106 — JULIAN ADAMS (POV)

I knew things wouldn’t be easy, but I didn’t think it would be so hard. This definitely isn’t the way I’d like to have this talk... how I want Mike to find out... But things don’t always go as we expect or planned.
“How long has it been?” Mike runs his hand over his face, through his hair, impatient. Faced with my silence, he raises his voice, furious, “How long have you been having sex with my daughter?”
“It’s been a while,” I say, sighing, standing up now that my legs are firm enough to support me. “Before you got back from your trip.”
Mike looks at me with anger and shakes his head, opening a beer. His broad back seems really far away at the moment. “Of course, I should have known. I’m an idiot. I didn’t want to see it even if you were rubbing it in my face.”
I feel my throat tighten.
“That was you in the bathroom, wasn’t it?” He downs his beer in several gulps, still with his back to me. “You were having sex with my daughter while I was on the other side, and you let me talk about it like an idiot.”
“In my defense, what could I say?” I say quickly, almost retorting, and receive a sharp look that makes me wilt. Mike’s authority has always been the highest, and this moment would be no different. Honestly, I feel as if I’m a child who has disappointed his parents and isn’t being lectured — but beaten with words loaded with disappointment.
“You could not have slept with my daughter. That would have been a great start.” He retorts, slamming his beer down on the table and sitting down in the same place he was before all this mess. I don’t dare to approach him or say a single word... I just watch him while he grabs another beer, watching the TV that’s saving me from a great deal of distress.
“What kind of friend smiles at you while stabbing you in the back like that?” He mutters, mulling it over. “Not my daughter, Julian. Not her.”
Mike turns the bottle over, taking a sip that seems bitter because he grimaces and his eyes water.
I feel terrible.
Truly terrible.
“I didn’t want you to find out like that,” I say cautiously.
“Yeah, and how were you going to tell me something like this? With a pat on the back?”
I sigh, crossing my arms, keeping my eyes fixed on the man I admire so much and who is now avoiding looking at me because I must look like the worst person on the earth.
“I was going to tell you.”
“When would that be?” He finally looks at me, and his watery brown eyes seem more hurt than angry.
“It should have been today.” I purse my lips, and he gives a humorless, resentful laugh.
“Well, consider the mission accomplished.” Raising the empty bottle in an ironic toast, he slams it down on the table, making the glass tinkle. “Now you can put your head on the pillow and have a clear conscience... If you ever worried yourself about it.”
“Of course I did!” I interrupted him firmly, tired of keeping quiet and at a loss for words. “Do you think I wanted this? I didn’t choose to fall in love with Angelee. And believe me, I really tried to fight it.”
Mike looks at me surprised, his eyes widening slightly, but I continue to say, releasing everything that was tightening my throat, “I swear to God, I tried not to love her. I tried to push her away because I knew, apart from not being a good enough man... she’s your daughter! I haven’t forgotten that, Mike. And believe me when I say that because I’m being honest, I have no reason to lie.”
“What are you saying?” Mike asks quietly, resentfully. “Are you serious about her?”
“Yes, I am.” I don’t hesitate. I don’t flinch or think about answering... just spill out this truth. “You told me to fight for the woman I love, and I’m doing it.”
He gives me a sarcastic smile, “Hah, right. Without knowing it, I encouraged you... Just look at the irony of it!”
“You saw that I was in love long before I realized it on my own. Can you understand my denial and my conflicts now? How can you not believe that I’m serious about Angelee?”
“I’m going to tell you something, Julian.” Mike stares at me, his eyes not wavering for a moment. “If you falter with my daughter, I’ll kill you. I’ll destroy you, just like I’m doing to that bastard who dared to hurt her.”
“I would never hurt her.”
“Don’t mess with my daughter.” He interrupts me, his voice as icy as his gaze. “Above everything, I’m a father... And Angelee is the most precious thing in the world.”
“I’m serious about her, Mike,” I say firmly, without looking away either. “I wouldn’t do anything to hurt her.”
“I hope so.” He finally looks away, staring at the TV. “I can tell she loves you... it’s been in her face for so long. I thought she’d get over it because of Eric, but I guess I was wrong.”
I feel my stomach twist.
“I’ve never meddled in my daughter’s love life before, and I don’t intend to now.”
