AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"Will you come visit me again tonight?" The words slip out before I even have a chance to realize what I just confessed.
"If you want me there, I'm sure I can make some time for a visit."
"I don't like being alone so much. I miss having someone to talk to." My eyes cast down at the floor. I don't want to see his face. I’m struggling to figure out if I’m telling him this as part of my plan or as an admission.
"Hopefully soon we can bring you up to the main house, so you have better access to me and the others." I gaze up at him and see his eyes grow wide for a brief second. He immediately gets up and starts cleaning up our mess as if he realized he had let something slip out that he shouldn't have. The others? How many of them are there?
Chapter 13
Julian
Icame home from my trip, and she's still not home. The trip ended up being longer than I planned, but something about this isn't right. I should've heard from her by now. Fights like that never happen between the two of us, but she kept asking me all those questions about Nashville. Just more stress I don't need.
This whole acquisition has been one thing after another, and the weight of it all just keeps piling on top of me. I need to make sure everything is perfect. We only have a short time left before the last few pieces fall into place and life calms down again. I don't know why I didn't just tell her from the start that I’ve been going to Nashville for the trips. That was an oversight I now regret.
I overheard her talking with Avery once about how that city brings up bad memories for her, so I thought it would be easier on her if I didn't mention it. I wanted to spare her from having any negative thoughts because I know there are things she hasn't felt comfortable opening up to me about yet.
Sure, I lied, but I lied to protect her. I thought she would at least give me the opportunity to explain myself. I need her to be happy.I need her to want to be with me. I know I can convince her what I did was the right decision if she just talked to me. When everything was happening, and she stormed out of the room, I expected her to go in the other room to cool off, maybe take a few hours to herself, and then come back out to talk things through, but she went straight to her car and left. This reaction is definitely not like her.
I suppose it was only a matter of time before a fight like this happened. You can't have a perfect relationship all the time. We will grow from this. I know we will. She is mistaken if she thinks that one little lie will be enough for her to end things between the two of us. I won't let her go that easily. I'll fight for her. She's everything I want, everything I need. My future with her is bright and strong. She told me she was done, but I won’t let it end like this.
I tried to call her a few hours after she left, but her phone rang in the other room. It's a bit odd that she didn't come back for it while I was away. I'm going to find her. I need to find her, or the last year will have been completely pointless. I put so much time and dedication into building trust with her, and I know she was so close to opening up to me. She was going to finally tell me about her past and why she is so reluctant to get close to anyone.
Today, I decided enough is enough. It's time for me to call Avery and tell her to come home. Her friend isn't my biggest fan. She's most likely telling her to cut ties with me completely and move on, that I’m some kind of evil person. She's always treatedme like the bad guy, even though I have never done anything to her. My response to her standoffishness has always been to keep my distance from her.
I don't have Avery's number saved in my phone, so I use Callie’s to call her. The phone only rings once before she answers with a raging ball of fury. I click the speaker button just in time for her to start yelling.
"It's about damn time bitch. I was about to send out a search party for your ass. I thought you left me despite our clear conversations about this," she yells through the phone.
"Uh, hello?" I retort.
"Julian? Put Callie on the phone now!"
"What do you mean put her on? She's not with you?"
"If she was with me, why would I tell you to put her on the phone? For fucks sake. Let me talk to her."
"Avery, this is serious. If she's not with you, I don't know where she is. When's the last time you saw her?"
"When I left your house last week."
"Have you spoken to her since then?" I ask her.
"No, I haven't talked to her. Where the hell is she?" she yells.
"That's what I am trying to figure out. I just assumed she was staying with you." My tone is shorter than usual.
"Why would she be staying with me? How long has it been since you've seen her?" she asks.
"Maybe a few hours after you did. We got into a big fight, and she stormed out," I say.
"She stormed out, and you didn't immediately chase after her? Yeah, that tracks."
"Look, I'm aware you don't like me, but can you keep the sarcasm to yourself while we figure this out? I thought she would take a breather at your house for a few days and come right back."
"Julian, it's been a week, and you’re JUST NOW calling me to see if she is here!! What kind of person goes a whole week without seeing or hearing from their fiancé before checking on them?"
I’m not going to tell her that she said we’re done. I know she didn’t mean it. Fuck, she's right. I should’ve checked sooner. Frustrated, I run my fingers through my hair as I pace around the room.
