Julian came in carrying two large grocery bags, looking at me with a mischievous smile.
“Oh, you’re awake? How are you feeling? Still running a fever?
“You really don’t know how to take care of yourself. I leave for one day, and you make yourself sick. See? You can’t function without me…”
I stared at the chattering Julian, feeling a sense of disconnection wash over me.
If only I hadn’t discovered his dream girl, I could’ve deceived myself into believing we were both interested in each other – just one confession away from being together.
The injustice bubbled up inside me, and my eyes stung with tears that spilled over.
He set down the grocery bags and quickly pulled out a tissue, hurrying over to wipe my tears.
“Stop crying, are you really that miserable? You’re such a crybaby.”
I turned my head, stepping back to avoid his hand. “Julian, don’t be so nice to me. I’ll get the wrong idea.”
He paused, looking at me in shock for a couple of seconds. Then, without warning, he grabbed my hand and pushed me against the door.
His scent enveloped me, and his icy fingers sent a shiver down my spine.
I jumped, instinctively kicking at him, but he quickly caught my ankle.
The coldness made me shudder even more, and as I struggled, he leaned in closer, his voice tinged with an odd vulnerability. “Hold on, let’s talk this out, okay?”
Hearing his tone softened my heart, melting away some of my defenses, but I forced myself to maintain a glare, tilting my chin up defiantly. “Is this really how you want to talk?”
He lifted his head, his eyes glistening. “If I let you go, you can’t run away. Let’s go to the sofa.”
His words felt strangely off, like a kidnapper dealing with a hostage.
I rolled my eyes but reluctantly agreed. “Fine, let go.”
We moved to the sofa, sitting opposite each other. The plate of grapefruit was right there, serving as a barrier. If it weren’t for that, I’d have trouble holding my own against this man!
Julian glanced at the grapefruit. “You can eat while we talk.”
I put on a stern face, grabbing a piece of the fruit. If it was there, I might as well eat it. He watched me, a gentle smile on his lips, his eyes glimmering with affection.
What a pair of flirtatious eyes he had! I could almost imagine them filled with love even for stray dogs on the street.
How could I have been so blind? Even with 20/20 vision, I couldn’t see through his tangled web of charm.