“What a lovely story,” Aunt Dottie says, smiling at Julian, but I can see the insincerity on her face. Julian asks her a question about the house and I turn to study my sister, my gaze immediately going to the spot where the bruise was yesterday. I can barely make it out but it’s still there like she tried to cover it with makeup. Glancing up at her face, something catches my attention and I stare at her upper arm, just under her shirt, where a fresh bruise colors her skin.
I turn my gaze to Aunt Dottie, who casually glances over at me before following my gaze to Ivy’s arm. She skirts over the area, keeping up her conversation with Julian and I wonder if she even saw it until I notice her knuckles turning white. When I glance over at Ivy, she’s watching me warily, so I flash her a smile and she relaxes back into her seat a little.
How can she just sit casually next to him after he’s hurt her?
“Ivy tells us you work for your father?” Dottie asks, slipping a dainty bite of food into her mouth and chewing slowly. I know how she feels. The thought of eating right now makes me feel ill also.
Julian laughs and shakes his head. “Ah, not really. I’m a political consultant so I do help my father out from time to time, but I don’t work for him.”
“Oh, I see,” Dottie replies and glances over to me like she wants me to help out with this façade of a dinner but all the things I want to say to this man would upset my sister.
“Carly, Ivy said you’re a writer?” Julian says, turning on the charm as he stares at me, waiting for my answer and I try not to glare. Clearing my throat, I fold my hands in my lap and nod.
“Yes, that’s right. I work for Mercedes Richmond at Champagne Dreaming.”
He nods, taking a bite of food. “Yes, I know her father. Excellent golf player.”
I force a smile to my face, hoping that it doesn’t look like a grimace. It’s not surprising Julian knows Mercedes’ father since he’s one of the wealthiest men in the city. I have to wonder, though, why they always bring up how well someone plays a sport like I give a damn. It’s like some kind of measure of their manhood. What am I even supposed to say to something like that anyway?
Ivy gives me a pleading look and when Julian looks away to talk to Dottie about something, I shrug. I really don’t know what the hell she wants from me. I’m doing my best here. Besides, there isn’t much I don’t already know about him since I googled him as soon as I got home from my nail appointment today.
“Carly, could I see you in the kitchen?” Ivy asks and my gaze snaps up to her. I nod and she stands, tossing her napkin to the table before she calmly walks out of the room. Dottie and Julian watch me carefully as I follow her.
“What are you doing?” she seethes, twisting around and pointing a finger at me.
I shrug. “I don’t know.”
“Are you trying to sabotage this? You promised me you would help convince Dottie that he is an okay guy.”
My jaw drops and I shake my head. “Yeah, well, that was before I saw the bruises on your arm and don’t think I didn’t notice the new one.”
Her hand flies to her upper arm before she can stop herself and I nod, vindicated.
“You don’t understand,” she hisses, stepping closer to me and lowering her voice.
“What I understand, Vi, is you’re in a dangerous situation and I’m so worried about you that my stomach is in knots most of the time.”
“Car, you don’t understand…”
“Ivy.” Julian’s voice cuts through our conversation, hard as steel, as he stands at the entrance to the kitchen. “I just got a call from my father. I’m afraid we have to go.”
She tears her gaze away from me and nods at him. “Okay. Let me go grab my purse.”
Her hand falls from her arm and she brushes past both of us, leaning up to give Julian a kiss on the cheek as she passes, before disappearing into the dining room. Julian smiles, his gaze lingering on my chest for just a bit too long.
“It was lovely meeting you, Carly.”
Ivy comes back to the kitchen, saving me from having to respond and wraps her arms around me.
“Talk to you later, okay?” she whispers in my ear and I nod. As she pulls away, Julian takes her hand and gently pulls her out the front door. Dottie rises from the table and goes to the window, pulling the curtain back just a fraction to spy on them. I join her, peeking through the other side as my heart climbs into my throat. Julian’s body is tense as he leads Ivy to his car, rougher than he was just a moment ago. She looks like she’s pleading with him and he stops in the middle of the street and slaps her across the face. Dottie and I both gasp. My hand flies to my mouth and my eyes burn as a tear slips down my cheek.
Chapter Twenty-One
Carly
The vase of white roses sitting in front of my apartment door stops me in my tracks as I step off the elevator and I sigh. Damn. I really wish there was a way to get into my apartment without picking them up. Why can’t he just let this go? Crossing the hallway, I stop in front of them and sigh again. I don’t need to read the card because I already know who they’re from and I don’t want to hear anything he has to say. What could he possibly say anyway? There’s nothing that will change the fact that he’s married or that he turned me into his mistress. Deep shame rises up inside me and I shift the bottle of wine I picked up on the way home to the crook of my arm as I bend down to grab the vase. As I jam my keys into the lock and open the door, I consider leaving them on my doorstep before shaking my head in annoyance and closing the door behind me.
My apartment is uncomfortably quiet as I flick on the lights and I wonder if I should have called Izzy or Ali to hang out instead of coming straight home after work. I set the flowers and wine down on the island before searching through the blooms for the card I promised myself I wouldn’t read. Pulling it out, I roll my eyes when I see the “I’m Sorry” printed on the front. Does he think that’s going to fix anything?
Carly,
I don’t know much about flowers but the woman at the shop said fifteen roses symbolize an apology so that’s what I ordered for you. I’ve been racking my brain, going over that night again and again in my head, but I still don’t understand what happened. Whatever it is, whatever I did to upset you, please know how sorry I am. I would never intentionally hurt you, baby. The night of the party, something changed between us and for a little while you were mine. It was everything I wanted and the greatest thing I’ve ever felt. I would fight for you until I took my last breath, but I’ll try and let you go if that’s what you really want. If this is really the end for us, I just need to hear you say it and I’ll be gone from your life forever.
Chance.
My heart seizes in my throat and the card falls out of my hand, fluttering to the floor as my mind races. I don’t know what to think about his note. On the one hand, this is exactly what I wanted but now that it’s a reality, I don’t know if I can push him away. God, is that what I want? The thought of losing Chance, of never seeing him again, is more devastating than I can even express. How can I even hurt this much? Didn’t he reach into my chest and tear my heart out when I discovered he was married? Jesus, what am I saying? He’s married. He promised his life to another woman and I have no right to want him like this. I have no right to love him.