“How are your hands healing up?” Scarlett asks.
“The cut is doing much better. It should be pretty much normal in another week or so. But the wrist is going to take some time. Thankfully, I didn’t need surgery.”
“Are you able to use them at all?” Lu asks.
“Just well enough to get by. And let me tell you, it’s annoying. Julian had to feed me for days. Finally, I can hold my own utensils.”
“I’m going to say this one more time, and then I’ll leave it be,” Lu says. “You need to talk to your husband about what happened. If you still don’t know why he did what he did,askhim. He owes you answers.”
I nod, agreeing with her.
“I have to find my voice again.”
“It’s still there,” Scarlett reminds me. “You just need to use it.”
An hour later, after we’ve talked about other things, and actually napped for a bit, we’re in the kitchen snacking on fruit when Julian walks into the room, followed by Rome and Luke, who each make a beeline for their girls.
It’s adorable, really. How those big, scary guys dote on their women.
Julian’s eyes are pinned to mine as he stalks toward me, but he doesn’t touch me. His hands bunch into fists, and I decide to take pity on him and open my arms for a hug.
Without hesitation, he presses his lips to my forehead and hugs me against him.
“How was your afternoon, Angel?”
“Fun, actually.” I glance at the girls, and we share a smile. Then, I look at their men. “Hi, guys.”
“It’s good to see you,” Luke says, and Scarlett beams up at him.
“You look much better since the last time I saw you,” Rome says with a wink. “Welcome back, Natasha.”
“Um, thanks.” I offer him a smile, and then to my horror, I yawn. “I’m so sorry, it’s not the company.”
“Yes it is, they’re boring as fuck,” Julian says with a smug grin. “My girl is tired, guys.”
“That’s our cue,” Rome says as he kisses Lu’s neck. “Let’s go home, Firefly.”
The girls hug me once more, and then the four of them head out, and I’m left with my husband.
I want the affection back. I want to pretend the past month didn’t happen.
“Do you want to nap?” Julian asks softly.
“No, I’m going to try to stay up until a normal bedtime.”
“It’s okay to rest.”
I press my lips together and lean back in my chair so I can look up at him. “We need to talk.”
His brow furrows, and then he nods and stands back, not touching me as I push off the stool and stride into the living room, where I lower myself onto the couch and fold my legs under me. Julian sits on a chair across from me.
He’s so far away.
Use your voice, Natasha.
“I like it when you sit next to me.”
With a surprised lift of his eyebrow, he crosses to me and sits just a foot away, facing me. I adjust myself so I’m facing him as well, my crossed legs resting against his shin. If he wanted to, he could lean in and press his lips to mine.
