Page 25 of Julian's Curse

That’s when it hit me—it wasn’t just a reminder of Bradley. Itwashim.

A surge of excitement swept through me as I pulled over to the side of the road, parking quickly and without hesitation. I jumped out of the car before the engine had even fully quieted, my feet almost stumbling in my rush. As he lifted off his helmet, the familiar grin spread across his face—one that I hadn’t seen in far too long.

“Hey, stranger!” I exclaimed.

He studied me with a quiet intensity, his expression stoic and serious, though there was a hint of amusement in his eyes—as if he knew this would catch me off guard. His time in Hawaii had clearly left its mark on him. His muscles were more defined, likely from all the surfing, and his skin had deepened into a rich tan. Yet, aside from those changes, everything else about him was exactly as I remembered.

“Lucie,” he said, his voice deep and resonant—one I’d always found irresistibly masculine. I couldn’t help but remember howValentina had once joked that it was the kind of voice perfect for narrating a steamy audiobook. He was undeniably good-looking—too good-looking, in fact. I didn’t see him as a romantic interest anymore, at least not in the way I used to, but that didn’t stop me from acknowledging just how attractive he was.

“Any plans?” he queried, his voice smooth and casual.

“Well, I was thinking of grabbing sushi from Whole Foods,” I acknowledged my upcoming culinary sin, rolling my eyes slightly at my own choice. “Julian’s out of town, and work’s been exhausting as always, so I’m starving. I skipped lunch.”

His lips curved into a teasing smile. “Want to go with me to Aki’s instead? My treat.”

A rush of excitement hit me at the thought of diving into a plate of fresh nigiri—especially with him for company. Aki’s sushi was always so much better than the stuff I’d reluctantly planned to settle for.

“I don’t consider what they sell at Whole Foods sushi,” he teased. “No offense.” His Cheshire grin reminded me how easily he could read me.

I laughed, shaking my head. “I’m down.”

“Great, we’re just a few blocks away, so no need to repark.” He slipped his helmet off. I suddenly remembered what Valentina had told me about his ex-wife. Should I bring it up now?

“It’s really good to see you here. Is this just a visit?” I queried.

“Perhaps, I haven’t decided yet.” He glanced at me briefly, his expression unreadable, then kept walking toward the sushi bar. It was clear he was ready to change the subject. “You’ve been working out, Lucie,” he noted.

“It helps to keep my mind off things.” I acknowledged my efforts.

We were now entering Aki’s restaurant, and the familiar scent of fresh fish and soy sauce greeted us. Aki, the elderlyJapanese chef, welcomed us with a knowing smile. He clearly knew Bradley was back in town. We took our seats at the sushi bar, and Aki immediately set to work, expertly preparing our orders.

“Val told me about your ex-wife. I am sorry Bradley, how are you feeling?” I asked caringly.

It seemed like he needed a moment. He finally spoke, his voice low, pained. “I’m fine, Lucie. It was a lot to process. She didn’t tell me she was considering ending her life, and I just wish she’d reached out when things were tough.” Pain shadowed his handsome face as he spoke.

“Yeah, do you know why? Do you know anything about it?” I wondered gently, afraid to push him too hard but needing to understand.

“I connected with an ex-boyfriend of hers. He thinks it was an overdose, not a suicide,” he replied quietly, his words heavy with regret.

I swallowed hard, unsure what to say next.

“I’ve made peace with it,” he continued, his gaze softening. “On the plane to Hawaii, I had five hours to think about everything, to look back on it all. I don’t think we would have gotten back together in the end, Lucie.”

I furrowed my brows as he continued his train of thought.

“When I came home, I realized the right thing was not to step back into the same river,” he self-reflected, referencing the ancient philosopher Heraclitus. “Even rivers, while appearing the same, are always changing, just as we are.”

That startled me. When he’d left for Hawaii, he seemed so eager to reconnect with her. I had no idea he’d come to this conclusion.

“I cleaned up. She didn’t,” his voice quivered as he paused. “And honestly, I had no idea that she was still wrestling with an ongoing addiction.”

I couldn’t help but notice that he’d said the decision happened on the plane, so he couldn’t have known that by then. So, what had prompted it?

“It still hurts, doesn’t it?” I asked, my voice full of compassion. I knew Bradley, he cared about people, and if there was anything he could have done to save her, he would have.

“It does, Lucie. And I’ll always have her in my heart. That won’t change.” His voice was firm, resolved. “I donated some money to a charity in her name. Not that it’ll bring her back, but to celebrate her life.”

“I’m terribly sorry,” I let him know again, wishing there was more I could do. “If you ever need someone to talk to, I am always an ear.”

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