Page 132 of Only With You

I puff a breath with feigned annoyance. “I’ll go get my stuff.”

38

LANDON

“Speak now,or forever hold your peace,” Julianna playfully says as we stand in front of my bedroom door.

I twist the knob and push the door open. “Why would I want to do that?”

“Because I’m about to take over.” She eyes the bags I’m holding for her. “And I’m not going to be apologetic about it. So, speak now and I’ll leave.”

I know I said my bedroom is strictly off-limits to anyone and it’s still somewhat true. But things have drastically changed from the last time I thought that.

My room is still off-limits to anyone, except for Julianna.

That statement is wild to make and it still sounds ludicrous in my own head, but I stand by it.

The level of serotonin I feel when I’m around Julianna is beyond me.

It’s been so long since I felt a morsel of genuine peace in my head. At times, it freaks me out, because out of all the people in my life, she’s the reason for it. She’s the reason why I’m not constantly thinking of just living, but actually feeling alive.

For the first time in a long time, I don’t feel blasé to life. I actually look forward to tomorrow and the days after.

It’s insane and I know Reid is going to lose it when I tell him. Hell, I’m losing my own mind, because I’ve hatedlivingfor so long. I’ve felt so empty and numb. Most of the time, I dread existing because I’ve not known what else to feel. But now I don’t. Now, I feel overwhelmed, but all in a good way.

And it’s all because of the girl standing next to me.

“The space is all yours.”

In silence, she assesses my room.

I don’t want to assume what she’s thinking, because I’ve been doing that for a while. Making assumptions about her that have been nothing but wrong. It’s a shitty thing to do and I acknowledge that, but right now, as she stands in the middle of my room, I don’t know what to think.

The last time Julianna was here, she wasn’t in her right mind, so I doubt she remembers anything. But watching her stand here with an unreadable expression is disconcerting.

My room is pretty barren, but clean. I don’t have much other than the necessities. A desk, bed, nightstands, dresser, TV, and my instruments.

“So you do play.” She eyes my Yamaha Digital Grand Piano and my three guitars next to it.

I give a noncommittal shrug. “Yeah, occasionally.”

“Occasionally,” she mimics my voice. “It didn’t sound like that the other night. So you really haven’t played the song before?”

“No, I told you it was all from hearing it.”

“I’m jealous,” she murmurs before she becomes quiet again, but then I note the twist on her lips.

“What’s wrong?” I ask.

“You don’t have a mirror.” She smiles in goodwill like it’s not going to make or break her staying, but I know she wants one regardless. “But it’s not a big deal. Do you have one in your bathroom?”

“I do.” A thought comes to mind as I set her bags on my bed and I say, “I’ll be back.”

I stride into Saint’s room and grab the full-length mirror tucked in his closet. He recently bought a new one, because apparently this one isn’t good enough. I’m not sure why, but I didn’t ask questions. It’ll just incite a conversation.

I step back in my room and find her sitting on the edge of my bed. Her palms are resting behind her and one leg is crossed over the other, causing her dress to ride up. She’s still wearing it and the heels, minus the stockings. She took those off before we left her apartment.

I inhale a deep breath. “Where do you want it?”

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