Chapter 53
CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE
Leena
Cocooned in the comforting warmth of Julian’s arms, I realize I’m still smiling when I wake up. Our nap has left me feeling more rested than I have felt since we went to Jace’s condo and found Quinn had left early. The day I accidentally saw him hurriedly tuck away her shirt, guilty AF.
I snort at my internal pop culture slang.
But just as quickly, the smile slips from my face. Thinking about that day and how I closed in on myself, alienating and hurting Julian, I know we still have a few things to resolve.
“What’s so funny?” His groggy whisper against the shell of my ear sends shivers down my back. But my renewed guilt swiftly replaces my rising lust.
Sitting up and scooting to rest my back against the headboard, I hold the covers to my chest. Julian does the same solemnly.
“We still need to talk about the Quinn thing.” Even bringing it up makes me grimace.
He grabs my fidgeting hands and pulls one into his lap. We both fixate on our linked fingers.
Out of the corner of my eyes, I see him take a deep breath and turn his head to me.
“You said you think you found something out about Quinn. And it’s had me thinking .
. . You were fine when we got up the next morning after you hung out with her.
It wasn’t until after we went to the condo that you started to withdraw. ”
Curious what he has deduced from the situation, I roll my head along the headboard to look at him.
“I’m guessing it has to do with Jace, and I might have a guess what you think you found out,” he says this with a wince. Swallowing, he goes on, “If you want to tell me, I promise I won’t fly off the handle.”
I’ve been so torn over what I should do about what I think happened between Quinn and Jace. The little of him I’ve gotten to know, Jace seems like a good guy who wouldn’t intentionally hurt Quinn. But knowing Julian is a very level-headed man, I decide to tell him.
“I think Jace and Quinn may have hooked up that night after the bar.” Julian winces again as I stumble over my words.
“I thought I had picked up on something between them when we all had dinner with your parents, but it was so fleeting, and I was so nervous that I was sure I was imagining things. But when we went to the condo to meet her for lunch, as you were trying to get a hold of her, Jace dropped the basket of clothes he was holding.” Pausing to take a gulp of air, I quickly push out the rest. “I recognized Quinn’s sequin top in the mess.
He rushed to hide it and was oozing guilty-conscience vibes. ”
“Huh. Yeah, that was along the lines of what I had guessed.” He seems a little dazed, nodding his head repeatedly.
“If something did happen, they obviously both don’t want you to know about it.”
Biting my lip, I give him a few moments to continue processing.
“Well, I can see why you were struggling.” Finally looking up at me, I release the breath I didn’t know I was holding. Julian really does just go with the flow.
“But you’re right—if something did happen, they want to keep it to themselves.
And I have to respect that. Quinn is a big girl and can make her own choices, like who she might hook up with.
” He tips his head back with a grimace. “As for Jace, I really don’t like the thought of him having a one-night stand with my sister, but I’ve known him most of my life, and he’s a good guy.
I don’t think he’d risk our friendship by not treating her right or doing something that wasn’t consensual. ”
“What are you going to do then? He knows I saw her shirt and probably thinks I told you.”
Shrugging his shoulders, he says, “Unless one of them brings it up, I’ll act as if I know nothing.”
Stupefied, I watch him quietly before bursting out, “God, how are you so calm all the time? Especially about your sister! I saw the way you and your dad dote on her, and you said your brothers are the same way.”
Julian looks at me blankly. I was losing my mind over this and he’s so nonchalant. Shaking my hand in his to jostle his arm, I start lamenting out loud, “I can’t see either of them any time soon. It will be all over my face. And you’ll be calm as can be. I know it. Ugh!”
Putting his arm around my shoulder, he pulls me close and kisses my forehead. “Pretty girl, you were well on your way to making yourself sick over it. But now I know. It’s okay, we’re okay, they are okay. So we need to just not dwell on it.”
I harrumph.
Whispering in my ear, he says, “Besides, focusing on us is so much more fun.”
Giggling as he rolls on top of me, I stutter out, “I guess you’re right.”