104 — “Just one more night.”

“Are you all right, sweetheart?” Daddy asks me quietly from the other side of the kitchen island, looking at me with concern. I’m almost leaning over the counter, my mouth feeling dry. “Would you like some water?”
I look at him in surprise and nod, watching while he quickly hands me a glass of ice water. But even as I take small and slow sips, I’m still aware of the conversation unfolding around me.
“I’m flattered that you’ve made room in your schedule to meet with your friends... what’s changed?” Kevin asks with a certain sarcasm, which catches my eye.
Julian shrugs his shoulders and puts his hand on the back of his neck, massaging out some tension, “Not everyone has as much free time as you, Kevin. I heard you sold your company.”
Kevin raises his hands, not too worried, “I’m retired from the hard work.”
“Don’t you think you’re too young to retire? You’re what, 37?”
“Thirty-five, actually.” Kevin corrects, although he doesn’t seem to mind the mistake. “But, well, what can I say? There’s nothing more stressful than an executive position. You must understand me since you gave up your position as Vice President to play at being some director.”
That makes me frown.
“He will be back; this company is also Julian’s responsibility.” Dad bugs on the talk, and my eyes land on Julian, who has now turned to us, while Dad is adding, “Just a matter of time.”
Julian looks at me intensely, and something is shining in his eyes that I can’t decipher.
“Stop being boring, talking about work.” Ambrose intrudes on the discussion, opening the pizza boxes before throwing himself down on the couch next to Mitch. “You’re boring our guest.”
Suddenly, everyone’s attention seems to turn to me — which is really unsettling. I finish my water and place the glass on the counter with a trembling hand, anxiety rushing through my veins.
“Are you sure you want to spend the evening with a bunch of boring men who will scream and get hoarse over basketball?” Ambrose asks, looking straight at me over the couch. “A young girl like you should be with a boyfriend, not wasting time with dull men like us.”
I feel my heart skip a beat and shudder. My eyes inevitably go to Julian, who also seems to have stiffened under these words that are so innocent but have the strength of a punch in the stomach.
“Say it for yourself, I’m not boring.” Kevin gives me a smile and a wink. “I can be really fun when I want to be.”
Julian gives him a sharp look that sends shivers down my spine.
“I invited her.” Dad’s voice is like a breath in this almost palpable tension, but he sounds stern when he adds, “This is her house, after all. If she’s not comfortable with you being here, it’s you who will leave.”
“Dad!” I look at him reproachfully, but he seems to be serious about this nonsense.
“Hey, don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind Angel’s presence. I just think a girl like her would have more fun with people her age.” Ambrose explains calmly, not in the least offended, yet his words always seem to touch open, throbbing wounds without him even meaning to. I can see Julian wince out of the corner of my eye.
*I feel sick again.*
“No, it’s fine... I’m not bothered about you being here or anything.” I raise my hands in a pacifying gesture, still leaning on the counter. I’m shivering, so much so that I feel like I’m in the middle of winter, but I pretend to be okay. “Please don’t mind me-”
“Now that I think about it, didn’t you have a boyfriend?” Kevin cuts me off thoughtfully, catching my eyes, which stare at him in surprise, “The last time I saw you, you were still at college and dating a guy.”
“That’s no subject for tonight.” Dad interrupts again, placing a new glass of water on the table, with a few ice cubes crashing into it. Even though my body is shaking, my chest feels warm because Dad cares so much and notices that I’m anxious and nervous and is ready to support me anytime. “And I’d appreciate it if that wasn’t mentioned.”
“No work, no Mike’s daughter relationships, noted,” Kevin gives a laugh that I honestly don’t see any funny — and no one else seems to either since he’s the only one laughing.
“Come on and get the beers; the show is about to start,” Mitch says, cutting off the conversation with his deep voice. Of all the guys, he’s the most serious... maybe that’s why he’s the one who gets on best with Dad... But honestly, it’s a mystery to me how Daddy manages to be friends with so many different personalities, but that’s how he is.
Daddy gives me a comforting squeeze on the shoulder and brings the beers to the table. As he walks away, I take a deep breath, looking at the ice that clicks inside it.
“It’s really a surprise; you’ve grown so much...” Kevin is suddenly in front of me, leaning on the counter as well. His voice is low, and his eyes burn intensely into my face, into my cleavage. “I never imagined you’d become such a beautiful woman... I’m so surprised, charmed...”
I breathe deeply, clenching my hands into fists. “Thank you, I think.”
“I still remember when you were just a college student. You dressed so modestly... Breaking up seems to have done you good because, with all due respect, Angelee, you’ve become every man’s dream. I never thought you’d hide such a... *mature body* under those clothes.”
