Page 218 of Only With You

I didn’t tell Lola what it was for, but I hired her to create something on the Procreate app because she’s fucking talented. If it hadn’t been for her, this wouldn’t have worked the way I wanted it to.

“There’s something special I want to share with you.”

JULIANNA

I skim the room, eyeing the piano against the wall and a guitar that looks like Landon’s.

He stands in front of me and appears almost nervous. “Remember when you told me you were curious about Haptic? Wondered what he looked like? Curious about his choice of songs recently?”

My cheeks flush. “Yeah, but I respect his privacy, so it’s okay if I never find out.”

Landon smirks, blowing out a breath. “Coming from you, he won’t mind.”

“I highly doubt that.”

He smiles and cups my jaw. His eyes bore into mine. “What if I told you he’s here?”

My heart skips a beat. “Here? That’s not possible. He’s private and…and…” I step back, eyes darting back to the instruments and to Landon, who stares at me like he knows something I don’t. “He’s here? Where?”

“Standing right in front of you actually.”

I laugh, shaking my head. “I love you and your tenacity to show me how much you care about?—”

“Julianna, do I lie?”

“Not unless necessary, but—” The rest of my words get caught in the back of my throat. “No way. Say you’re kidding right now? Landon, please don’t joke with me right now.”

“Happy birthday, my Love,” he tenderly says.

I step back when he takes a step closer. I shake my head in disbelief because there’s no way that Landon Taylor—my boyfriend—is Haptic.

But as I really look at him, take in the serious expression on his face, I realize he’s being one-hundred percent honest. Not that he’d ever lie to me, but this just seems unreal.

Holy shit!

“Oh my God, oh my God, oh my…” I chant, doing my best to control the roller coasters of emotions going haywire in my head. But they’re nothing but a jumbled mess of excitement, confusion, questions, and excitement.

I cover my mouth, taking another step back before I lose my shit in front of him, but when I flick my attention to his guitar, I lose it.

“All this time, it was you!” I gasp, staring wide-eyed. “Itwasyou. Allthistimeitwasyou. OhmyGod! Holyshityou’rehim! He’syou! I’mdatingHaptic! MyboyfriendisHaptic! Thisisunreal.” The words fall rapidly from my mouth. I’m sure they don’t make sense, but I can’t bring myself to care.

He deeply chuckles—no, it’s not just a chuckle. He throws his head back and a hearty laugh, one that I’ve never heard slips past his lips. I’m stunned at how carefree he looks and amazed and immersed at how good it sounds.

Until he stands in front of me again and hugs me. “Now you know where all of my money comes from.”

“Oh my,” is all that I manage to say, struggling and too stunned to think properly. “So all this time…it was…you? Oh my God.” I shakily breathe. “What made you want to tell me?”

“Hoping I’d see you freak out.” A smug grin curves his lips, but it softens a second later. “It’s your birthday. I wanted to do something special, share what makes me feel free with someone who makes me feel every-fucking-thing.”

My heart hammers at a velocity I wasn’t sure was possible. “Me?” I uncontrollably giggle.

“You, but if you need me to be more specific. My muse, my inspiration, my catalyst.”

My breath hitches, feeling at a loss for words, but then it dawns on me. The song “Amen” and it must be written all over my face because he swallows and glances away.

“I was in a really dark place. I promise I’ll answer all of your questions, but right now, I just want to celebrate you.”

“We’ll talk about it whenever you’re ready.” I smile at him. “Wait, you sang in Spanish? I didn’t know you spoke another language.”

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