Chapter 17 #2
After we returned to our Airbnb for the night, Juliette and I sat outside for a bit to gaze at the stars. I’d lit the firepit, which counteracted the chill in the air. We sat together in the same lounge chair, Juliette resting her back against my chest.
“This is the most peaceful I’ve felt since Ortigia,” she said.
“That’s sort of what I was going for.” I kissed the back of her head. “I wanted to give you a little bit of that peace back, since our Italy trip was cut short.”
She sighed. “Maybe we just need to keep running from reality.” She turned around to face me. “I can’t imagine going through this without you, Wes.” She chuckled. “And I don’t know what my father was thinking, sending you and expecting me not to fall…” She hesitated.
Even though Juliette stopped short of actually saying the word love, her admission shocked me, although it probably shouldn’t have; I was falling, too. Before I could conjure a response, Juliette shook her head. “I didn’t mean to, um…” She exhaled.
Even in the darkness, I could see her face turn red as she waited for my reaction. And yet, I couldn’t find the words. More than that, I wasn’t sure if it was wise to unleash them, afraid to give her false hope in what seemed like a hopeless predicament.
I’d let the silence go on too long before I stammered, “Juliette, I—”
“I’m gonna go shower,” she said, getting up before I could respond.
Shit. My heart ached as I continued to sit outside by the fire.
I couldn’t let her go to sleep tonight thinking I didn’t feel the same way about her.
If anything, my feelings for Juliette might’ve even been stronger than hers were for me.
I just hadn’t categorized it as love because I couldn’t dare go there.
But that was a protective mechanism and had no bearing on how I actually felt about her.
She was already in bed when I went into the house. I took a quick shower and gathered my thoughts as the warm water rained down on me. But I knew there was no way to rehearse this. I needed to speak from the heart and hope I didn’t sound like a blubbering idiot.
After, I slipped into bed and wrapped my arms around her from behind. Juliette’s body went rigid at my touch. She was so damn tense, and I didn’t have to wonder why.
“You’re not the only one, Juliette,” I whispered. “I’ve never felt this way about anyone.”
She turned to face me and placed a gentle kiss on my lips. But when she pulled back, I noticed a look of worry in her eyes, as if somehow in the time she’d spent lying in bed alone, she’d realized a little of what I was already concerned about.
***
The following morning, the tension from the night before had thankfully dissipated.
After mind-blowing morning sex, Juliette and I had coffee together out on the patio, flanked by palm trees and a cool morning breeze.
We decided to try a breakfast place that had great reviews online.
The outdoor seating area was crowded by the time we got there. Once we found a table, Juliette ordered the chocolate chip pancakes while I opted for eggs, bacon, and toast.
We were in the middle of our meal when I spotted what looked like a man holding a camera in the nearby bushes. The lens seemed to be aimed straight at us.
Adrenaline raced through me. “Stay right here,” I told Juliette as I got up. My eardrums throbbed as I stalked toward the bushes. “What the fuck are you doing?” I yelled as I jumped him, ripping the camera out of his hands and placing him in a chokehold.
“Get off me!” He coughed.
He couldn’t have been more than twenty-two and looked like he was about to shit his pants.
“Not until you tell me what you were doing taking photos of us,” I seethed. “Did Vince hire you?” I let him go long enough to speak.
“Who the fuck is Vince?” He panted. “And I wasn’t taking photos of you! See for yourself.”
I scrolled through his camera, and sure enough, all the photos were of the couple seated behind us. My breathing calmed, and I felt a bit stupid, to be honest.
“I was hired to take photos of Lindsay Appleton,” he said. “You know…the actress.”
I vaguely recalled her as an up-and-coming star.
My shoulders slumped. “Man, I’m sorry.”
“Who the hell are you? And why should I be taking photos of you anyway?”
I shook my head. “You don’t want to know.” I handed him back the camera, then reached into my wallet and took out a hundred-dollar bill. I offered it to him. “We good?”
He took it and ran a hand through his hair. “Yeah, man.”
Hanging my head in shame, I returned to the table where Juliette waited with fear in her eyes.
“What the hell just happened, Wes?”
“It’s all good. It was a false alarm,” I muttered, shoveling some eggs into my mouth.
“Explain,” she demanded.
I put my fork down and sighed. “I thought someone was taking photos of you and me. I assumed your father had hired someone.” I lowered my voice. “But Lindsay Appleton is at the table behind us. That’s who the guy was snapping.”
Juliette turned around. “Oh my God. I had no idea.” She chuckled. “I guess we’re not that important.”
I shook my head. “I was sure Vince had us followed.”
“Well, better a camera than a gun?” She arched her brow.
I glared at her.
“Too soon?” She reached out her hand. “I’m sorry that happened. We’d been having such a peaceful morning.”
As long as Juliette’s life was in my hands, I could never let my guard down. I needed to remember that. One slip, and we could both end up dead.