Page 17 of Dirty Fortune

"Are you? Considering it, I mean."

He gives me a sheepish look. "I was hoping to put it out of my mind, actually. It is my day off."

"This is important, Mike," I plead.

"Have you ladies met him?"

"We did, and he gave us a lot of reassurances. Time will tell, but he seemed sincere in how much he cares about Julie." Meghan says. I'm surprised because she's the more introverted of us and hardly ever gives her opinion so openly.

"Well, coming from you, Meghan, that's something."

"What's your biggest concern?" Hailey asks.

"Julie is a sensitive soul. I don't want him to hurt her."

"But isn't that her choice to make?" Gemma asks.

"Yes, it is." He turns to me and opens his arms. "I love you, Jules. Don't hate me for wanting to protect you."

I walk into his arms. "I don't hate you, but you need to let me loose to make my own choices and mistakes."

"Will you do this, even if it might be a mistake?"

"Yes. It's what I want. Will you support me?"

"Do I have a choice?" He grins.

"No!" Everyone screams simultaneously, and they come to huddle around us like a team, which we are. My besties are awesome.

Chapter 8

6 months later

Julie

It's been six months since the trip that changed my life. Keith and I are inseparable, and the magazine is doing great. I miss Annette at the office, but Keith gave her a great opportunity as a PR Consultant down in Miami at a club called Midnight Heat. She's already texted me that the owners are gorgeous, and she's having the time of her life.

I'm packing a light bag because Keith says we're going somewhere fun. It's a surprise. He's always doing things like that for me, making sure that our life is full of joy and adventure. I texted my besties that I'm not available this weekend. Sometimes, he includes them in our plan, but this trip is for the two of us. I make sure to pack some sexy lingerie to wear for him. He'll probably tear it off me as soon as he sees me, but that's part of the fun of wearing them and why they make them so flimsy.

Keith comes in and is carrying a garment bag.

"What is that?" I ask him.

"It's part of your surprise. Don't peek."

"Fine, but I'll get you back with my own surprise when you least expect it."

"I can live with that. Come on, we're just in time to get to the airport."

We hurried to the airport, and when we were seated in first class, I remembered fondly the first time I traveled this way. He sees my smile and comments.

“What’s on your mind?”

“The first time I flew first class was on that trip to Vegas, where we reunited. It's a fond memory for me."

"I've spoiled you with all the fancy travel, haven't I?"

"A little bit. But I'm grateful for everything. For you, for how well the magazine is doing, and how you constantly show me how much you love me."

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