Chapter 46
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
Leena
Cracking open bleary eyes, a water bottle and pain killers sitting on my night stand come slowly into focus.
I lift my head and squint. I don’t understand right away why it's farther away than I’ve become accustomed to since Julian has taken up residence in my bed.
Rubbing my scratchy eyes—surprised to find them free of mascara—I turn to look at his side of the bed.
Groaning, I take in the sinewy expanse of Julian’s back. He’s laying on his side, facing away from me, because I’m starfishing face down in the middle of the bed, crowding him to the edge.
Passing out in the Uber was not how I had hoped last night would end. But it appears that is exactly what happened because I can’t remember anything after saying I’d behave.
I flop onto my back on my empty side of the bed, wincing at the dull throb in my temples. I drag my hands up to massage them, only to feel the fabric on my head. The silk bonnet I wear to bed is sitting in its place.
Movement next to me causes my head to turn. My rolling over—or groan I made moments ago—must have roused Julian from slumber because he rolls onto his back too, lifting his head to look at me. He greets me with a small chuffed laugh and lifted brow. He opens his arm to me in silent invitation.
With a mortified titter, I cuddle into him. “What happened last night?”
“You mean you don’t remember passing out in the Uber, trying to climb out on your own when we got home, and almost falling face first out of the car?
” He can’t disguise the mirth in his voice.
My groan has him openly chuckling. “I carried you inside and helped you to bed,” he murmurs against my forehead before pressing a kiss there.
“And washed my face and put my bonnet on, too,” I grumpily tack on. Then suddenly, I push up on my elbow. “Charlie?” I ask, tone urgent.
“She’s okay. I made sure she got to bed with water and medicine, too.” He gently pulls me back into his side.
“I’m usually the one helping everyone to bed, making sure they’re well hydrated with more water and pain killers.”
“You can’t always be the person taking care of everyone,” he tells me.
I give an aggrieved grunt.
Softly and so sweetly, Julian says, “Let me be the one to take care of you, baby. I want to.”
I place a kiss to his chest, over his heart. Looking into his eyes, I whisper against his skin, “You’re spoiling me, you know that?”
“Good.” After a few minutes of peaceful silence, he asks, “Do you think you’re feeling well enough for lunch with Quinn still?”
“Of course. I’d love nothing more.”
Because it was this man who did all these things, I’ve not once worried if he would be mad about last night or upset he had to be the caretaker. If anything, he has been even more attentive and affectionate. I love it—and him—so much.
Despite his objections, I rush to get ready. I’m actually really excited to see Quinn before she leaves. We make it to the condo before lunch time.
But, she’s already gone.
Julian leaves his bedroom with his phone to his ear. After a few moments, he ends the call and starts typing away. “The bed is made and the room is just how I left it,” he tells me, his voice thick with worry.
Jace comes down the hallway then, coming to an abrupt stop when he sees us and drops a laundry basket, scattering clothes at his feet. He hurries to gather everything.
“Do you happen to know what time Quinn left? She didn’t call or text to cancel lunch.”
Julian is distracted, still looking at his phone so he doesn’t see Jace shove a sparkly red piece of fabric deeper into the basket, burying it under some of the other clothes. But I do.
His eyes flick up and he catches me staring at him wide-eyed. Dropping his eyes to the basket in his arm and back to me, he shifts uncomfortably. Avoiding my eyes, he turns to Julian and scoots around him as he answers, “Nope, she was gone when I woke up.”
“Was she okay last night? Did she get sick or anything when you guys made it back here?” Julian presses his best friend.
Jace shakes his head slowly, but I don’t think Julian notices how the tips of his friend’s ears turn red.
Releasing a pent-up breath, Julian drops his hand with the phone down to his side and lifts his head to us. “She just responded. She remembered a study group she had this afternoon. Wanted to get a few things done around her place beforehand.”
Relief floods Julian’s face, erasing all his worry about his sister. But my shoulders tighten as I think about what I’ve just witnessed and the deductions my brain is making of the whole situation.
Do I tell him? Will he flip if I’m right about his friend possibly hooking up with his sister? How do I tell him? When do I tell him?
My runaway thoughts are interrupted. “Last night catching up to you, pretty girl?” Julian cups the nape of my neck, lightly kneading with his fingers.
“Yeah, maybe.”
I just lied to him. But I’m not sure what else to do.