Page 26 of Julian's Curse

“I’m alright, really,” he reassured me, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “Besides, I don’t think Julian would be happy with that. In his defense, I probably wouldn’t want my girl staying close to a guy she used to date.” His words carried a weight, reminding me of the intimate moments we’d once shared. Despite the lightness of his tone, I couldn’t help but notice a flicker of sadness in his eyes. Of course, it would be there after what happened with his ex-wife.

“You’re sort of right with that, but I make my own decisions,” I replied, choosing to assert my independence. Unfortunately, Julian was quite the jealous type, and I couldn’t exactly blame him for it either. Bradley and I had crossed the line of friendship a few times, and I understood why Julian might feel uneasy. But still, it was important to me that my now-fiancé trusted me enough to let me decide which friendships I wanted to keep.

I decided to shift the conversation away from the tension between them. “I heard that you and Valentina have been talking.”

He quickly gritted his teeth, a clear sign this conversation was heading in a shallow direction. “We’re friends, Lucie. Don’t look for more there,” he cut off any hope of further speculations.

I felt a sudden pang for Valentina.

Just then, the waiter arrived, and we both quickly placed our orders. The conversation shifted to food, and for a moment, we both laughed at how we’d both chosen the same appetizer without even discussing it. It was funny how, when it came to food, we had the exact same taste, despite growing up in totally different environments.

“How long are you staying?” I asked, curiosity creeping into my voice.

He subtly shrugged his shoulders. “I’m not sure yet. An old client of mine wanted me to rebuild his truck here in San Diego. I took the business partly because I miss working on cars like that in Kauai. Over there, I’ve just been working as a fleet mechanic.”

“Are you still renting there?” I hoped to understand more about his decisions.

“Yeah, I’ve got a whole house for myself.” Next, he showed me some pictures on his phone—beautiful views of palm trees swaying in the wind, the ocean stretching into the horizon. “I am thinking of buying a house there, but it can be pretty lonely and isolating in Kauai. I don’t know if buying there is the right move.”

He was from a wealthy Hawaiian family who put an emphasis on their financial legacy, so it didn’t surprise me that he planned to invest. I nodded, understanding his hesitation. Maybe Kauai had been about finding space to heal, but living there long-term might not be the answer. I could tell he was still figuring it out.

“I’d settle for half a year here, half a year there,” I suggested. “We all miss you.” I meant mostly Valentina and myself.

He sent me a sharp gaze that I couldn’t quite place. It held a confusing depth, with a tinge of familiarity that tugged at my heart as if I should know exactly what it meant.

“How are things with you and Julian?” He suddenly brought the conversation back to me.

I looked at my bare finger. I could tell him because he wouldn’t be the one to share it with anyone. “Actually, he proposed.” I paused, watching for his reaction, knowing it wouldn’t exactly be ecstatic. However, it was better if he found out from me than from the paper.

He tried to hide his surprise, but the fact that he coughed on his water gave it away. “You said yes, right? Congrats.” His voice carried a blend of genuine concern and a hint of forced sincerity. I knew he didn’t like Julian—his obsession with money and admiration for the superficial life rubbed him the wrong way. But it seemed like he was trying to be supportive, maybe hoping I wouldn’t stay in a situation that made me unhappy.

“We’re keeping it under wraps for now,” I explained, not wanting to reveal too much. “We’re waiting to tell my Gram in person.”

“Ah, so that’s why you aren’t wearing a ring,” he observed, a knowing look in his eyes.

“Yeah, we don’t want her to hear about it from the headlines.”

“Are you excited?” he asked, his smile broad and warm as the food arrived.

“Very much,” I shared honestly. “But you know, it doesn’t feel like I have time to enjoy this time because of work. We probably won’t even have the wedding until I finish my MBA, Amanda’s new requirement.”

“She doesn’t give you a break, does she?” he scowled, though his tone turned light, almost teasing.

“You don’t even know…She’s offering me to buy into her business when it goes public next spring.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Isn’t her business worth around a billion? Is that a wedding gift?”

I shook my head profusely as I hovered a nigiri in my chopsticks. “Nope, I’m determined to earn the money on my own. I need about $13 million to buy enough A shares to become an executive.”

“Girl, you’ve been busy…” he joked. “What’s your game plan?”

“No idea yet,” I said with a shrug. “I’m ready for it to not work out. But the idea ofHart Mediabecoming my venture is exciting. I’m really into the publishing side of things—it has a lot of room to grow. Amanda hasn’t really been focusing on it since she’s been all aboutApogee.”

He took his time savoring his tuna roll, the citrus-soy dressing complementing the seared fish perfectly. “I get that,” he continued after swallowing his last bite. “My car shop was like that for me. But I didn’t do it alone—my mom invested with me. If it’s a significant amount, you might want to ask Julian. You could borrow the money and pay it back later if it makes you uneasy. I’d do the same for my future wife if I could.”

“Sophie said the same thing,” I replied, considering it. “But it doesn’t feel right. I don’t want to start my marriage with a transaction, you know?”

He studied me closely, then his eyes flickered to my lips. I became self-conscious, noticing the cracked skin on the corners of my mouth. It had finally started to heal.

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