Chapter 8 - Liam
T hree days later, I’m still trying to figure out how to fix my fuck-up with Juliana.
I can’t focus on anything else. I hate this.
We never fight. When I texted an apology, she said I was forgiven but also said she was looking forward to being in her own home again and wanted some space.
She didn’t even let me take her out to dinner for her birthday that evening.
“Mr. Culver? Mr. Culver wishes to see you in his office before you leave.”
I manage not to groan at Ms. Dawes, my father’s punctilious, though beautiful, assistant for interrupting my spiral as the work day is nearly done. “What does he want?”
“Mr. Culver didn’t share that with me, Mr. Culver.” She has a ridiculous aversion to first names, but she enjoys the perks of being his assistant. I wish I didn’t know so much about what those so-called perks entail.
Strolling into my father’s office, I find him drinking. From the looks of things, he’s been at it for a while. He never used to drink like this at the office, and that glare tells me he’s in a foul mood.
My stomach muscles clench as memories from childhood try to rise to the surface, but I shove them down. I’m not a little boy hiding behind his big brothers anymore. “You wanted to see me, Dad?”
“I hear your sister’s back in town.”
“Yes, she is.” He scowls, waiting for me to elaborate. I don’t. A woman’s personal business is her business, and that’s as true for my sister as much as anyone.
“Did she come to you for money?” The bulk of our trust fund money was set up so that we couldn’t access it until we turn thirty.
Ivy and I aren’t quite there yet. It bugs the shit out of Dad that Ethan and Dean got theirs before he decided he’d rather have disowned them.
Not that Dean even accepted it to begin with.
“No, she did not.”
“No?” he repeats, angrily, before a sly grin forms. “She’s probably gone crawling to Dean, hasn’t she? He’d support her just to anger me, the ungrateful bastard.”
“Dean’s not a bastard. Did you wish to discuss something related to work, Dad?” I ask, trying to redirect the conversation. It doesn’t work.
“I hope you told her I’ve not changed my mind about her trust fund. She won’t see a dime of it until she comes to me on her knees and explains what she’s been doing beyond whoring around Europe for the past few years and breaking her mother’s heart.”
“Don’t talk about my sister that way, and I wasn’t aware you were all that concerned about Mom’s heart.”
“Watch it,” he warns, taking another sip of his drink before he finally gives up on prying information about Ivy from me. “The new library for the university, did your architect friend give us something decent to share with the client? You seem to favor her a good deal with contracts.”
My heart aches at the mention of Juliana, but that’s not something I’d ever share with my father. He’s bad enough about meddling as it is. “Yes, Ms. Davenport sent them over, and there’s no favoritism. Her work is selected because it’s the best. She’s the most talented architect we work with.”
“What do you have against her ex-husband? We used to work with him a good deal.”
“Because Juliana did the bulk of the work for his firm back then. Things change.”
“Don’t think I don’t see the way you look at her,” he mutters into his glass. I choose to ignore that remark. “I want to see the plans.”
Fucking hell, he’s the CEO. The university library project isn’t really something that concerns him.
He just wants to bust my balls tonight. But, I rein in my frustration for the sake of harmony.
“I’ll have my assistant send Ms. Dawes an update on the project tomorrow if you like, but I’m heading out now. ”
“To that club of yours?” He hates that I have something of my own, but he’s also dug around enough to know how well Sable’s doing. His love of Culvers making money outranks his desire to keep me completely dependent on him.
“No, the club isn’t open tonight. I’ve got plans with friends.”
“Juliana again?” he asks, his knowing tone dripping with innuendo that I don’t appreciate while it also lances my heart.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” I reply, refusing to share a single piece of her or how I spend my time.
He gives me a dismissive nod, telling me to send Ms. Dawes in before returning to his scotch and anger.
Every day, it gets harder to be here, but it’s the family business I’ve been expected to be a part of since birth.
Dean and Ivy never wanted it. Ethan left, but I’m still here.
And, there’s still my mother to consider.
How can I cut him out of my life without cutting her off, too?
∞∞∞
I usually enjoy a night out at Twisted Anchor with my friends, our favorite hangout since college.
They have very different personalities, but the three of us have always clicked.
We’ve grown up a lot since those college days, but we’re still coming to this tavern one night a week, enjoying a few beers together… while on the prowl for female company.
Tonight, however, I wish I’d stayed home even if my place feels so damn empty since she stormed off to work the morning of her birthday, taking her things with her.
“So, have you kissed enough ass yet?”
