Catherine’s POV
"Girl, you don’t understand how lucky you are," Tessa leaned closer across the cafeteria table, her voice a dramatic whisper that didn’t match the huge grin on her face. "Two hot stepbrothers? Like how is that not a dream co true? I’d die for that."
I scoffed so hard my drink almost ca out of my nose. "Be careful what you wish for."
She raised a brow. "What, they’re not nice?"
"Nice?" I let out a bitter laugh. "Julian acts like I personally ruined his life by existing under the sa roof, and Gabriel..." I hesitated, swirling my straw around the lting ice. "Gabriel is cool. He’s quiet but if you piss him off, forget it, he’ll freeze you out like you don’t exist."
Tessa’s eyes sparkled. "Okay, but that’s still better than my brother who’s not even cute, steals my shampoo, and eats all my fries."
I couldn’t help laughing. "Believe when I say it’s not."
"Still though," she said, resting her chin in her hand. "If I had guys that looked like that living with , I’d have no complaints."
"Tessa," I said dryly, "it’s not as glamorous as you think."
She rolled her eyes like she really didn’t care. "So tell ..." she started and I knew she was about to say sothing that would annoy . "What does Julian look like without clothes?"
WTF?! My eyes flew wide open. Why on earth would she ask sothing like that!
"Tessa!"
"Are you crazy?"
"What now?" She asked, giving an innocent look. "Don’t pretend you do not have a crush on him like the rest of us do. Julian is so handso and hot."
I continued to stare at her in shock.
"Co on, give an answer. Since I don’t stand a chance with him, at least I get to be able to dream about him."
I shook my head and stood up. "I take my question back.."
"Of course, you should," she interrupted.
With a hard glare, I grabbed my snack. "Because, you are in fact crazy," I completed and started leaving but she ran after . "Don’t leave without answering ."
I picked up on my pace, with hopes that she would give up and stop following . Oh my goodness! She was one impossible human.
—
School ended with avoiding Tessa and Gabriel still not talking to , even while he drove ho.
When he parked in the driveway, I hesitated before unbuckling my seatbelt. "Aren’t you coming in?" I asked softly, bending toward the open window.
He didn’t look at . "No, I’m going out with my friends. I’ll be back later."
I nodded, pretending that the tiny response didn’t an the world. "Okay. Drive safe."
He gave a short nod before driving off, the taillights fading into the street.
For a split second, I smiled at the fact that he didn’t ignoring my question. It didn’t an much but it was sothing.
Inside, Mara greeted from the hallway. "Welco ho, Catherine. Would you like sothing to eat?"
I shook my head. "No, thank you. I’m exhausted. I just need to lie down."
"Of course. Dinner will be ready when you want it."
I climbed the stairs, dragging my backpack behind . The second I entered my room, I didn’t even bother with the lights. I threw myself face-first onto the bed and let out a low, muffled groan into my pillow.
Everything felt like too much. I rolled onto my back, staring up at the ceiling fan as it spun lazily. "God," I muttered, "is it too early for a ntal breakdown?"
My phone buzzed beside . Finally, a distraction. I grabbed it and instantly, my network went off.
I groaned louder. "Seriously?!"
Tossing the phone aside, I sat up sharply, hair falling into my face. I needed to get out of this suffocating room. Maybe the hallway would have a better signal.
I stord out, yanking my charger out of the socket as I went, then bam. I collided with sothing solid.
No, soone.
Strong hands caught before I stumbled backward.
"Careful," his calm voice said.
My head snapped up. Julian was standing there, close enough for to sll the faint trace of smoke on him.
His eyes, which usually held irritation whenever he saw , looked oddly soft.
I blinked, waiting for the usual insult, the snide comnt about being "clumsy" or "always in the way."
But instead, he quietly said, "Sorry."
I froze. "Huh?"
He released , straightening his shirt like it was nothing. "I said sorry. You okay?"
And then he walked off, like it wasn’t the most shocking thing that had ever co out of his mouth.
I just stood there, staring after him.
Julian Vaughn apologizing to ? No fucking way on earth!
"What the hell," I whispered under my breath.
By the ti I snapped out of it, he was halfway down the hall. My brain told to leave it alone, but my mouth had other plans.
"Julian!" I called, chasing after him before he could close his door.
He stopped, turned halfway, with an unreadable expression. "Yeah?"
My words stumbled out like they were tripping over each other. "I—uh—nothing. I just..."
He tilted his head. "You just what?"
"Don’t go in yet."
He raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "Why not?"
"Because I... I wanted to apologize."
That earned a soft chuckle. "For what?"
"For what I said at breakfast. I shouldn’t have talked about your mom like that. It was cruel and—"
"It’s fine." His tone was oddly gentle.
I blinked. "What?"
He took a step closer. "You were right to be upset. If I hadn’t disrespected your mother, you wouldn’t have said those things. So, if anyone owes an apology, it’s ."
No. This couldn’t be real. Soone had to wake up from this dream or whatever this was.
Julian never apologized. He was always ready to attack, provoke or mock but this calm and disarmingly polite version of him felt like a stranger wearing his face.
"You’re... not angry?" I asked hesitantly.
He gave a small smile. "No, Catherine. I’m not angry."
Sothing fluttered in my chest, more like confusion. "Oh," I said, grinning stupidly. "Cool."
I started backing away, smiling like an idiot but too dazed to care. He smiled back.
By the ti I turned and hurried to my room, my heart was hamring against my ribs, my mind a ss of disbelief and giddy relief.
Julian had just said sorry and smiled at .
And for reasons I didn’t want to admit, that smile stayed with long after I closed my door.
Reviews
All reviews (0)