Page 74 of A Slice of Love

“I can too! He left me before, Julian. This isn’t the first time he’s just vanished.”

“The last time was bullshit and you both know it. Your father—”

He stops, eyes widening.

How does he know…

“Julian…”

“Did I mention how drop-dead sexy you look freshly fucked?” He grabs my hair, which is loosely secured in a half-ass bun. “Your hair is to die for.”

“Julian!” I smack his hand away. “Explain yourself!”

“Well, see, what happened was…”

I glare at him and he clears his throat, sitting forward.

“Fine. I ran into Jonas about six months into college. He was looking rough, and not just because he was drunk off his ass. There was just this air of sadness to him.” Julian frowns as he thinks about Jonas, and it makes me frown. “Anyway, we got to talking, and before I knew it, he was crying, telling me about what your father said to him, how he had to leave you alone or give up football. I won’t lie, Frankie, it really made me angry at your parents for doing that to you.”

I nod. “Me too.”

“Jonas tried to go after you. He was ready to abandon his dreams for you.” He looks at me, almost like he’s afraid to keep going. He grimaces. “But I talked him out of it.”

“I—”

“For you!” he interrupts. “I did itforyou. I knew you’d go anywhere with him, knew you’d give up your dreams of being an artist. You were just finally starting to feel free, and I didn’t want you to give up your freedom. I wanted you to…well, blossom. To becomeyou.” Julian covers his face with his hands. “Shit. That feels good to get off my chest.”

When I don’t say anything, he peeks at me through his fingers, the worry clear in his eyes.

“Are you mad?”

“No. If anything, I’m a little mad I don’t make you horny.”

“What the fuck?” he sputters, barely getting the words out before bursting into laughter. “What the hell, Frankie?”

“Look”—I lift a shoulder—“I’m just saying, it’s a shame we never banged. I feel like I owe you after you did me that favor.”

He lifts his brows. “You’re really not mad?”

“I’m really not. In fact, I said almost the same thing to Jonas last night. Don’t get me wrong, I was furious at him for leaving me, for hurting me, but the more I look back on it, the more grateful I am. In a roundabout way that wasn’t about me at all, he helped me.”

“Well shit, now I do have a boner.”

I roll my eyes. “Move back to your side before I punch you.”

“Fine, but I want to hear more about last night. Please tell me that beard of his feels as good as it looks.”

“What am I supposed to do, Julian?” I ask once he’s settled across from me.

“Um, ride the beard again. How is that even a question?”

“You know damn well that’s not what I’m talking about.”

“Yeah, yeah.” He pouts, crossing his arms over his chest. “You always find a way to ruin all the fun girl talk with your stupid feelings.”

I pick up the menu, perusing it. “You’re paying for your own breakfast now.”

“I most certainly am not.”

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