“Fascinating,” Franco mumbled, chin propped on his fist. “Though honestly, some of this reminds me of you and Devon.”
“We were never this bad,” Juliette protested.
“No, probably not.” Franco eyed him. “They need a third.”
The idea made Eric sick to his stomach. Not just because he’d never wanted to be in another trinity marriage, but sharing Nikolett…
“Oh, he hates that idea. Look at his face.” Franco was leaning close to the camera. All Eric could see was his nose and one eye. “This is like watching a telanovella.”
Juliette yanked him back, smiling. “Who do we have in Hollywood that might want this?”
“Do not make a movie about me and Nikolett,” Eric said through his teeth.
“It would do better as a series. Probably on a streaming platform. Let me check the membership list.” Franco pulled his phone out of his pocket.
Eric grabbed the monitor, shaking it like he wanted to shake the Americans. “Are you going to help me or just make me feel stupider?”
“Eric,” Juliette said gently, “I can do both, because I’m just that good.” She smirked.
That startled a laugh out of him, which released the sick knot of tension that had formed in his stomach when Juliette pointed out how his message had probably come across to Nikolett.
“I wasn’t trying to say that it was only over because now I said it was over.”
“What were you trying to say?” Juliette asked.
“I was trying to make it clear that what we were doing before?—”
“Using one another as emotional refuge and punching bags, plus periodic hate-fucking.” Franco nodded as he spoke, as if he were merely reiterating known facts and details.
“That’s… I…” Eric took a calming breath. “I’m going to shake Colum until his teeth fall out.” He should have taken two calming breaths.
“You hadn’t really accepted that your relationship before—healthy or not—was over until Elijah came?”
“No, I knew it was over. Like I said, she’s been done with me for months.”
“Okay.” Juliette drew the word out. “Then why did you say that?”
“Because I want her to know that the next time I kiss her, it’s not the continuation of what we had, it’s the start of something new.”
All three of the Americans froze.
He wanted a life with Nikolett. Or flip it around to say he had no interest in a life that didn’t include her.
“You’re going to…” Franco trailed off.
Devon rose from his chair to perch beside his wife. “But she’s a territory admiral, and you’re the fleet admiral and?—”
“I know. But my brain is no longer confusing memories with active current danger. I’m no longer convinced that my loving Nikolett will doom her and that I need to protect her by staying away.”
“A little wild that you thought that,” Franco mused. “Nikolett is a self-rescuing princess.”
“Eric.” Juliette’s tone was careful. “As much as I applaud your success in therapy, you need to remember nothing has changed for Nikolett.”
“I know.”
“If you announce her marriage, but now it’s to you?—”
“Not announcing it. I’m not going to make it an arranged marriage.”
