Chapter 34
Neither of us have spoken since I touched her bare skin. I’ve touched her before but this felt different, very intimate. Like a lover stroking their most precious lover’s skin so they can feel their touch and let it linger.
We’re almost there but my mind is focused on something else, yes, it’s the mayor’s charity event and yes, I should have warned her but there was too much going on.
Juliana thinks I forgot about her because of Mia but if anything, being around Mia has made me hyper-aware of Juliana. Mia is everything Juliana isn’t and my brain is pushing me to say that’s even better but something else is debunking it.
“What are the rules?” Juliana interrupts my thoughts.
“Rules for what?”
The confusion is clear on both of our faces but for different reasons.
“For this.” She points past me and it clicks that we’ve arrived. I didn’t hear a single thing.
“Hmm,” I glare at her as best as I can to mask whatever else is trying to come to the surface.
“Let me guess, rule number one, I can’t leave your side. Two, I’m representing you so I have to act accordingly. Three, I have to remind them that I don’t hate you. Four, school my face and five, don’t speak about any important charities?”
This causes me to smirk almost letting out a chuckle but I clear my throat catching myself.
“I didn’t say you couldn’t speak about any important charities. Go ahead and mingle, just know that if you do something wrong, I’ll know.”
“So I’m on a very tight leash then, got it.”
Juliana slightly rolls her eyes and it doesn’t piss me off like it used to, I just find it amusing now. Her attitude is making her stronger and she’s standing up for herself more, good.
The only downside to this is… when will I let her go?
We exit out of the car and I walk her way to slip my hand into hers.
As we walk, there are flashing lights everywhere courtesy to the paparazzi trying to figure out how we’re both still able to stand by each other after what she did.
There are some trying to ask questions or flag us down but we continue until we’re inside of the grand hall.
“Welcome, Mr and Mrs Crowne, please follow me this way to your table.”
We reach our table where the mayor, his wife, and other members of parliament are sitting. We greet each other then I pull out Juliana’s chair. She sits and I tuck her chair in softly. There was a temptation to do it harshly but again, something is stopping me.
There are two empty chairs on the right of me but I don’t have to look up to know it’s Mia and Cassius now occupying them. He decided to take her as his date for this, for shits and giggles.
“Ricky, darling.” She practically moans out my name getting the attention of the entire table, Juliana included.
It used to be sexy to me but I don’t care for it much now.
“Mia,” I can’t help but smile when I see her.
She was my best friend before we dated and we did our best to restore the friendship after. It was hard but it was worth it.
She kisses both my cheeks and semi-glares at Juliana then catches herself because she notices I’m looking.
“Hello, Juli, nice to meet you. I’ve heard so much about you from Ricky.”
Juliana barely smiles.
“Hello, I prefer Juliana. Hopefully good things?” She asks and she smiles this time.
“I said nothing.”
Juliana scoffs and gives her attention to the young judge Markem sitting next to her. Leaning into her ear, I whisper the last rule.
“Rule six, if any man tries to touch you like I did earlier, I will break his fucking arm and make sure everyone knows I did it because I’m a fucking crazy husband.”
Juliana sucks in a sharp breath and her skin flushes. My body is too close to hers and I can notice things I don’t need to notice. Clearing my throat, I sit back and both Cassius and Mia are giving me a look.
Two different looks but nonetheless, a look.