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Asher steps away to reveal me.
“Yeah, Xander, meet Juliette,” he says as I look up and offer him a weak smile. “Juliette, this is Alexander Callahan, my stepfather.”
His brown eyes widen as he stares at me in shock for a few seconds.
“What the hell are you doing here?”
CHAPTER19
Xander
This morning, I woke up with a banging headache after having a nightmare that forced me to relive the last moments of Kathy’s life. I haven’t had those dreams in a while, not since Juliette and I got together. But she wasn’t in bed with me this morning, and I felt her absence acutely. Especially on a day like today.
I wanted nothing more than to call her and ask her to be with me today but I forced myself to accept her wishes. She didn’t want to be here today and I wouldn’t make her. She has questions and I’m not sure I can provide her with answers.
I just had to get through today, then I would call my girl and apologize and make things right. No part of me was expecting to see her. And especially not with my Asher.
My stepson looks from me to Juliette, whose face is as white as a ghost. What the hell is going on?
“You two know each other?” Asher questions.
I’m about to open my mouth to tell him just how well we know each other but Juliette cuts in before I can speak.
“Yes, I’m the twins’ live-in nanny.”
Asher’s eyes widen at that while my eyes cut to her. What the fuck was that?
“A nanny? Why the hell are you a nanny?” Asher asks.
“Asher,” Juliette breathes, “I can explain. And I will, but I need to go home, okay? I really don’t feel well.”
He gives me a look and a shrug before walking toward her but I step in front of him and face her.
“We need to talk. Asher, I’m going to borrow your date for a moment,” I tell him, gritting my teeth as I say the word “date.”
He looks like he wants to argue but he must notice how serious this is from the expression on my face. He gives me a nod before heading into the party, leaving Juliette and me alone. I wait for her to meet my eye but she keeps her gaze down to the ground. With a growl, I grab her hand and begin pulling her toward a supply closet so we can have a conversation in private.
As soon as we’re in there, Juliette rips her hand out of mine.
“What’s going on? How do you know Asher?” I question.
She takes a deep breath before looking away and pacing the small length of the closet.
“Juliette,” I call impatiently.
“Calm down, Xander. I’m trying to think,” she says sharply.
My eyes narrow but I try not to overreact. “Just tell me how the hell you know him,” I snap.
She groans and rubs her hand over her face. The action draws my attention to the dress she’s wearing. It’s a silver, floor-length gown with a slit on the side running up to her mid-thigh. It’s sexy as hell.
“He’s my ex-boyfriend,” she finally says on a sigh.
My head snaps up. “What?!” I yell.
Juliette grimaces. “I swear I don’t know how this happened. I met Asher about six years ago and we dated for a year before he broke up with me.”
“He’s the boyfriend you refused to talk about?” I ask, as my chest threatens to cave onto my heart. Juliette nods.
