- 2.
Julian usually spent the eve of his birthday
carousing with his friends. My texts went
unanswered, as expected. But then I received
a video. It was from Julian’s phone, but
clearly not sent by him.
The video showed a noisy club scene. Julian
leaned back on a sofa, eyes closed. A girl
nestled beside him, lightly kissing his lips –
right where a small mole sat on his neck. She
not only filmed it, she knew his phone’s
password. She sent it to me, a blatant
territorial display.
A short voice note accompanied the video.
“Julian says he’s never kissed you,” the girl’s
voice chirped. “Is it true? Do you really think
he’s ever loved you?”
Г
I believed her. Why wouldn’t I?
I knew Julian had a beloved, yet resented,
childhood sweetheart named Savannah. She’d
lived with the Thorntons for a while,
practically family. Everyone treated her like a
younger sister. She’d moved abroad a couple
of years ago. Now she was back. The video
was from her welcome–home party.
Complete with a welcome–home kiss.
The manager watched as the smile drained
from my face. She looked anxious. I pressed
my lips together, forcing a smile back on, the
dimple by my mouth reappearing. “Ms. Lee,
no need to send men’s watches anymore.”
She looked up, surprised.
دو
く
I started to change. “There’s no engagement
anymore. No need.”
“I don’t want Julian anymore.”
୮
