Page 173 of Alive At Night

“It’s a requirement, actually.” Julian’s deep voice rumbled through my body. “I’ll need help picking out houseplants, too.”

My smile stretched painfully wide. “I’m going to fill your living room with moonflowers.”

“Ourliving room, Juni baby.” He kissed the top of my head, his hands stroking up my naked sides. “You’re going to fillourliving room with moonflowers, and I can’t wait.”

I couldn’t wait, either.

CHAPTERFORTY

julian

“HEY, GRAY.”

Grayson picked up his phone on the first ring, and I could practically hear the guilt in my voice when I greeted him. I stood at the far end of my apartment, looking out over the cityscape of Boston from the floor-to-ceiling window I had in the corner of my living room. Juni had fallen asleep about thirty minutes ago, and I finally convinced myself to leave her side to make this call.

“Hey, man. Everything okay?”

I wondered if Grayson could tell my mood from those two words alone or if my uncharacteristic lateness gave it away. I never let my friends down. If I told him I’d call him at six, I’d call him at six.

Except I didn’t, and he must have realized something was off.

“Yeah. At least now it is.” I cleared my throat. “Something came up with Juni after work, and I just…forgot about everything else.”

“Fuck, what happened?” Grayson’s voice tensed, and I heard a door click shut from his end of the phone.

“She called me from the bar where her ex had cornered her.”

“The one from high school? Please tell me you kicked his ass.”

“I’vematured, Grayson.” I paused. “I threatened him with a restraining order. Which I fully intend to help Juni carry through with.”

“Good.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t call earlier, man.” A heavy sigh. “I’m really, really sorry.”

“You definitely don’t need to apologize, Jules.” Grayson’s voice filled with exasperation. “I should hope that Juniper is your first priority these days…right?”

He was fishing for some sort of confirmation, and I was all too happy to give it to him.

“She is,” I said firmly. “I’m guessing Noah filled you in on what happened after we came back from the wedding since you two are like gossiping children.”

Grayson chuckled, unfazed. “He might have mentioned that he took Juniper out to dinner and that your reaction was a bit…caveman-esque. We both assumed—or hoped—that the rest was history.”

“You’d be right about that. Juniper won’t be having dinner dates with anyone but me from now on.” I frowned as my thoughts drifted to Noah. I probably owed him a phone call, too. “He never had a football thing the weekend of the wedding, did he?”

“Noah?”

“Yeah.”

“Definitely not,” Grayson confirmed. “He told me it isn’t any fun taking out girls who are already hopelessly in love with other people.”

I rolled my eyes, ignoring how my heart tripped over itself while trying to maintain a steady rhythm at the reminder that Juniper loved me. Those words right there made me feel like I was fucking flying.

“So he’s still trying to do that thing where he tries to hide that he’s a good friend by exaggerating the whole playboy thing, huh?”

“Pretty much.” Grayson sighed into the phone, and it reminded me how late it was.

“We’re getting sidetracked. I’m sure you’re busy, and I should have called earlier.”

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