Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 81912 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 410(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81912 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 410(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
I can’t bear to delete these pictures. Not yet. Instead of keeping them on my phone, I send them all to my online photo account.
I’ll still have them, but at least, I won’t see them every time I open my phone. I have become everything I never wanted to be—I’m a runner.
Someone who can’t handle reality, so they just flee. One day though, life’s going to catch up with me.
I’m overthinking everything. As I pace around my office, I realize all this overthinking is getting me nowhere. Did I honestly think everything would suddenly change?
But it did, didn’t it? I haven’t had sex in over 24 hours, and I’m going insane. I miss them.
Even the slightest brush of my hand across my nipples sends a shiver through my body.
“Stop it, Julia,” I whisper to myself.
I need some fresh air. Maybe that’ll clear my head and allow me to focus on work.
I take a quick trip downstairs to the little food cart on the street and bring back a couple bagels with cream cheese; one for myself and one for my assistant. The moment I set it on her desk, she looks stunned.
“What? You need a break, too. Chill out. And stop looking at me like that,” I say, laughing as I go back to seclusion of my office.
I turn on music. Again, something I never do.
I put my feet on my desk, enjoying my breakfast in peace. I suddenly laugh out loud, realizing that Spencer rubbed off on me. I have my bare feet on my desk and the sounds of the island playing in surround.
If I start meditating, I just might have myself committed.
As I sit there eating, I wonder what the four of them are thinking. Do they miss me? Or have I already been replaced in their world?
I know I could never replace them; not even for a brief second would I want anyone else.
Who could ever give me what they did?
A knock on my door brings me crashing back to reality. My assistant is standing there with a wide smile on her face.
“Julia, you have a meeting today with the board at two p.m. I’ve ordered a late lunch for the meeting. Anything else that you need me for before then?” she asks.
Can you mend a broken heart?
I shake my head, answering both her and myself. I don’t want to explain what happened to anyone other than Nicole. I know she’ll be asking soon, but I’m not ready yet.
I’m not ready for my meeting or to see anyone, but I need to get back on track with everything. I rushed back here for a reason, and now I’m going to make sure that it was worth leaving those four men behind.
I spend the rest of the morning getting ready for the meeting. I’m sort of surprised that no one has shown up at my office, but then again, I didn’t expect them to chase me. Still, I find myself disappointed that they didn’t.
Chapter 35
Xane
“Black coffee, two sugars,” I say idly.
The Starbucks clerk looks like she’s getting her panties wet just from the three of us standing there. Of course, we always get that reaction from women; this is nothing new.
Derek and Killian asked me to meet here for coffee this morning. Something we need to talk about. I’m sure it’s about Julia, though that subject is hard to discuss these days.
I still can’t fucking believe she blew us off like that. Usually, I don’t give a fuck, but something about Julia got under my skin something fierce.
I haven’t slept much in the last week, so the coffee might help pick me up right now. Even after working out at the gym, I can’t seem to stop thinking once my head hits the pillow at night.
Not even when I was in high school did women frustrate me to this point. I’ve always been the kind of man who could walk away without ever looking back.
I’m not sure why they chose this place to have coffee other than its trendy, but the coffee’s decent. This place isn’t my style at all, though: I don’t go for the latest trends.
We take a seat in the corner, the one that’s the most out of the way and can ensure us at least a little bit of privacy.
“Anyone hear from Julia?” I ask, knowing they would’ve told me right away if they did.
Both shake their heads, but before either could speak, Derek grabs his phone to check the text he just received.
I watch as Derek sits up straight, studying the phone screen before talking.
“It’s Julia…” Derek says.
“Are you serious?” I ask, placing my coffee cup back on the table now.
“Yeah, listen to this. Julia says she’s sorry for the way she left. Everything just went too fast for her. She also says she misses us and wants to catch up soon,” Derek says.