But no.
Instead it’s from someone I really wasn’t expecting to hear from.
Isabella: I need your help. It’s about Tyler. Please come to New York!
I’m about to ignore the message, but I don’t want to leave Bella stranded. So I text back:
Julia: I really don’t like being in the city right now. Can’t we just talk on the phone?
A moment later my cell buzzes again, and true to form, Bella seems to have different ideas.
Isabella: Too late. I’ve sent a car. I really need you here in person. This is serious.
CHAPTER twenty-FIVE
I suspect something weird is going on pretty much as soon as I arrive at the restaurant. Because normally I’d be the first one there – but for some reason, Isabella is already waiting for me. She stands up as get near and we hug, but before I can even ask her how she is, I see another familiar figure over her shoulder, heading straight towards us.
That face.
Those eyes.
Dylan.
I feel my heart stop the moment I see him. It’s only been a couple of weeks, but the pain is intense – like someone twisting a knife deep in my heart.
I’m not ready for this, I think, as I feel my heart begin to pound. But I guess it makes sense if I really think about it. Of course he’d be here.
Typical Dylan, stopping at nothing to get what he wants, using his sister to lure me to a meeting.
And I’m about to tell him to go to hell when I realize that his face is filled with just as much surprise and confusion as mine must look.
I spin around to face Bella, and sure enough she’s looking pretty damn pleased with herself. But she’s seen one too many trashy movies, if she thinks that all she has to do to get us back together is simply get us in a room together.
Then, a second later, I hear another familiar voice from behind me, this one much less welcoming in tone:
“Is this your idea of a joke, Bella?”
And now, standing there next to her son, as horrified to see me as I am to see her, is Gloria.
“I don’t know what you mean, Mommy! Bella chirps, all sweet and innocent. “I was just thinking that maybe it’s time that we all sat down and had a proper family heart-to-heart. If we did, I’m positive we could get this silly mess sorted out once and for all.”
OMG.
If I’m guessing right, and I know what Bella’s driving at, then this is about to be the worst conversation of my entire life.
This is going to be total public humiliation. I can’t even.
I’m in panic mode. I scan the restaurant, looking for an escape route. I can’t stay here a minute longer.
“Listen,” I stammer. “Bella’s right. You guys have a nice family chat. I’ve, uh, got some place I really need to be.”
I start to gather my things, but Dylan stops me, calling out, “No, wait,” and staring into my eyes with a look that says trust me. “Bella’s right. I think it’s about time we talked.”
As he speaks, he shifts his gaze from me, to Gloria, to Bella, then back again.
There’s this horrible moment’s silence, as we all look at each other, and then to my surprise, Gloria nods, rolls her eyes and then quietly says, “Very well.”
She takes her seat at the large table, and one by one we join her.
“So, Mommy,” begins Bella, her eyes still glinting with mischievous glee. “I think we can both agree that Dylan has been pretty heartbroken since Julia broke off the engagement out of the blue like that, hasn’t he?”
Gloria seems so shocked by Bella’s question, she even forgets to answer at first. It’s clear she’s used to being the one in the driving seat, and right now she has no idea just what the hell is going on. I don’t think any of us do.
“Yes, well, I suppose it was a shock for all of us, darling, wasn’t it?” she mumbles eventually. And as she speaks, she shoots me an almost imperceptible glance, her eyes are filled with quiet desperation, as if she’s silently begging me not to mention what really went down between us, that afternoon at her apartment.
I just keep quiet. I wanna see where Bella’s going with this.
“Yeah, it was a shock, wasn’t it, Dylan?” Bella continues, turning on him now. “Remind me, why exactly did she break up with you again?”
“I don’t know,” Dylan replies, answering Bella’s question but staring firmly in my direction, his expression just as hurt, just as wounded, as it was that night I broke up with him – almost as if he’s experiencing the sting of it all over again. “She just said it was too much,” he explains. “That she needed space, and that we were from different worlds and it would never work. But we’d already been through all that, Bella, a thousand times over. And I know that Julia is strong enough to handle it.”
He tails off, shaking his head, his shoulders slumping in frustration.
I’ve missed him so much, and seeing him here again in front of me, well, a huge part of me wants to just leap across this table and into his arms, showering him with kisses, telling him he’s right, that my love for him is so strong that nothing could come between us. But in front of his mother and his sister, I don’t know what to do. Instead I just remain here in my seat, silently trying to talk back to him with my eyes, trying to let him know that despite what I said, I still feel the same way about him – I really do.
“You know what?” Bella says. “I think it sounds to me like a simple case of pre-wedding jitters. On top of that, Julia’s right to have concerns about marrying into the Campbell family.”
As she says this last part, she looks across to her mother, then adds, “Because anyone who marries Dylan has to marry all of us and be prepared to make the name Campbell name proud. Isn’t that right, Mommy dearest?”
“Yes, yes, darling, of course,” Gloria mutters, eyes down, as she nervously fiddles with the string of pears around her neck.
“But like Dylan said,” Bella continues, “we know that Julia is strong enough to handle any bumps in the road. And personally, I’m not going to leave this room until she agrees to reconsider. Even if,” and at this Bella stops, looks pointedly and fiercely at her mom, then says in a menacing growl, “even if it has to be blackmail. Don’t you agree, mother?”
