Page 42 of Hard Rock Muse
“Because you’re in love with Seth!” I shouted.
His face went blank. I swallowed down a combination of panic and indignation.
I hadn’t meant to be so loud. I hoped I didn’t wake up Abby.
But at least it was out there. At least Julian knew where we stood.
I watched him as I breathed heavy, angry breaths.
Julian stood perfectly still. I waited for the guilt to cross his face. Waited for him to either vehemently deny it or shamefully confess.
His lips pressed together. The corners twitched. I knew he was trying to stamp down some emotion threatening to bubble to the surface. He was always doing that.
Those lips began to curl upward at the corners, twitching into a half-smile.
I frowned. Why the hell was he smiling? Did he think this was a joke?
That half-smile spread into a full grin as a chuckle left his mouth. Then another. And another. The sight in front of me was one I’d ever thought I see.
Julian was laughing near hysterically.
“Seth?!” he exclaimed with a howl, almost doubled over. “You think I’m in love withSeth?”
I crossed my arms over my chest, hurt that he was laughing at me.
Julian let out a few more gasping chuckles, trying to contain himself. He shook his head, an unfamiliar smile still playing on his lips.
“Ev, I love Seth,” he began.
Pain radiated from my chest.
“I love him,” Julian continued. “Seth is like a brother to me. Butin love?” One last chuckle escaped. “That’s ahard no. Being with someone like Seth would take the patience of a saint.”
“But— you and him—” I started.
“You know the guy just as well as I do,” Julian continued. “Can you ever see someone likemebeing with someone likehim?”
My brain swirled in a storm of confusion and turmoil.
“But—” I protested weakly. “I thought—”
Julian came to stand in front of me. He placed his hands on my upper arms, making me face him full on.
“I’m not in love with Seth,” he said firmly.
“You’re not…?”
“No.”
He lowered his head. I let out a shaky breath. I waited for him to say the three words I’d been waiting to hear my whole life.
He didn’t say them. But what he did say was just as good.
“Let me show you.”
