Steve POV
Staring solely at Julie's lips, I realized that I had fallen in love with her smile.
It’s the first time I thought of words like that for anyone other than Chloe, and I don't mean it as a simple statement of truth, but rather as an honest expression of my love for how they pulled upward in the perfect shape.
"So…" Julie whispered, staring down at her heels.
It should be easy to talk to her, but it felt difficult because she had the same effect that Chloe had on me… they both captured my heart in a way that made me nervous.
From how Jackson had looked at me earlier, I knew he was shocked that I attended the club with Chloe, and honestly, I am surprised that she was the one I settled for.
Even though the way he acted was damn rude, it was understandable because he has tried several times to break off our toxic relationship.
But a six-year bond isn't easily broken because both partners agreed to end the relationship. It has nothing to do with time healing all wounds. It's about you not being able to switch off your feelings for her after all the years of loving her.
And when it comes to Chloe, it's not a feeling I can control, even though it isn't something that's supposed to happen between us. She's like poison, and I'm powerless against it.
With one call, she can make me forget everything, all my responsibilities, all of the things that she had done to fuck me up, and I can try forgetting her by changing women every day, but that only breaks me more than I am willing to admit.
"Do you love baking like your father?" I mumbled, smiling faintly when Julie raised her gaze. "His donuts are amazing. I kind of ate almost everything Jackson brought to the office. He was so pissed."
"Hahaha... I do like baking because my dad loves it, and most of my perfect childhood memories are in the kitchen with him," Julie said softly.
Looking down at her, I watched as her lashes fluttered. The sight was so beautiful that I didn't want it to end, and when she smiled up at me, it took everything within me to calm my heartbeat down.
Staring into her eyes, I realized I was wrong for comparing Julie and Chloe because there was definitely some difference here… between her and me than what Chloe and I had, even though I don't know what it is.
"Can you excuse me?" I mumbled, giving in to the sense of nervousness I felt.
"Sure," She said sweetly.
My eyes studied hers for a moment. Then I walked off, heading towards the bathroom, and the moment I reached the lady's room, I stood in my tracks.
"Steven...! I am sorry for staying too long in the bathroom. You wouldn't believe the line I had to wait in just for my hand to get washed." Chloe said as she approached me.
When our eyes locked, I sense of guilt, seeing her in front of me with a smile on her face like she didn't care that we were just hurting each other by being here, together when it was clear that we were never going to be serious again.
"That's not a problem," I said, disappointed with myself. "Jackson has arrived at the club."
A look of confusion clouded her eyes, and she sighed softly, mumbling, "Should I go say 'hi' to him?"
Just by those words, I could tell how ignorant Chloe can be because she never seemed to know what she did wrong to me.
No matter how much I like to fool myself, Chloe is still the same woman she was when we met but there are so many things that have changed, and not for the better I can assure you.
"You can't go! Jackson hates you." I blurted out in annoyance.
"Right. So you are here to tell me to leave?"
"Chloe…"
"I know what we are…"
Reaching my hand into my pocket, I pulled out a couple of bills and mumbled, "If you do. Then you will take this one thousand and leave."
"Is that how you see me! As a money digger!?" Chloe asked, looking into my eyes without blinking.
"You are not?"
"You motherfucker!"
"Chloe, can we not play the 'I am righteous' game? We both know that you don't love me, but my money. Just take the money."
My eyes swayed towards her palm as she spread them open as though she wanted to slap, biting on her bottom lip. Then she looked away from me and let out, "You are right! I only love your money. That's why one thousand is not enough. I need ten thousand, or I will approach Jackson right now."
Not wanting to argue with her, I pulled out my phone and wired the money to her, suppressing the anger I felt.
"I guess that's your payment. Can you leave now!" I stated, glaring at her as she stared at her screen. "Are we good?!"
"Yes!" Chloe said, putting her phone back into her purse. "Until next time."
Her eyes were on mine, I knew it was going to be my fault that there might be a next time between us because I never told her how she hurt me, and I still don't know why I am still holding on to the truth. Maybe it's because it makes me feel pathetic.
After Chloe walked off, I headed back into the VIP section, and as I approached our table, my eyes remained on Julie, and I felt indecisive.
The more I thought about it, I did not know if it was good or bad that I had decided to go back to love after everything that had happened.
"Look who's back," Julie whispered nervously, taking a sip of her drink.
Although I tried to give her a half-smile, my emotions were still a mess, and I took a seat, reaching for the glass on the table.
"Oh, that was mine," Julie whispered, looking down at the table as she pouted.
It grew silent between her and me, and neither of us was willing to break it.
Our eyes met only for a moment before Julie's gaze dropped to the table again and she started fidgeting with her hands, nervously playing with her fingers.
"Are you okay?" I asked her, even though it was a dumb question, and it was clear that she wasn't okay.
"Yeah," Julie mumbled, raising her gaze and staring back at the bar where Jackson was.
I could tell that she was becoming uncomfortable with me, and I am at fault for fucking this up with her.
"Should he be drinking that much?" Julie whispered, looking back at me with a sprinkle of worry in her eyes.
"He handles his alcohol well," I mumbled, smiling at her.
Frowning slightly as though she didn't trust a word I said, she glared back at Jackson and muttered, "Are you sure?"
