Even if this marriage is in name only, it’smine.
“I’d need my phone to remember the exact name of the business,” I reply softly. “I know that it’s not too far away from where I was staying.”
Julian pulls my phone out of his pocket and passes it to me. “It’s charged. I didn’t turn it on because I didn’t want to invade your privacy.”
I lift an eyebrow, and he blows out a breath.
“You’re going to learn to trust me again.”
I don’t reply as I press the button on the side of the device and wait for it to come to life.
To my surprise, hundreds of texts come in, all from Lulu and Scarlett, and it makes tears come to my eyes.
“What’s wrong?” Julian asks, jumping to his feet and standing over me.
“They cared.”
I look up at him and see that he’s staring down at my phone.
“Angel. Of course, they care. They’re your friends.”
“No.” I shake my head sadly. “They’reyourfriends. Your family. I was just borrowing them.”
He doesn’t say anything as I maneuver to my search history and then show him the name of the pawn shop where I sold my ring.
“This is it.”
“Would you please text me that location?”
“Sure.” Quickly, I tap the screen and send it to him. “Do you want me to have dinner ready for you when you get home?”
“No.” He sits next to my hip on the lounger and reaches out to brush his fingertips down my cheek.
I flinch.
His eyes narrow, and his jaw tightens.
“I willneverhurt you.”
Pressing my lips together, I nod. “Okay.”
“I don’t want you to have dinner ready for me today or any other day. We’ve been through this before. Chef will be here at five to get dinner started for us.”
I nod and look away from him, staring at the blue water in the pool. If my hand wasn’t in a cast, I would go for a swim.
“Would you please take the piano away?”
He’s quiet for a moment and then takes my chin in his fingers and makes me look him in the eyes.
“Why would I do that?”
“Because it hurts to look at it.” A tear falls down my cheek, and I hate myself for showing vulnerability in front of him. I want to be strong. I don’t want him to pity me. “I don’t think I’ll be able?—”
“Don’t finish that sentence.” He leans in and presses his lips to mine, so unbearably softly that it makes more tears fall.
It hurt when I didn’t have him, and it’s just as horrible being this close to him and holding myself back.
“You’ll play again when your hands have healed, baby. But if you want me to have it moved until you’re ready, I can.”