My heart stops when hear the word.
What the hell?
There’s no mistaking it: the way Bella said the word, she must know exactly what Gloria did.
But how the hell did she find out what went down between Gloria and me?
My heart’s in my mouth. I don’t know what to do or say or think. It’s all too much. My head’s in a whirl as I lock eyes with Dylan, silently begging him to forget about his sister and his mom, to forget about what they’re saying, to just focus on me, on the fact that I’m here and that I love him.
Just then Gloria cuts in with a shrill forced laugh, looking around her as if for help. “Why, Bella!” she chuckles nervously. “You are being rather over dramatic this afternoon, aren’t you! Of course we want Dylan to be happy.”
“In that case,” Bella replies decisively, “are we all in agreement?”
Without taking my eyes from Dylan, I slowly nod.
“Yes, Bella,” says Dylan softly. “Thank you. We’re all in agreement.”
“Oh goody!” Bella laughs, suddenly returning to her old self again. “Well Mommy, I think this is our cue to leave these lovebirds alone, wouldn’t you say?”
“Why yes, yes, of course,” Gloria mumbles, still not quite looking anyone in the eye, her face now flushed an uncharacteristic pink. “You both must have lots to talk about.”
“In that case,” Bella says, turning to Gloria and grabbing her hand, pulling her to her feet, “I think we should go out shopping. In fact, Mommy, isn’t now the perfect time for you to buy me that Chanel bag we were talking about?”
Game, set and match to Bella, I think as I watch her quickly usher her mom out of the restaurant.
I gotta hand it to her. I knew she was a good actre
ss, but that little display was freaking Oscar-worthy.
And with that, Bella and Gloria are gone, leaving Dylan and I alone at this table, still with so much to talk about.
CHAPTER twenty-SIX
I want to just jump on him, to feel his strong arms wrapping around me tightly. But we’re in the middle of a busy restaurant, and so I have to make do with reaching across the table and holding his hand, feeling his fingers intertwined in mine once again; that electric flash of excitement I get whenever we touch, one of the many things I’ve been missing.
And there’s so much to say, but where do I even begin?
Isabella’s little show has left me totally confused. I don’t know what exactly she was hinting at, or how she found out about Gloria blackmailing me. I don’t really know what the hell just happened, let alone how to begin explaining it all to Dylan.
But it seems like he has a few things of his own he wants to say first.
“Julia,” he begins, “I know being with me hasn’t been easy. But you can’t imagine the hell I’ve been through these past few weeks without you. And I’m not asking you to explain everything right now. I just need to know one thing. Will you really and truly come back to me?”
I stare at him, feeling the intensity radiating from him – those big black eyes boring into me as he waits for my response like his whole life depends on it.
I can’t lie anymore.
“Oh, Dylan,” I sigh, “I’ve been in hell too. If you can forgive me for walking away from you like that, then I’m yours forever, I promise. I’m so, so sorry.”
Without saying another word, he pushes himself up from his chair, so forcefully that it falls to the ground behind him, then pulls me up to my feet, too, sweeping me into his arms and kissing me with such urgency like it’s our very first kiss all over again. And as the room seems to melt away from us, I realize that I’ve been starving for him – starving for his touch.
“I’ve missed you so much,” I murmur between kisses, no longer caring that we’re in a restaurant.
“Come on,” he says, his white teeth flashing in a smile. “I’m taking you home.”
And the way he says the word – I just know he really means it.
§
We tumble into the apartment, unable to keep our hands off each other. Dylan pushes me against the wall, and I push right back against him, both of us gasping, hands tearing at each others clothes, mouths crushed together in a breathless kiss. As I fumble with his belt, his lips move to my neck, kissing, biting, lapping at my skin.
“I thought I’d never feel your body again,” he murmurs as he kisses me. “Don’t you ever leave me. I thought I was going crazy without you, Julia. I wanted so many times to come to you, to drop everything. But I had to respect your wishes.”
“I’ll never leave you,” I promise him, just as I fumble open his pants, my hands stroking him, feeling the hot hardness of his cock. “I’ve missed you so much.”
His hand moves between my legs too, stroking me, teasing me, the electricity building inside me as he circles my aching clit with his fingertips through my underwear, sending shivers through me.
He tugs my panties to one side, as I guide him inside me, moaning loudly as I feel him stretch me so fucking wide, his cock driving deep into me, plundering me the way I need.
And like that, he takes me against the wall of the apartment, my fingers winding through his hair, my mouth crushing breathlessly against his, our tongues flickering, hips bucking, Dylan’s cock driving deep into me, the intense electric flashes building inside me.
His hands move to my ass, spreading me wider, urging me even deeper onto his cock. And I’ve never felt more hungry for him – as he fucks me so hard, pushing me over the edge.
“Oh, Dylan,” I gasp as my orgasm hits, splintering through me. “Oh god, I’ve missed you so fucking much.”
With a deep growl, he comes too, moments later, driving deep inside me with a final shuddering thrust of his hips, both of us wrapped together, trembling, holding each other so tight it feels like we’ll never let go.
