Novels by JustNabi

JULIANI woke up early and left him in the bed on purpose, because if I stayed I was going to start the morning the same way we had ended the night, and I actually wanted coffee first. I was still sore in a way that made me smile at the kettle like an idiot when his arms came around me from behind and his mouth landed on my shoulder.“You’re up,” he muttered.“Someone has to make this. You just lie there looking loved.”He laughed into my neck. “I do love you.”I turned in his arms and kissed him, and it started soft and then it didn’t, because he had that morning voice and his hands were already under my shirt. He lifted me onto the counter like it was nothing and stood between my knees and kissed me until I forgot the coffee.“Enzo.”“What?”“The kettle.”“It can wait.”He dropped to his knees on the kitchen tile, pulled me forward, and spread me open before I could argue. I grabbed the edge of the counter and swore when his mouth found me, wet and deliberate, eating me out like we

JULIAN I didn’t let him finish the next sentence.I jumped.He caught me on instinct, hands under my thighs, and I kissed him hard enough that he made a startled sound into my mouth before he kissed me back.“I’m sorry,” I said against his mouth. “I overreacted. I know I did. I heard the call and I packed a bag like that was a personality, and I’m sorry.”“Julian—”“I mean it. I was angry and I was scared and I left you in that kitchen and I still missed you the whole time, which is pathetic, and I love you.”He froze.The words were out. My stomach dropped so fast I almost snatched them back.“I didn’t—forget that. I didn’t mean to say it like that. I can take it back. I—”He kissed me. Properly.“I love you too. Don’t take it back.”“You froze.”“Because I’ve been trying not to say it in a dorm room after three days of you not answering me.” His forehead tipped to mine. His breath was shaky. “I’m sorry too. I should’ve told you the second I found that letter. I shouldn’t have made

ENZOMarcus and Theo showed up without asking, which was how they always showed up, and I opened the door because if I didn’t they would keep knocking until the neighbour started something.“Jesus,” Marcus said, walking straight in. “You look like you lost a fight with your own furniture.”Theo held up a bag. “We brought beer. And those crisps you pretend you don’t eat. Move.”“I’m fine.”“That’s cute,” Marcus said. “Sit down. You’ve been a ghost for two days. People are starting to write poetry about it.”“What people?”“Us,” Theo said. “We’re people. Sit.”I sat because they were already in the kitchen, already opening cupboards like they lived here, and Marcus leaned against the counter and looked at me properly.“Alright. What’s going on with you?”“Nothing.”“Don’t do that. You’ve been walking around like someone unplugged you. Is it Damien? Because if it’s Damien, I swear to God, Enzo, that boy is not worth this face.”Theo cracked a can and slid it toward me. “He’s banned you,

JULIANI called Charlotte from the stairwell because I couldn’t stay in that house, and I wanted to be alone.She picked up on the second ring. “What’s wrong?”“Can you get me a room?”“What?”“A room. On campus. Just for a few nights. Please.”“Julian, what happened?”“Enzo and I had a fight. I need somewhere to stay.”I heard her moving. “How bad?”“Bad enough that I left.”“Are you hurt?”“No. I just can’t go back there tonight.”“Okay. Don’t go to the front desk and make a scene. Give me twenty minutes. Where are you?”“Stairwell. Our building.”“Go outside and wait by the side gate. I’ll call you back.”She hung up. I went down with the bag on my shoulder and stood by the side gate with my phone in my hand and didn’t open Enzo’s name. Charlotte called again while I was still there.“I pulled something,” she said. “Old block. Empty room since midterm. I know the girl on duty. She’ll sign you in if I come with you. Can you walk?”“Yes.”“Then walk. I’ll meet you at the side entranc

ENZOTwo days later I took the call on the balcony because the apartment was quiet and I figured Julian was still in the bathroom. I was still on the line asking about my dad and about his when I heard him behind me. I turned around and he was standing in the doorway with wet hair, listening.I hung up.He came inside. I followed him in and shut the balcony door.“Who was that?” he said.“Work.”“Don’t do that. I heard the names. I heard you ask about your dad. I heard you ask about mine. How long have you been doing this?”“A few weeks.”He stared at me like he needed the number said twice before it would land.“A few weeks,” he said. “You’ve been paying someone to look into this for a few weeks and you didn’t tell me you found out.”“Found out what, Julian? That you think my dad murdered yours? I wouldn’t even have known you thought that if I hadn’t opened your drawer. So tell me why you’re this pissed at me when you never said a word either.”“Because you found it and you still sai

JULIANWe were still on the counter when I put a hand on his chest and pushed, not hard, just enough to break the kiss, and Enzo made an offended sound that made me laugh into his mouth before I could stop it.“Shower,” I said, and swatted his hip. “You smell like outside and you’re all over me.”“You said why not.”“I also said hall, and then you started a whole production next to the kettle. Go. Water. Now.”“You’re coming.”“Obviously. I’m not letting you use all the hot water and then come back smug.”He grinned, stole one more peck, and let me shove him toward the bathroom. We kept bumping each other in the doorway on purpose, him muttering that I had started it, me telling him he had kissed me like breakfast was optional, both of us laughing in that stupid quiet way you only do when the house is still yours for an hour.The water was already running when I stepped in behind him. He reached back and pulled me under the spray, kissed me once, properly, and I felt the joke drain ou