I didn’t know what I was thinking, meeting Julian like this. What did I expect? He could hardly be expected to behave rationally after how I had treated him.
I pushed the door open, the fresh air greeting me as I sucked in a breath gratefully. Suddenly Julian was behind me, his mouth close to my ear as he spoke.
“Come by later, and we’ll finish this discussion.”
I whirled around angrily, watching him walk away with his car keys swinging around his finger.
“No,” I said firmly, my body shaking with rage.
He stopped, turning back towards me as he laughed bitterly.
“No? Did I give the impression it was optional?”
We stared at one another before he walked back up to me slowly.
“Oh, someone sends his love. I met him at the pub yesterday. What was his name?” Julian clicked his fingers, closing his eyes as he appeared to be deep in thought. I watched him with disgust, knowing this was just a game to him.
“That’s it. Arden Charter. He sends his love.”
“Jain.” I heard a heavenly voice call, my body relaxing when Evan slipped an arm around my waist protectively. “Everything alright here?”
Julian ignored Evan completely, instead dragging his gaze down my body appreciatively as Evan tensed beside me.
“Let me know, hmm?”
Julian walked away, and Evan stared at me with concern.
“Jain?”
I couldn’t be in this situation again. I wasn’t going to be bullied into being someone’s wife, for fuck’s sake.
But I was terrified.
If Arden and Vada stood against us, would we stand a chance?
Would anyone just let us be?
The roar of Julian’s car filled my ears as he drove past us, barely giving me a second glance before he sped off.
“Jain?”
I turned to see Evan staring at me with sad eyes, his shoulders slumping as he sighed.
“Evan?”
“I’ve just had an email from Vada. I don’t know how...but she has photos of us from school.” Evan swallowed, his eyes falling to the floor as his hands laced with mine. “I’m quite sure she’s blackmailing me.”
I closed my eyes as I pinched the bridge of my nose.
“They sure have the motivation,” I whispered, lifting my gaze to his. “The question is, does it hold any weight?”
Evan lifted my hands to his lips before pressing them against my skin.
“I’m sorry, Jain.”
“Me too.” I let out a cry when he pulled me into his arms. He guided me over to his car, and I slid onto the seat wordlessly. He drove us back home, where we made love too many times to count. When we fell asleep later that evening, tired and drained, both of us were thinking ofevery single possibility that didn’t involve entertaining Vada or Julian.
We were grown-ass adults; surely, we couldn’t be struck off as teachers?
