CHAPTER THIRTEEN
What was Julia thinking? Taking up with that firefighter? Sure, he was tall, strong, and if he was being objective, good-looking. But she was meant for him, and she knew it.
That blond hair and those blue eyes. The way she looked directly at him through the camera. He had no doubts she wanted him. She must be using Alex for something. But he wasn’t good enough for her. No one was, really. Except for him. She was his, and he was hers. Soon, she would act on her attraction, and they could live happily ever after together.
Larry told him repeatedly that Julia loved him, so it must be true. Then there was Lindy, also occupying space in his mind. Lindy had other ideas about Julia, but under pressure, had to admit she probably was in love with him.
Never mind what his parents said about Larry and Lindy existing only in his head. They didn’t know what they were talking about. And neither did the shrink they forced him to see for months. Sneaking out of California in the dead of night and running away from them had been the best decision he’d ever made. His brain was finally clear from all the medicines they’d compelled him to take.
Larry and Lindy could come and go as they pleased now. His confidants, his friends. He’d learned his lesson about discussing them though. After what his parents put him through, he kept Larry and Lindy a secret.
They’d labeled him “a threat to himself and others.” Said he “needed help before someone got hurt.” And all sorts of other untrue, hurtful lies. He was totally fine. They were the ones who had problems.
Medicine free and thinking clearly, he’d made his way to New York City to find Julia. She’d been sending him secret messages for over a year, and he’d finally found and met her. Oh, what a joyous day that had been! She was everything he knew she would be. Beautiful, nice, and hot for him.
He fantasized about the day they would finally be together. The first time they kissed and made love would make all the suffering worth it. Living in a tiny studio apartment and working at a place where he constantly had to monitor his speech and thoughts was a small sacrifice to be near her. She’d see the sacrifices he made for her, and that would enhance her love for him.
The kid had been a surprise. And the husband. But fate had been kind and taken the husband out of the picture. Saved him the trouble of having to do it. And if her husband dying right as he came to town wasn’t a sign that he and Julia were meant to be together, he didn’t know what was. It was God clearing a path for him to make his move.
After giving her sufficient time to grieve, he’d been certain it was his turn, but she’d started playing hard to get. Larry said she’d acquiesce soon. How could she not? He loved her so much, and he knew that deep down, she loved him too.
When he’d seen Calvin with the firefighter from 15-3, he assumed the guy was just being neighborly and helping out. Although, why Julia hadn’t called him remained a mystery. But then, when he saw the three of them together, that set him off. She was basically cheating on him. And he couldn’t let that go.
He would have to do something to prove he was worth her time and attention. The comments he left on her videos clearly weren’t enough. They usually went unanswered or sometimes got a “like” click from her, but other than that, nothing. Lindy said that was only because Julia had so many fans, it was hard to keep up with all the accolades. She told him he needed to stick out but didn’t have any ideas on how.
When he found out she’d been dating someone new every week, he about flipped his lid. His Julia…was a slut? No, it couldn’t be. She was his, and no matter how many men she dated and led on, she would come around. He was her biggest fan. How could she not see that?
Larry thought she did it to make him jealous. Well, it was working. He was done playing games. Unless fate intervened again, it looked like he would have to handle the people impeding their happiness—Alex and Calvin.
Calvin, for sure. He was a burden to Julia, and she needed to be free of distraction in order to devote herself to their love completely. He could have an “accident.” Larry would have to help with a plan on how to do it. Of the three of them, he was the most devious. Lindy was better with logistics.
Julia would grieve at first, but that would give him a chance to sweep in and console her. After a week or two, she’d get over Calvin’s death. Then she’d be lonely and eager to start a relationship with him.
He’d wait on Alex. Maybe hewasjust a friend. Although, if he caught Alex and Calvin together again, perhaps he could kill two birds with one stone.
He imagined Julia in white. Walking down the aisle toward him with a big smile on her face. Then that night, she would pleasure him with that gorgeous mouth. Yes, that would make it all worth it.
Until he and Larry could think up a plan, he’d rewatch her videos. He had several favorites saved in his app library. The ones where she sent him messages about wanting to be together. They were subtle, but he got the message loud and clear.
He lit the candles in front of the shrine he’d made to her and added the latest candid photo of her he’d managed to sneak without her noticing. He put it alongside all the others. Those that he’d taken from her website or from freeze frames of her videos. An entire wall dedicated to his one true love. He just had to be patient a little longer.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Alex was exhausted. The last twelve hours had been nonstop calls. Four fires, six medical emergencies, and five false alarms, one after the other. He was so tired he’d taken a taxi home instead of his usual walk.
After nodding off in the cab, he dragged himself out and into the building.
“Long day, Mr. MacDonald?” the doorman, Rudy, asked.
“Very long,” Alex said, mustering a half-smile.
“Got a package for you. Give me a minute, and I’ll grab it.”
While waiting, the front door swooshed open, and Julia breezed in. She wore high-heeled boots and a black overcoat cinched around her trim waist. Her hair was curled, and her makeup done all fancy. He’d gotten used to her yoga pants and hoodie look but wasn’t complaining. ’Course, she could wear a garbage bag and still look amazing.
“Hey,” he said. “Long time no see. Been on a hot date?”
“Ugh,” she said. “If you use the term ‘date’ loosely, then yes.”
