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It had been fake, as his rational side had suspected, but his heart…
His heart still struggled, wondering if there were any feelings in that kiss that they weren’t admitting.
He wandered to the nightstand and pulled the ring box from the drawer. His hand hovered over it as he contemplated opening it. He had the diamond inside memorized, having stared at it on so many occasions before. In many instances, he took solace in it, picturing it on Julia’s delicate finger as he imagined their future together.
But in some cases, it had been a source of misery. He’d never found a woman he’d even considered giving it to outside of Julia. But he’d also never found a woman he feared would reject him outside of Julia.
He swallowed hard and opened the box, staring at how the light glinted off the gem. He traced the contours of the cold diamond, each facet reflecting a different part of his journey with Julia. Was it love pulsing through him or fear of losing her? The ring, once a symbol of hope, now felt like a question mark hanging over their future.
A second later, he snapped it closed. He couldn’t look at it. Not when his emotions were so strained.
He couldn’t blame his son for falling for her. But he couldn’t imagine living in a reality where she accepted Kyle as the man for her. Yet their relationship seemed so easy, so unconstrained.
Would the contract that had governed their lives for nearly the past two years be the noose that hung him?
He shoved the box back into the drawer and stalked to the drink cart, pouring himself a bourbon. His nerves weren’t helped by Kyle’s announcement about Lydia’s impending surprise.
Whatever Lydia had planned would likely be another gut punch. He found his mind wandering through a forest of possibilities, one more dastardly than the next.
His mind turned to Sierra, praying the surprise wouldn’t ruin her. His stomach fluttered at the thought. He imagined the pictures splashed all over the society page, scrolling past on TMZ, and flooding social media. The press conferences they’d have to hold, the stocks in her publishing company plummeting, Sierra sobbing as she vowed to reinvent herself. All of it flashed through his mind.
He downed the bourbon in one swallow and poured another. Their only hope for that not happening was a gangly, awkward man who still acted like he was a gawky teen.
His nerves frayed a little more as he recalled the conversation earlier. “Big G,” Grant groaned with a scoff. “Is he serious?”
He recalled his greeting of Julia, another pain point for him. The bear hug the man had given her hadn’t gone over well with him. Why did everyone else seem to have such an easy relationship with Julia outside of him?
“Because everyone else’s relationship is real.” The words, once spoken aloud, settled on him like a physical weight. He was the one who stood out from the others. He was the only one who was different. Even his son, Kyle, had an organic relationship with her. One they’d built on truth, more or less.
The thought ripped through him, threatening to undo him. He poured another bourbon, polishing it off in one gulp before he forced himself to shove aside his concerns and don his jacket.
Julia trusted the man, and he trusted her judgment. He had to cling to that.
He adjusted the suit jacket while he gazed at himself in the mirror. With another wiggle of his tie, he sucked in a breath and raised his chin. He could handle this threat. He could handle all the threats.
He blew out a controlled breath before he strode from the room, trying to fill himself with confidence.
Voices floated from the foyer as he approached it. He descended the stairs, spotting Julia hugging a blonde woman who grinned before she stepped back next to Alex.
“It’s so good to see you, Sunshine,” Ava said, her voice warm with affection.
He bristled at the name, however fitting it was for his wife. The tension in him soured his mood on everything. It was completely nonsensical to hate that Julia had a past and people close enough to her to have given her a nickname. He reached the marble floor, plastering a slight smile on his lips.
Alex grinned at him. “Granster, good to see you again.”
His smile faltered at the nickname, though it reminded him of the man’s tech-savvy. His confidence surged a little as Julia looped her arm through his and introduced him to the blonde. “Ava, this is my husband, Grant. Grant, this is Ava Collins, Alex’s wife.”
He offered her a warm handshake, pleased that Julia had so effortlessly introduced him as her husband. The words sounded wonderful coming from her mouth. “Hi, nice to meet you.”
“Likewise,” she said. “It was so good to hear from Julia. I was shocked to hear she’d left Maine behind.”
“Yeah, totally,” Alex said as they shuffled into the living room for cocktails. “I thought you lived and breathed Maine. Doesn’t sea water course through your veins?”
Julia’s easy laugh was both a welcome sound and a source of pain as he realized how easily she reacted to his humor. “I do love Maine, but New Orleans has its perks.”
“Scheming ex-wives not among them?” Alex asked, centering his gaze on Grant.
“Uh, Lydia lives here, too, so maybe we shouldn’t discuss that when we’re not behind closed doors,” he answered.