“I assume you’re not referring to my father and work,” I say to Hudson as the server drops off another round. I’m glad not to see that new girl from a few weeks ago. I still get pissed off when I think of how she embarrassed Juliana with her stupidity.
“You know I meant with Juliana.”
“No, not yet.” I told them we had a disagreement - I could hardly hide the fact - but I didn’t tell them what it was about.
“Give the man a break,” Santi says. “They’ll sort it out eventually.”
“I hope so,” I sigh. They both pat me on the shoulder, a silent commiseration I probably don’t deserve.
I still don’t know what to make of her request, but I was fucking insensitive, shutting her down that way when she put herself in a vulnerable position by asking me for something so significant.
“Why is this so goddamn painful?” I grumble.
“It’s not like I’ve never argued with a friend before. ”
“Because you’re in love with her,” Hudson says as if it’s evident while meticulously peeling the foil from his beer bottle. It reminds me of Juliana peeling the wrapper from her cupcake. My heart fucking hurts.
“I love her as a friend,” I clarify. My friends simply stare at me. They might see through my bullshit, but I’m not admitting anything. Fuck that. She doesn’t want me and that’s how it is. “How long do I give her space? How long do friend fights last?”
“Well, based on the ones we’ve had when we were younger, they last until you trade a few punches to get the bad blood out of your system.”
“He’s not going to punch Juliana. We’d both kick his ass if he did,” Santi drawls. “On another topic, where were you last week? You said you had a surprise for us.”
I have to mentally scroll back a ways to even remember.
I’ve only been focused on Juliana, our fight and what she asked of me.
“Right… uh, I wound up going to a different bar.” Ivy had originally agreed to meet me at Twisted Anchor but, when I mentioned how often I still came here, she suggested a different place.
“Did you meet anyone there?” Hudson asks .
“Yeah, but I already knew her.”
“Is she hot?” Santi asks, his own curiosity peaked.
“Not to me.” Their bewilderment would be funny if I was in a better mood. “It was Ivy.”
They stare at me for a full minute and I wonder if maybe Ivy would’ve preferred to announce her return to San Francisco in her own time. But, I figured with the guys it would be alright.
Santi unfreezes first, taking in Hudson’s wooden expression before saying, “Wow, that’s, um… definitely a surprise.”
“Excuse me,” Hudson clips, throwing down some cash and walking straight out of the bar. He doesn’t return.
∞∞∞
An hour later, I’m almost home after Santi and I finally got Hudson to answer a text. His brisk reply - Something came up - sounds fishy as hell but I suppose he’s got a right to feel his own feelings about it. After years of friendship, my sister took off without a word to them.
As my headlights pan across the house, I spy Juliana standing on my front porch.
I throw the car in park and jump out. These past few days have been utter hell.
All I can think of is getting to her, begging for her forgiveness and promising her a baby and the moon, too, if she wants that.
As I’m racing up the walk, I can see unshed tears glittering in her eyes.
“Jules?” I breathe. Did something bad happen at her house again?
“Hi, Liam,” she murmurs. “I was going to send a text but hoped you might be home soon.”
“I”m here. What are you doing here?”
“We’re supposed to go to something together tomorrow, and I don’t know what to wear.”
Shit, Grant and Daisy’s vow renewal, something else I’ve forgotten about entirely while I’ve been in agony over her. “You don’t have to come with me if you don’t want to.”
She holds her hand up, silencing me. “I wanted space. You’ve respected my wishes. I don’t want the space anymore. I want to be with my best friend. I want free champagne tomorrow, too.” She shrugs, giving me that crooked grin I adore. “I’m in a real pickle.”
I lift her up in my arms, squeezing her tightly, and it’s like I can finally draw a deep breath after having my head underwater for too long. “I’m so sorry, honey. I’m sorry for how I reacted.” I never want to let her go again.
“I know. I’m sorry, too. I dumped it on you, completely without warning, and then I got defensive so quick. I regret all of it.”
“Not as much as me.”
“I guess we had our first fight,” she says, hugging me tighter.
“Yeah, we did.You won.”
“It didn’t feel like winning, but I like the idea of making up,” she whispers in my ear.
I shudder with relief. It’s scary how much I needed her back.
I never imagined I’d need anyone the way I need Juliana.
“Wanna come inside with me? We can make grilled cheese sandwiches and watch Lizzie and Darcy bicker instead,” I suggest, trying to sound calm when I set her back on her feet at last.
I’m still clutching her hand when she sighs happily and nods. I love her so much. Any way she wants me in her life, it’s where I plan to be. I’ll give her a dozen babies if she wants them.