I purse my lips, lowering my head because I know there’s a but coming...
“She’s a woman now, and you’re a man. As a father, there’s nothing I can do except warn you about what you’ll face if you play with her feelings. But of course, you already know that.”
“Yes, I know.” I raise my eyes once more, hoping to see him smiling at me, but it doesn’t happen.
“Now, as your friend... I can’t say anything except that I can’t bear to look at you right now.”
“I understand.” I try to sound firm, but my throat is tight. It’s hard to hold myself together and remember that I’m not a boy anymore when I’m around Mike.
After Jack’s death, Mike was the only one I really had left. My family, my parents, my brothers... everything seemed too empty without Jacob. And the only person who truly understood that feeling was Mike. Somehow, we got through it; we understood each other, we had each other...
But now, it feels like I’m losing him too.
“You can leave now; I’ve missed too much of the season’s opening.” He says, still looking at the TV. It seems that he’s focusing, but I know it’s just an excuse.
However, I don’t have the guts to extend this anymore, so I turn my back and walk out of the apartment, my eyes burning, silently apologizing to my best friend and to my brother, who is probably watching me from above with disapproval.
***
The sound of my arrival makes Angelee get up from the couch and run towards me. She throws herself into my arms, hugging me tightly, repeating again and again, *“I’m sorry.”*
I sigh deeply and bury my face in her hair, smelling its scent that is now part of my pillow. I wrap my arms around her body and say quietly, “No need to apologize... it’s not your fault.”
She lifts her face, looking straight into my eyes, allowing me to notice how the brown irises are so similar to Mike’s, yet so sensitive, pure, and passionate. I feel silly when she looks at me like that. It’s almost like I’m the most amazing guy in the world, even if I’m far from perfect.
“But because of me, you...”
“Hey, I told you I’d probably end up with a few missing teeth. Look on the bright side... they’re all in place.” I say playfully, with a sincere smile, and she smiles too, even though she fights it.
“How can you joke in a situation like this?” She purses her lips, touching my face gently as if her hand could harm me. “He *hit* you.”
“You always said he would; why the surprise?” I moisten my lips, but she frowns, placing her index finger on my lower lip next to the cut that’s still bleeding.
“I didn’t think it would get that bad. Daddy is not one to lose his composure like that.”
“I don’t blame him. The way he found out... Now that I think about it, I should have broken that guy’s face first.” I twist my lips, but a threat of pain stops me, as does her finger that lingers over my mouth.
“Things would only get worse.”
“Probably.” I threaten to bite the tip of her finger, and she retracts her hand, looking at me cautiously.
“You’re too calm for someone who’s just fought with their best friend.”
Really? I really don’t know. A few minutes ago, I felt terrible, just like shit. But now that Angelee is in my arms, looking as beautiful as an *angel*, I’m just happy to be here with her.
“At least we don’t have to keep this secret anymore or feel guilty about being together. We don’t have to lie and pretend anymore.”
She slides her hand down my chest, stopping over my serenely beating heart. Angelee truly can stir my emotions like never before, even awakening things I’ve never felt.
Sometimes, I think I love her so much that it doesn’t fit in my chest, and other times, I know she makes me overflow, and I just don’t care. She’s also the most precious thing to me... And I’m going to protect her and give my everything to never let her down...
And I’m starting now.
“You don’t have to hold on any longer. I can take everything you have for myself.” I lean in, mixing our breaths. “Your love, your attention, your care, your moans, and every one of your orgasms, I’m going to take it all for myself, and I’m not going to let you go.”
“Who says I want to go?” She whispers, brushing her lips against mine.
“I wouldn’t let you, even if you wanted to.”
She smiles, “Well, I don’t want to.”
“Good.” I smile as well, closing my eyes and kissing her lightly. “Because now, we’re in this together.”
“But what if you regret it?” She grabs my shirt, and I feel her lips tremble over my mouth.
“I won’t.”
“Today... it took a lot, didn’t it?”
Maybe, *probably...*
But honestly? I don’t regret it one bit.
I could be better, but... I don’t regret falling in love with her and facing my feelings.
“The only thing that matters to me, Angelee, is that you’re with me...”
Because everything else... I can handle it if you’re by my side.