to have an important discussion regarding our future.
Clasping my knees together beneath the table, I’m unable to make eye contact with Julian. I have no clue how to begin ending things with him. My mind is a train wreck of emotions from a terrible week of no sleep and too much alcohol.
As my hand lays flat against the pristine white tablecloth, he places his own on top, a glimmer of hope sparkling in his eyes as our gaze finally meets.
“Julian, we need to talk about us.”
He leans in, cupping my cheek. A familiar touch of warmth but no longer the touch I crave. The guilt of my indiscretions allows his hand to linger longer than necessary, knowing this will be the last time he touches me, and most likely the last time he’ll look at me lovingly.
It is now or never.
I have to tell him it’s over.
I know where my heart belongs despite the hurt and humiliation plaguing me each time I remember the last time Lex and I were together.
I study his face, almost as if we will never cross paths again, admiring his hazel eyes, the way they comfort me and make me feel secure. Everything about us was so easy before Lex walked back into my life. We have no past to haunt us, and until that day in the restaurant, there was no one else between us or meddling with our relationship. It was just all us, and if the universe worked differently, it probably still would have been only us.
As he tilts his head and leans forward to kiss me, a faint smile plays on my lips as I allow myself a moment of closure. Julian will always be the beautiful man who swept me off my feet, and no matter what happens from this moment onward, we’ll always have those memories.
He deserves better, and even though I’m going to hurt him by ending what we have, one day he’ll look back and thank me. Maybe not now, but one day, one person will love him and only him.
My train of thought is interrupted by a loud commotion. As I turn my head toward the sound, my mouth drops at the sight in front of me.
Lex.
He’s standing beside our table with an attractive blonde.
Wait, is that Kate?
What the hell?
It all falls into place.
The flying back and forth coincidentally with Lex’s time here.
The controlling hot boss with a fucked-up love life, pining for this one woman.
My posture stiffens, frozen and unable to move from the enormity of this discovery. A heavy feeling erupts inside my stomach, making me queasy and breathless while I sit here completely silent with no words. I can’t believe this is happening. Why didn’t I see the signs? Her voice rings in my head. It’s not his fault he lost the woman he loves.
“Kate?”
“Charlie?” she gasps.
“How do you know Kate?” Lex barks, interrupting us.
My eyes dart between Kate and Lex. Undoubtedly, he looks like beautiful hell. No matter the pain he bestows upon me, I can’t deny my heart begging for him. His normally bright eyes are dull, almost lifeless. My eyes are drawn to his unkempt beard—unruly and very unlike him. Despite my reluctance to paint this picture of him inside my head that what happened didn’t affect him whatsoever, I’d be stupid to deny that the man standing beside me is suffering much like me.
Kate clasps her hand over her mouth as the realization of the situation sets in.
Lex asks why I haven’t returned any of his calls, raising his voice at me without a care in the world that everyone is watching us, including Julian. His overpowering alpha trait is rearing its ugly head like I’ve seen a dozen times before. The need to control this situation is the only thing on Lex’s mind, and jealousy is fueling his anger right now.
With a slow and disbelieving head shake, the color drains from Julian’s face. The pain etched all over him only cements my guilt, and as I go to apologize to Julian, his head jolts up, the momentary pained expression turns maddening. With his eyes burning like wildfire and nostrils flaring like a bull ready to attack, he stands, warning Lex to back off.
My hands begin to tremble, dreading the two men standing face to face in a stand-off in front of everyone.
It all happens so fast.
Lex punches Julian square in the face, Julian stumbles as he is knocked back, the blood pouring from his face splattering all over