CHAPTER twenty-sEVEN
Where the hell is Bella? I think as I browse the racks of expensive dresses in this exclusive boutique. I guess she’s back to her old ways again. But I don’t really care that she’s late to meet me. I just wish she’d hurry the hell up so that I can thank her for the ingenious way she got Dylan and me back together.
I stroll towards the back of the small store, wondering where she is, and just as I’m passing the curtain to the fitting room, I hear a voice calling from inside.
“Psst! In here!”
I do a double take, wondering if I’m hearing things. But no. The voice calls to me again.
“Julia, in here!”
And all of a sudden, I feel a hand grab my arm, yanking me quickly into the booth.
What the hell?
I stare, totally puzzled, at the unfamiliar woman standing there before me: some total lunatic with oversize sunglasses and curly red hair.
“It’s me!” the stranger says, exasperated, grabbing me by both shoulders.
I look blankly at this crazy lady in front of me and shake my head, wondering if I should alert store security.
“It’s me, you moron,” the figure hisses, pulling down her sunglasses just enough down her nose for me to see Isabella staring back at me.
“Bella, are you in disguise?!” I laugh, shaking my head. “What the hell?”
“Shh!” she hisses back, quickly putting her hand over my mouth. “I’m incognito, Jules. This place is crawling with paparazzi.”
And as she says this last part, she looks around dramatically. But nope, as far as I can tell, no paparazzi have found their way into this tiny fitting room just yet. As usual with Bella, she’s loving every second of drama.
“So what’s going on?” I whisper, deciding to play along.
“They’re onto me,” she replies, like it should be obvious who ‘they’ are.
“Who are, Bella?” I ask. “What are you even talking about?”
“Tyler,” she sighs, throwing her hands up in the air in frustration. “I’m talking about Tyler! God, don’t be such an idiot, Jules! It’s the paparazzi. They know all about me and Tyler. I’m being watched. So we’ve gotta play it cool, okay? When we leave the store, just act like you don’t even know what’s going on.”
That sure as hell won’t be too hard.
“This is a total fucking nightmare for me, too,” she says, clearly loving the whole situation.
“Whoa, hold on,” I say. “I thought it was over between you guys? I thought his management put their foot down already?”
“They did,” she sighs. “But then, well, we just ran into each other at this private club, took one look at each other and the next thing, we were back together again. You know what it’s like, right? You just look at someone and you can’t resist them.”
“Sure,” I say understandingly, thinking about Dylan – how crazy I was for him, how hard it was to be apart, how crazy I still am for him, and always will be.
And then the question that’s been nagging at me ever since that crazy dinner springs up again in my head again, only now I’m able to find out the answer.
“Say, Bella, how did you find out that Gloria was blackmailing me anyway?”
“Easy,” she replies. “I just did a little bit of acting, and told Mom that I’d always thought you were low rent.”
At this she gives me a wink.
“And that I was glad that Dylan wasn’t marrying a girl like you. And hey presto, she came right out with her dastardly plan!”
“But what happens now?” I sigh. “Can I really be sure she won’t stop the wedding, or just threaten me all over again.”
Because this is something that’s still gnawing at me. I just can’t see Gloria letting this go without a fight.
“Oh, don’t you worry about Mom, Jules,” Bella says, stopping and putting her arms on my shoulders. “I told her, if she
ever tried anything like that again, I’d tell Dylan exactly what she was up to. And she knows that he’d believe me over her, and that he’d never speak to her again. So you have nothing to worry about. It’s okay. It’s all back on – you and Dylan, the wedding, everything. It’s all okay now.”
“Thank you so much, Bella,” I gush.
“Hey, don’t mention it,” she grins, before pushing her sunglasses back up onto her nose. “So? Are you ready?”
She nods towards the curtain that separates the fitting room from the rest of the store.
“Ready as I’ll ever be,” I grin back, taking a deep breath.
She takes my hand then pushes back the curtain and we both stride for the exit to the store, preparing ourselves for a barrage of camera flashes from a huge swarm of paparazzi.
But as we step out onto the street, the only person we see is a little old lady, shaking a collection tin a few feet away.
“Huh, weird,” Bella mutters under her breath, trying to hide her obvious disappointment. “We must have given them the slip.”
“Come on,” I say, giving her hand a squeeze. “I think what we both need right now is a little retail therapy.”
And at the mention of shopping she’s soon back to her old self again.
CHAPTER twenty-EIGHT
As I nervously pace up and down the dance studio, I’m secretly hoping that Liliya is going to be late, even if just by a minute. Anything to prove that she’s not totally perfect. But sure enough, just as the clock clicks to eleven, the door opens and there she is, dressed all in black. Damn. As always her timing’s perfect. The black makes her alabaster skin shine even more than usual. She’s really beautiful and elegant – she was obviously born to do this.
I hate her.
I can’t help it, I’m just so jealous.
I wonder whether to make small talk while we wait for Madame Lyon to start the session – our first together since she suggested I shadow Liliya. But right now I can’t think of anything to say. I’m just too in awe of her. Too jealous.
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