Jackson POV "Is this seat taking?" a masculine voice asked me. At this point, I was moderately wasted with alcohol, and I turned my head to the right to gaze at a built dark skin guy standing over me whose outfit looked superior and deluxe. "Brother, your suit makes you seem stuck up, and it's ruining my pleasant mood.“ I mumbled, judging if I needed someone next to me right now. “ Haha,” a laugh slipped from his lips, and he didn't seem offended by my words. “You can sit near me since you are handsome, and if you are sitting next to me, it is in my favor.“ “Why?“ “Did you notice how those ladies' eyes immediately rolled off me and on you? You are everything I need to make my night perfect." I mumbled, picking up my shot glass. The stare I was getting from the girls from the other table was annoying, and their constant whispering to each other was screwing with me. "I am Chris." The fellow said as he seized the seat next to me. "David, Jackson David," I told him, ignoring th
Jackson POV Last night we both barely slept, and never in a million years did I think that this would be us after she finally came home. But I know my wife inside and out, and something was different about her… and I feel shitty that I can not move past that. Her cries kept me up last night, and I could feel the pain she was going through, but I couldn't do anything to help her, not when she wouldn't be honest with me. All I could think about is what this must be like for her right now because we had never gone through something like this before… not once in our love life. Sighing out my frustration, I sat up, resting my feet on the cold tiles, and shut my eyes when I felt the bed move beneath me. Even though Jennie was awake, she said nothing, and I woke from the bed, headed into the bathroom, and locked the door behind me. When I got into the shower, the noise of the doorknob turning a bit aggressively caught my attention, but I turned on the showerhead with a heavy heart.
Julie POV The sound of a knock echoed in my room before my mother walked inside with a breakfast tray and hangover pills. As she approached my bed, I hastily shut my eyes. But when she kissed my head, I couldn't help but smile at her sweet gesture, even though she does that more than often. Yet, I didn't raise my eyelids since I was pretending to sleep because I couldn't sleep last night. It's hard when I'm trying not to think about Steven. All night, I could not stop thinking about him even though we just met. I kept remembering the sparkle in his eyes, hearing his voice, and the way he smiled when he spoke to me. It was no secret that he was so captivating, and it took my breath away, and my poor heart felt drawn to him as an arrow stuck in its target. "Jul, wake up and have breakfast." My mother's voice flowed in my ear. When she hit me gently, I still didn't want to wake up because it felt nice to be in bed, and that's what I wanted today… to stay in my room. "Do you nee
Jackson POV "All done with the bandage," Jennie whispered as she lifted her head and stared at me, smiling brightly. Staring into her eyes, I wanted to kiss her so badly, but I couldn’t bring myself to do so. Yet it felt like all my emotions were screaming at me to do it, and I tried to silence them, but they grew louder. The way her eyes glow, she is beautiful, and she is mine. What happened between us last night was not right, not in any way did it make sense at this moment... at least not anymore. "Does it still hurt?" Jennie said, pouting cutely. But I couldn't focus on anything else but her lips. They were pink and plump and soft, and when they move when she spoke, I felt my body react on instinct. And I took a deep breath, trying to calm down before I did something stupid, and before my heart beat out of my chest. I could feel it racing as Jennie stared at me, those eyes that are usually warm and playful now full of concern. Unable to control myself, I pulled her towards
Steven POV Listening to the quietness in my office, I kept pacing back and forward, feeling anxious that Jackson was not at work yet. Knowing that I was running out of time, I rushed for my desk, got a hold of my phone, and dialed my Secretary's number. "Has Jackson arrived at the office?" I asked immediately when she answered my call. "I am sorry, sir. But for the fifth time, Mr. David is not in the building." Kate uttered in a soft tone. "Thanks. Please inform me when he arrives." "Sure boss." Julie and I are supposed to meet a couple of minutes from now, but I decided to wait ten more minutes for Jackson, and if doesn't arrive within that time frame, I will have to get over my anxiety on my own. I don't know how, but I lose the balls to meet Julie right after inviting her out, and without Jackson's advice, I believe that I would fuck things up. Jackson is now like my mentor when it comes to relationships. I mean, the dude has been married to Jennie for years, and she is th
Sitting in the backseat of my car, I took out my phone from my pocket and dialed Jennie's number. "Can you speed this up, Joe? I have limited time in my favor." I said, waiting for Jennie to answer. "Hello, Steven!" Jennie answered on the other side of the line. "What's up?" Her voice is still the same. It's always as gentle as a lullaby, and now that I have heard it, I don't know if I did the right thing by calling her. "Steven," Jennie's voice rang in my ear, snapping me out of my head. "I need you to listen to me loud and clear," I said, keeping my voice steady. "Okay," "I see you as my little sister because you are the woman in my friend's life. And since Jackson loves you. I also cherish you." "Thanks?" "However, the moment you left the country and neglected Jackson for all those periods, his emotions became unstable. He is like a walking depression." "Steven, I know how much Jackson means to you. And I will..." Not allowing her to finish her sentence, I blurted out,
Jennie buried her head in a pillow after her conversation on the phone with Steven ended. She could not cry anymore. Her eyes were red and puffy. Jennie had a runny nose and a stomach ache. She had been crying the entire morning on an empty stomach. She needed to get out of the house. Everything in their home reminds Jennie of her husband and how much she's been outraging him. Jennie took a hot shower, got dressed, and made a call to her best girl pal."Hello, Susan. Can I visit you at your office? I am going insane with guilt, and I need to chat with someone regarding my sins. And Susan, it's you that comes to mind when I think about confessing. Also, you and Steven are the only actual friends I have. Plus, Steven is out of the question because he will despise me before Jackson can have the chance to reject me. If he discovers my secret." Jennie explains in a haltering and fast tone."Sure, Jun. I am in my office
**Previously**"I am sorry for my attitude." Steven apologized when Julie finally joined him. Steven knew that Julie's statement was wise. And it was his guilt of lying to her that hurt his pride. But he could not tell her the truth because every time Steven stared at Julie, he could not endure the concept of losing her because of a lie. **Now**"I apologize for my behavior. It's