AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The audible breath on the other end of the line suggested relief. “Okay, so what happened?”
“There was a deer in the road. And swerving landed us in the river.”
“What?! Julia, oh my goodness.”
“I told you, I’m fine. But in case you’re trolling news sites and see it, I didn’t want you to be upset.”
“I can’t believe this stuff happens to you so often.”
“Yeah, I know. I just…that’s not the reason I called though. There’s something else though.”
“What else happened? Plane crash? Alien abduction? Survived a volcano erupting? No, wait, don’t tell me. Grant is actually a two-hundred-year-old vampire and that’s why he’s so moody.”
“Very funny, Ally. None of those.”
“Hmm, I was pretty sure about the vampire one.”
She pressed her lips together as she recalled their tense exchange less than an hour ago before she pushed it from her mind. “Luke showed up here. Do you know anything about that?”
“Luke’s in New Orleans?” Alicia asked.
Julia let her head sink into her palm. “Yep. He showed up last night at dinner with Grant’s ex-wife.”
“Luke is dating Lydia? No, I don’t see that. Are you sure it was Luke?”
“It was Luke all right. New suit, new haircut, new ten-million-dollar business, same Luke.”
“What?” Alicia snapped. “Whoa, wait. Why do I not know about this?”
“I don’t know. I’m surprised you don’t. This is a big change.”
“Yeah, it is. The last I heard, he was working with someone on a business idea. I had no idea it had gone this far. And I still don’t buy that he’s dating Lydia.”
“He’s not. They’re business partners. He made it very clear he’s here for me.”
Silence stretched between them before Alicia blew out a whistle. “Wow. He was upset when you left, but he is really taking this seriously. He said he was going to win you back.”
Julia heaved a sigh, still uncertain she wanted to be won back. “Yeah, he said as much last night when we spoke. Right before he kissed me…in Grant’s house. And Grant saw it.”
A wicked laugh escaped her sister. “Oh, I bet that went over well. Was there a fistfight? Did Luke win? I feel like Luke has been through enough bar fights to have had the edge.”
“No, there was not a fistfight, but you’re right, it also didn’t go over well.”
Alicia clicked her tongue. “Oh, come on, Juju. He doesn’t have any right to be upset. You’re not even married for real. And aren’t you literally on top of your divorce?”
Julia massaged her temple. “We agreed to no extramarital affairs during this.”
“Yeah, well, soon, you’re a free woman. Ohhh, please tell me you’re getting back together with Luke and coming home. How was the kiss? Was it good? Did it reignite the spark?”
Julia let her head fall against the chair as she tried to assess the questions. “I don’t know, Ally. I…am so busy trying to wrap up this mess with the people after Grant I haven’t thought about it.”
“Well, you’d better think about it. You’re almost free of this. Oh, no, unless…you’re not going to let him talk you into staying again?”
Julia didn’t answer. She doubted it would come up, especially with Lydia on the move.
“Oh my goodness, you are. Julia–”
“No, no, that’s not what I was thinking. I just…I don’t know what to think. Luke showing up really threw me. Especially with the new business, and the new image. Anyway, I’m really glad you didn’t know. I would have been mad if you didn’t tell me.”
