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Last weekend?
I wanted to ask Christian so many things. The pain of hearing Julian had been with not one, but two women since he’d kissed me was an agony I wasn’t expecting. And now, he was bringing a date to my birthday party.
My heart clenched, making it almost hard to breathe as I tried not to fall apart in front of my mother and brother.
“Christian!” Mom exclaimed. “I don’t want to know that. I just hope he’s being safe. With all the diseases and pregnancy, you need to make sure he’s wrapping it up.”
“Mom, he’s been wrapping it up since Dad gave him condoms when he was thirteen after he found a girl in Julian’s room.”
“A girl here?” I asked, taken back.
“Yeah.” He nodded, chuckling. “Just ask Mom how many times they found a girl in his room.”
“Too many to count and remember.”
It was blow after blow, and I didn’t have a clue as to how I was still standing.
“Autumn, why do you look so upset?”
“It’s nothing, Christian.”
“It’s not nothing. Do you have a crush on him or something?”
I knew he wouldn’t let this go—his overprotectiveness wouldn’t allow it.
“Of course not.” I wish it was only a crush. “I’m just shocked you’re talking about him like this. He’s your best friend.”
“I’m not saying anything to you I haven’t already said to him. Julian is well aware of what I think about him and women. He treats them like shit. You’re too good for him, Autumn. Besides, he’d never do that to me. He knows that you’re off-limits.”
“Now you’re telling guys I’m off-limits?”
“No, just him.”
Those three littles words made my head spin.
Is that why he abruptly stopped hanging out with me?
“Oh, honey.” Mom smiled. “Julian is like another son to us, and she’s like his little sister. He would never…” She giggled, eyeing Christian. “You’re being ridiculous. Protect your sister from everything, but you don’t need to worry yourself over Julian and Autumn. She’s family to him.”
I couldn’t listen to this anymore. “Guests are starting to arrive, Mom.”
She stood, kissed my cheek and left, but to my disappointment, my brother didn’t follow.
Hoping he’d catch a clue, I remarked, “I need to finish getting ready.”
“I’m being serious, Autumn. If you do have a crush on Julian, you need to forget about him. When it comes to women, he couldn’t care less about them. The last thing I want is for you to be another notch on his belt. I’ll tell you right now, if he broke your heart, I’d fucking kill him.”
“Christian!”
“What? Why does that surprise you? It’s my job to protect you.”
“I know, but you don’t have to be so scary about it.”
Pushing off the doorframe, he warned, “Don’t give me a reason to.”
I should have stopped him.
I should have told him.
