She didn’t know what to do. He’d asked for this night, and she’d agreed to give it to him, but... “I can’t stand it that you’re feeling so bad.”
“Tomorrow,” he said again, more forcefully this time.
“Fine, I’ll wait,” she agreed. “But whatever it is, I promise it’s going to be okay.”
An hour later, when hewasfinally asleep, she slipped out of his room to find her own bed. But she was still so terrified about what he was going to say when he finally explained himself that she couldn’t sleep.
She’d never seen Jules cry before. What could affect him that deeply?
Charlotte was anxious when she got dressed in the morning. She needed to get some writing done, but Jules had seemed so troubled after they made love...
A knock sounded on her door while she was brushing her teeth. “Come in,” she managed to say around her toothbrush.
Lilly let herself in and came to stand beside her, where they could see each other in the bathroom mirror. “I want to call Steve today. Would that be okay?”
After rinsing her mouth, Charlotte put her hair into a messy bun. “Of course. His contact is in your phone.”
“So I can call the States? It doesn’t cost money?”
“Nope. I put your phone on my contract and upgraded to a global plan while we’re here.”
“That’s awesome!” Her little jump of excitement made the extra five bucks a day well worth it.
“I’m sure he’ll be happy to hear from you. You should send him one of the pictures from our trip to the grotto. Just remember it’s seven hours earlier in Cherokee, so wait until noon, at least. He gets up early, but not in the middle of the night.”
“I will,” she said and was just about to leave when she peered at Charlotte a little more closely. “Are you okay?”
“Of course. Why do you ask?”
“You look tired.”
Shewastired. She hadn’t gotten more than a couple hours sleep even after she’d returned to her bed. She’d had too much on her mind, including memories of making love with Julian. That had been the best sex of her life; she was still excited about it. But she had no way of knowing exactly how it would change their relationship. “I might have to take a nap later.”
“Are you going to write now?”
She was going to seek out Julian and finally put the questions inside her to rest. “After I eat,” she said, but when she got downstairs, he was gone. Only Sloane was there, making breakfast.
Charlotte pulled her phone out of her pocket and texted him.
Coward.
Don’t be in such a hurry. How about we just screw around while we’re here? Have some fun and face reality when we go home?
Sloane must’ve heard her footsteps, because she looked back. “Who are you texting?”
“No one.” She didn’t want to admit she was texting Julian. Normally, that wouldn’t be a problem. But after last night? She felt like she had to be careful. “Just reading all the messages Cliff sent me.”
“Are there a lot of them?”
“A ton! He’s freaking out.”
“That’s a little worrisome.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m afraid you’ll go back to him.”
“I’m not going back to him. There’s no way.” Not after last night. He’d never forgive her—even though she’d made it clear she wasn’t interested in reconciling. “I’m not even tempted.”
