it. She dropped it after that.”

Callie let her head hang, instantly tired and ready to go. Not even two hours back in the spotlight and the madness had begun.

Julian gave her hands a gentle shake. “Cheer up, sugar pie. You know how this goes. A couple whispers and they’ll move on to something else. Especially after tonight. Everyone’s seen you. Clearly, you’re fine.”

Nate came back, holding out Callie’s drink. His smile vanished as their eyes met. “What’s wrong?”

“I—it’s—”

“The gossip mill’s turning,” Julian answered for her.

“How so?”

She took the drink. “Apparently I’ve been off getting therapy for my nervous breakdown.”