Chapter 20
Chapter 20
I bask in the afterglow for the rest of the evening. Julian showers me with kisses before offering to make us popcorn for a movie, after which he wanders off to start it. I make my way to the bathroom to clean off, slipping into an old t-shirt of Julian’s that I find in his closet.
Walking back into the bedroom, I’m still in utter shock. How did this man completely turn my life upside down? Here I am, no longer a virgin and possibly even in … love? I don’t even want to admit it to myself yet.
I hop onto the bed, snuggling up in the covers. Julian has a TV in his room, so I settle in and wait for him to return with the popcorn.
A buzz on the bed catches my attention, and I search the covers. Had I tossed my phone in here when I came in? When I find the offending phone, I realize it’s Julian’s. A text from his brother, Callum, pops up on the screen.
Taking it in my hand, I begin inching off the bed. “Julian,” I call. “Your brother is texting.”
But as my feet hit the floor, the screen swipes up, opening their text conversations. Without even meaning to, my eyes scan the texts. Callum is asking Julian for an update on some email. But it isn’t the newest text that catches my eye. It isn’t even a text from Callum at all.
It’s a text from Julian. Something he’d sent Callum a few weeks ago. My blood runs cold, and I freeze to the spot.
Julian: Maybe I’ll bring the program manager.
Julian: You didn’t warn me about how hot she is. All I can think about is getting in her pants.
I swallow, staring down at the words on the screen that I don’t want to believe are true. He’s talking about me. Texting about me. To his brother. To Callum’s credit, he shoots back a text that basically tells Julian to shove it.
But …
I suddenly feel sick. I want to throw up. Oh my god. No. I didn’t just …
Fuck.
All this time, I thought Julian actually cared about me. But all he wanted was to simply “get in my pants.” How could I have been so stupid? I’d known in my gut that Julian was a player. I’d known from the second I’d laid eyes on him. And yet I’d allowed myself to get swept up in his games. And he’d gotten exactly what he wanted.
Anger, hurt, and humiliation all burn through me.
Suddenly unable to stand the thought of Julian’s t-shirt on my body, I pull it over my head, tossing it across the room. I grab my dress from the floor, pulling it back on.
Suddenly, the bedroom door swings open and in walks Julian. He chuckles when he sees me. “You know, I have shirts you can borrow so you don’t have to wear that to bed.”
I turn to him, and he must read my expression because immediately his smile drops. “Nora, what is it?”
“Was I just a game to you?” I ask, but the words come out quiet and choked.
“What—” I toss the phone at him, and he catches it, staring down at the screen—at the texts between him and Callum. “What are you—"
“All I can think about is getting in her pants,” I repeat the text out loud, my voice even this time.
His gaze lands on the message, and his face falls. “Fuck.” He looks up at me, his expression desperate, pleading. “Nora, that’s not—”
“It’s not what?” I snap. “Real? You didn’t send that? You didn’t mean it? What?”
He swallows, opening his mouth, but no words come out.
“That’s what I thought,” I mumble, brushing past him and out the door.
I hurry into the living room, grabbing my purse off the kitchen counter and making my way to the door.
Julian rushes after me. “Nora, wait! Please don’t go. Let me explain. It’s not what it looks like.”
“It’s exactly what it looks like, Julian!” I cry, twirling around. “You’re a rich CEO who’s used to getting whatever he wants, and I was just a stupid game to you. Well, congratulations. You won.” Tears prick the corners of my eyes, but I hold them back.
“Please,” he begs, reaching for me, but I yank my arm away.
“Fuck you,” I mutter, slipping on my shoes and throwing open the front door. I slam it and run down the hallway before he has time to come after me. It isn’t until I’m in the elevator that I let myself cry.