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“Yes,” I said firmly. “I do.”
Joshua shook his head and laughed darkly. He looked away from me as if he couldn’t stand the sight of me for another second. I thought about leaving, just standing up and walking outside, but I felt frozen in place. There was something about Joshua that sparked all my insecurities. With just one conversation, he already had me doubting myself.
Maybe he was right. Maybe things between Michael and me weren’t as serious as I believed. Maybe it was all just some casual fling. Maybe Michael never wanted anything real with me.
“I’m sorry if this hurts you,” I said. I was no longer angry, but I wasn’t going to cave. “But I like Michael and he likes me. We’re together, and you’re just going to have to get used to that.”
“I can’t believe you would sink this low,” Joshua said. He shook his head again and glared at me. I’d never seen so much anger in his eyes.
“What is so bad about what I did?” I asked. “I moved to Ennis, Joshua. And when I did, I met Michael. Where is the harm in that?”
“You’re dating my brother!” Joshua said. “After everything you and I went through together, you’re sleeping with my brother. That’s so fucked up, Julie.”
“I didn’t know who he was,” I said. My anger was beginning to come back. “You ended things with me, remember? You broke my heart. I left town to try and get over you. And you know what? It worked. I did. I got over you, and I moved on. I’m sorry that it just so happened to be with your brother.”
“You had to have known who he was,” Joshua said. “You did this just to get back at me.”
“No.” I shook my head. “Trust me. I never would have gone out with Michael if I knew who he was. But I didn’t know. And I did go out with him. And I don’t regret it.”
“Why the hell not?” Joshua asked. He was furious now. He wasn’t used to being told no, especially when it came to me.
“Because he’s amazing,” I said.
“You really had no idea who he was?” Joshua asked skeptically. “No clue?”
“How would I have known?” I asked, frustrated now. “You never let me meet him. Even after I helped you find him, you refused to let me be involved. I never even knew his name, Joshua.”
Joshua glared at me, trying to decide whether he believed me. He didn’t want to. It was easier for him to be angry if he thought I was being malicious.
“Well,” he sai
d. “Michael sure as hell knew.”
I blinked. “What?”
“You may not have known who Michael was,” Joshua said slowly. “But he knew about you from the very beginning.”
Before I could even process his words, my head was shaking from side to side. He was wrong. There was no way Michael knew I was Joshua’s ex. It wasn’t possible. When we met, he was just a stranger in a café. I was just some girl he saw. He never knew I was connected to his brother. He couldn’t have.
“You’re lying,” I said boldly. “Michael told me he didn’t know who I was. After we had dinner with you, he said he didn’t know.”
“He lied to you,” Joshua said simply. “Michael’s known about you since he and I first met.”
“I don’t believe you,” I said.
“You don’t have to,” Joshua said. A satisfied grin spread across his face. I longed to reach across the table and slap him.
“Why are you doing this?” I asked weakly. “Because I said no? Because I’ve moved on? Because I’m happy without you?”
“No.” The smile fell from his face. “Because it’s the truth, Julie.”
“It’s not.” It couldn’t be. I refused to believe him.
“Look,” Joshua said. “When I said I still love you, I meant it. I love you, Julie. I always have, and I think I probably always will. Nothing can change that.”
“That doesn’t matter anymore,” I snapped. “Not to me.”
“Maybe not,” Joshua said. “But it means I wouldn’t lie to you. I just wouldn’t.”
