Jain
Jain
T he banging on the door woke me, and I blinked the sleepiness away with confusion. My head ached, my body ached, but the strong arms I woke up in was such a source of comfort I almost fell back to sleep.
“Jain!”
The roar of my name made me sit bolt upright and curse under my breath. My heart was in my throat as I jumped out of bed, desperately trying to pull my clothes on.
Then I remembered they were downstairs.
“Is that Julian?” Evan yawned, swinging his legs calmly out of bed.
“Yes! Evan, shit. Stay here—let me just— Evan !”
Evan had tugged on his joggers, stopping at the door to look at me.
“Actions have consequences. Is Julian a violent man?”
“What?” I spluttered, seizing a robe from the bathroom door across from the bed.
“I’ll go and answer the door. Be calm. This won’t be easy. I love you, ok? ”
I nodded, my hand shaking as he walked away from me, a steely look in his eyes. This was something I did not want to see but had to. I ran down the stairs, hearing the door open, and Julian stormed in angrily.
“Where’s Jain?” Julian barked, his eyes narrowing when he saw me. The air left my body when he gazed at me, taking in the wine glasses on the table, the pile of clothes on the floor. He clenched his jaw before looking at Evan with rage.
“I’m hoping one of you has a good explanation for what I see here,” he spat as Evan folded his arms. “Because the last I knew, Jain, we were getting married in eight days.”
I was crying, and yet no sound came out. I couldn’t even offer him an explanation.
“What is this? One last fling? What the fuck is this, Jain?!” Julian shouted, and I finally found my voice when Evan stepped forward his face stern.
“Shit, I’m sorry, Julian.” I felt better for speaking, but Julian didn’t.
My stomach churned when Julian’s lip curled with disgust. “He was your teacher ! Is this some sort of sick fantasy?”
Fuck.
Julian’s eyes were wild with anger, yet I tried to understand his reaction.
“Julian, I’m leaving you.”
The words left my mouth robotically, and I clamped a hand to my mouth with surprise.
There was a stunned silence as Evan moved to be beside me, wrapping his arm around me as I inhaled.
Julian lifted his eyes to mine, his teeth gritting together as he pointed the finger at me.
“What? Are you fucking kidding me? ”
“If you let me get dressed, I’ll talk to you properly—” I stammered as he glared at me.
“Like you should’ve done before you fucked him, you slut!” Julian roared, stepping forward as Evan moved me behind him.
“No, this is my fight,” I argued, moving back in front of Evan as Julian stared at me in disgust.
“You were planning on telling me, weren’t you? Or were you going to jilt me at the fucking altar?!”
Julian breathed heavily, and my hands shook when he turned towards the door.
“I have to ask you something,” Julian asked, his breaths ragged with rage as he stared at both of us. “When was the first time? Was it last night?”
I dropped my gaze and felt my cheeks flame. I had never been a good liar.
“Will one of you fucking answer me?” Julian snapped, and I took a deep breath.
“Evan was Lee,” I confessed, knowing this was going to end everything as I knew it.
Julian did a double-take before he covered his eyes and almost fell to his knees. Evan frowned at me curiously as I stared at Julian with despair.
“I’m so sorry,” I whispered as Julian looked at me with tears in his eyes.
“You should’ve told me. Instead, you told me he was dead , Jain. I can’t—I just...I have to go.”
Julian walked out of the door blindly as I ran after him, Evan close behind me.
“Julian! I’m sorry. I do love you. I just can’t be with you.” I sobbed as he turned to look at me, his choked sobs killing me inside.
I never wanted to hurt him.
“No, clearly not. Did you think of me at all? How worried I was when you didn’t come home? No? Just...leave me alone. You’re not who I thought you were, Jain.”
Julian turned and got into his car, sending me a devastated look as he did. It wasn’t until he drove off that I let my emotions out, turning to see Evan staring at me with concern.
“Who the fuck is Lee, and why did you tell him I was dead?”
I closed my eyes, knowing I had another round of explaining to do.
“Could I just grab a coffee and some clothes? Then I will explain, I promise.”
Evan nodded, but his eyes told me something had changed, and I prayed it wasn’t anything to do with us.
I couldn’t deal with that. Ever.