Page 20 of Julian's Curse

What I really needed to do now was dive into Pinterest for some ideas for my special day. Or Sophie would soon remind me that I was slacking off on the planning. I wasn’t a “girly girl” like her, but I would hold these preparations close to my heart. Getting married was a huge step, one I hoped to take only once in my lifetime.

Miss you already, I typed quickly to Julian, fully aware that he was probably unreachable, somewhere over the Arabian Sea.

I rolled over in our bed, deciding to slow down instead of sticking to my original plan of pushing through. Self-care was important sometimes. I’d been running on empty, and maybe today was the day I didn’t force myself to keep working. I placed an indulgent order on UberEats using Amanda’s corporate card, confident she wouldn’t mind—especially with all the overtimeI’d been putting in. Then, I hit play on another episode ofEmily in Paris. It made the apartment feel less empty, and at least there was a girl on screen dealing with more relationship drama than I had. While I clearly liked Alphie, I couldn’t shake the feeling that Raphael was the intense, karmic connection that just wouldn’t let go of Emily’s heart.

Maybe this was the balance I needed—a day where the world didn’t demand my attention and I didn’t demand perfection from myself.

Valentina arrived in San Diego the next day, Sunday. We’d had a girls’ day planned for quite some time. And it couldn’t have come at a better moment because Julian had just popped the question.

The sleek lines of her Porsche glinted in the afternoon sun, a stark contrast to the weathered Subaru she used to drive. As she stepped out, her confidence radiated, and I couldn’t help but admire how far she’d come after leaving the modeling industry. Her brand now had a couple of stores scattered throughout LA, one in Silver Lake with an artsy, eclectic feel, while the newer one in West Hollywood showcased a sleek, modern design. But what really grew fast was her online store, which quickly gained traction thanks to her savvy social media strategy.

She immediately adored the engagement ring, but I could still feel her underlying skepticism about marriage itself. It was a vibe that even her most convincing façade couldn’t conceal.

“You don’t have to pretend to believe in the whole marriage thing,” I pointed out with a grin. “Just keep quiet when they ask if anyone has objections at the wedding.” I nudged her playfully.

“No way Lucie, you and Julian are a great match. Trust me, I’ll be the one sobbing the most. Damn, you’re getting married!”

My Puerto Rican best friend was as wild as they come—a stunning tall brunette with a wiry yet strong frame since the gym was her second permanent address. Early mornings and late nights blurred into a routine that fueled her passion for fitness. She chose to wear her rich, sun-kissed hair loose, went for a natural look without makeup, yet still radiated supermodel beauty. Because of that, boys lined up like an assembly line, eager to offer anything just for a chance to win her attention. But no one ever got close enough to earn more than a casual label. It often made me wonder if she even believed in monogamy at all. And it was even more complicated than that, because she liked to date girls too. Monogamy for her meant that she’d have to give up an entire gender.

“I am thrilled to design the bridesmaid dresses, Lucie.” She mused. “Do you want to go with something edgy? Or are you thinking classic beauty? I think you and Julian are rebellious spirits enough to consider the first option. Yet, he loves his tuxedos. A Twilight style wedding would fit you two the best I think.”

“Are you talking about the part with all the werewolf haters, or the wardrobe choices?” I chuckled. We’d at one point succumbed to the guilty pleasure of paranormal romance, like most girls in our teenage years.

“Both,” she flipped her hair dramatically. “I am however particularly focused on the wardrobe part.”

I’d expected her to be happy to become the designer for my special day. “Well, that just means you’re officially part of the wedding dress crew. Unless the thought makes you vomit, obviously.”

She pulled a goofy face, sticking her tongue out. “I’m not that cynical, am I?”

I made a doubtful expression. “Has anyone recently gotten your interest? For longer than a few weeks?” I raised my eyebrow. I felt like I already knew the answer. “I am thinking your new cat.” I deadpanned. Val had adopted a rescue to feel less lonely in her studio apartment.

She scratched her head. “Actually…”

It sounded promising. “I’m all ears, Val. By the way, can I make you a cappuccino?” I offered, knowing it was too early for a margarita, her absolute staple.

“Yes, please.”

I moved toward the espresso machine, determined to craft the perfect cappuccino, just like a professional barista. As I steamed the milk, I glanced back at her. She looked like she had something on her mind, something that made her nervous.

“Everything okay?” I asked, noticing the sudden shift in her energy. She cleared her throat as I handed her a mug, doctored to her usual specifications.

“I’ve been messaging with Bradley for a few months now. At first, it started as just a few exchanges, mostly about you.” She turned crimson, glancing down as if the floor might swallow her up.

Then, it hit me—a sudden eureka moment. How had I not seen it before? The two of them had always shared a genuine connection. “He reached out a few times just to see how I was. I am definitely digging his humor and street smarts.” She spoke slowly, then bit her lip in hesitation. “We’re only friendsnow, but he’s invited me to come visit him in Kauai. So, I am wondering if there could be more in the end.”

“Are you going to go?” I gave her a serious look. “You won’t know until you two spend time in person, right?”

“There’s just one problem.” She frowned.

I immediately assumed she was referring to our past history. “If this has something to do with what happened between us, Val, you don’t have to worry about it. We have a mutual understanding—both of us had someone we couldn’t let go of at the time. We kissed only once, and it was…” I meant to saymeaningless, but it wasn’t entirely true. There was no real reason for us to stop seeing each other except for Julian’s return. Julian had broken up with me to keep me out of trouble, and I’d thought he’d cheated. In that moment, I’d tried to move on, and had gotten closer to Bradley. It wasn’t a mistake, but it was a connection that couldn’t continue once I realized how much Julian had sacrificed—and how madly I still loved him.

Val looked tortured. “Well, the girl he mentioned—the ex-wife he went to see—she took her own life just before he got home last Christmas.” Her face turned somber, the weight of the words settling between us.

My heart dropped into my stomach at the realization that he’d kept this a secret. I’d thought Bradley needed space, but he had been dealing with an immense loss instead. “Shit, I had no idea.” I felt unbearably selfish now for not being there for him when he probably needed me most. “Since December, I didn’t want to confuse him, so I’ve stayed away. We’ve only spoken once, and he didn’t even mention it.” In fact, he might have lied to avoid worrying me.

“Yeah, Lucie. I think he gets it. I don’t think he’s the type to hold anything against you,” she quickly assured me.

“What exactly happened?” I asked, feeling my mood sink in a way I didn’t think was possible, especially now that I was newly engaged to the love of my life.

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