My stomach twists, and I feel like I might throw up — literally throw up.
“If I’d known before, I’d have fought that boyfriend of yours and taken you from him...” He laughs quietly, and although Kevin is being discreet, his words have caught Julian’s attention, “Well, you’re single now, aren’t you?”
“What the fuck are you talking about?” Julian abruptly approaches. Standing next to me, with his arm behind my chair, Julian asks seriously. His harsh tone surprises not only Kevin but also the other men in the open living room. “Have you lost your fucking mind?”
“I just asked a question-”
“And why are you worried about it?” Julian interrupts him, his eyebrows so furrowed that I feel even sicker.
Kevin looks intently at Julian, now getting more serious. “Why are you meddling in this? It’s none of your business, man. Why are you acting like this?”
“What’s going on here?” Dad walks back, his hands now into fists. His harsh gaze alternates between Julian and Kevin.
“It was an innocent question.” Kevin gives a harmless smile. “I was curious.”
“About what?” Dad’s question makes it even clearer that Kevin’s words or intentions haven’t reached his ears.
Julian is about to speak, but I put my hand on his chest and interrupt him, being quicker to add, “He just asked me if I’m single... nothing more.”
Kevin looks at me, and his smile widens, making my stomach turn. He probably thinks I’m doing this for him when I just don’t want to ruin my father’s evening.
Dad seems to have believed the innocence of my words and walked back into the living room... However, this is far from giving me any relief because Julian now looks furious next to me.
I can feel his green eyes burning into my skin, making me so hot that my mouth goes dry. With trembling hands, I reach for the glass of water to relieve this painful sensation in my throat... But just as I’m about to drink, the tremors in my body make me spill all the icy water over myself, over my blouse.
The cold sensation of the water on my skin makes me gasp. The clothes stick to my body, marking the curve of my breasts, and the lace bra can be seen through the transparency of the cloth now. Julian is quicker to grab the glass before it falls and shatters on the floor, a reflex so impressive that it stuns me more than the intense cold caused by anxiety and now by the icy sensation...
But then, as if my skin were crawling for it, I feel Kevin’s gaze on me, on my wet clothes. Hungry, *predatory eyes...*
Julian places the glass on the counter and pulls me by the wrist, dragging me like a doll down the corridor until we finally reach my room. The door slams with a loud thud, and I hug my body, walking in circles with my heart pounding heavily in my throat...
But suddenly, I’m turned around, bumping into a strong chest. I’m being held by his firm hands that are around my waist, pulling me even tighter against his body, against his warmth, forcing me to be intoxicated by the scent of his cologne...
“I’m going to kill him.” He says loudly, almost in a growl that makes me raise my face, looking at him fearfully. “I’m going to go back there and make that bastard swallow everything he said, word for word until he chokes.”
“No...” I swallow dryly, clutching Julian’s shirt with desperate hands...
“You endured the shit he said, but I’m not going to let him talk to you like that.”
“Please, Julian...”
No, I can’t let things end this way when I’ve tried so hard to hold out a little longer, just like Julian asked me to.
All this time, I’ve had to look at my father with guilt weighing down my shoulders and chest. Now, Julian is putting everything at risk because he’s lost his calmness and seems blinded by anger. But he’s not like this... he’s not one to get affected by anything.
*This makes me feel terrible.*
I thought that if I let those disgusting words go, it wouldn’t ruin this moment. But now, everything is about to be shattered because if Julian says he’ll punch this guy, I believe it. And the longer Julian is here in my room, holding me in his arms, the more suspicions will be raised.
I need to calm him down.
“Julian.” His name escapes in a whisper as I tilt my face and close my eyes, bringing my hand up to his face. “Please go back there.”
“I can’t.” He says between his teeth.
“You can’t even for me?” I ask slowly, brushing our lips together. “You said you’d do it right, and I’m trusting and believing in you, so please... don’t lose yourself because of me.”
“I always lose everything when it comes to you, Angelee.” He rests our foreheads against each other, making our breaths one. “Always.”
“I’m sorry.”
“No, don’t do that... I’m just stressed out. It’s not your fault, babe, don’t apologize.”
I’m silent for a long second, but I speak again, stroking the bulging muscle in his jaw over his smooth beard.
“I love you too,” I reply to the text now, with my own words, and notice that he’s holding his breath, almost like my lack of answer was also responsible for his anxiety. “I’ll give you a little more time, and we’ll get through tonight, Julian. Just one more night, and we’ll face it all together.”
“All right.” He nods, walking away slowly, fighting, enduring it like being away from me is too painful. Walking backward, Julian’s eyes still on me as he promises, “Just one more night.”