Page 66 of Come to Me

"Julia. How have you been?"

Julia's lips curled into a humorless grin. "How have I been?" Her gaze drifted towards the guards. "How do you think I've been, Patrick? Locked away in this hell. And the one person I thought cared about me, abandons me."

If Sydney were here, she’d be telling him that living his life wasn’t abandonment, but he felt Julia’s words deep in his soul. He’d tried to protect her and look out for her since they were children. But he’s failed.

She pursed her lips. “Did you see Sydney? Tell me she’s leaving that redneck.”

He sighed. “I did see her.”

She arched a brow.

“She’s happy, Juls.”

Julia slammed her hands on the table, the sound of it echoing through the room and causing the guards to take notice. “She can’t be. She needs to be with you. We need to be together. The Three Musketeers.”

“We could have all been friends.”

She sneered. “So, this is my fault.”

Annoyance flared. “Yes, Julia.” He leaned forward. “You shot her husband. Jesus.” He turned away not wanting to engage in a shouting match with her.

“You just don’t love her enough.”

“Oh, for God’s sake.” He stared at her. When had he lost her? He began to realize that it was before the shooting, but he hadn’t been paying close enough attention. “I care for her, but she’s in love with Mitch and I—” He stopped before he mentioned Michaela.

Her eyes narrowed and she leaned in toward him. “You what?”

He rolled his shoulders. “It’s nothing. I’m back in New York so I’ll be?—”

“It’s not nothing.”

For long moments they sat in silence, the tension building.

“I met someone,” he admitted, although he wasn’t sure why. It wasn’t like she was going to be happy for him.

“I knew it. I knew you didn’t love her.”

“You’re right. I don’t love Sydney like that.”

“So, is this woman in Virginia? Are you leaving me again?” She crossed her arms over her chest like a petulant teenager.

“No. No because what I want, my happiness doesn’t matter. Not to you. Not to mom and dad.”

“Oh, boo hoo. Poor Patrick.”

Sydney’s words came back to him. If your parents and Julia cared one-tenth of how much you care for them, they’d support your love for Micki.

“What’s her name?”

Patrick didn’t want to share it. He wanted to keep his lovely Michaela away from the taint of Julia’s spiteful tongue.

“I’m not here about me. I'm here to discuss your progress--"

"Progress?" Julia interrupted, her eyes flashing with wild heat. "The only progress I’ve made is in learning to live with the fact that I'll never be free again. Thanks to Sydney. And you." She rose. “You know what? I’m done. You act like you care but you don’t. Since you think I’m so self-centered anyway, you can just go.”

“Julia.” He sighed as he looked up at her.

“Go!” she yelled. The guards approached her. “I want to go back to my cell.”

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