Spurs and Heels(Divine Creek Ranch 5)(2)

mother would be appalled at her rudeness to that man. She heard the

door open and close and assumed he walked back in the house.

“Juliana, we need to talk for a minute.”

No “Merry Christmas.” No inquiries how her day had been. She

hadn’t heard from him since the twentieth.

“What’s up?” she asked as she settled in the old glider on Grace’s

back porch.

“Mom and I have been talking.”

Her core muscles did an involuntary lockdown. Last time he’d

said those words, he’d informed her he was taking his mom on a two



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Heather Rainier

week Caribbean cruise, without her. The cruise had taken place over

her birthday, and he didn’t even send her a card.

“What have you and your mom been talking about?”

“I’ve maintained my real estate agent’s license in Vermont all

these years, and I’ve been presented with a lucrative opportunity. I’m

going to take it.”

Juliana wished she could say that she was stunned. Then she heard

a woman’s voice in the background say, “Tell her.”

There was a rustling as if he’d put his hand over the mouthpiece

while he carried on a secondary conversation.

“Are you there, Lawrence?” Juliana’s heart was pounding because

she knew already what came next. She’d suspected for a while. “Tell

me what? Who is there with you?”

“Juliana, it’s over between us. I’ve met someone here. She’s the

other reason I’m returning to Vermont.”

She felt strangely numb to what he said, as if she were listening to

some stranger’s conversation. “I see. How long?”

“I’ll be back to pack my house the day after tomorrow, and I’ll be

returning here immediately. Not long at all.”

“No, you rat bastard. How long have you had a relationship with

her?”

There was a long pause, during which she added up all the

weekend business trips he’d taken this year and the longer than usual

holiday breaks as well. The numbness centered in her chest and

spread outward over her limbs.

“Since last year.” His voice was void of any emotion.

Icy chills blanketed her skin. “And I allowed you in my bed,

trusted you during that time.”

“I always used condoms with her.”

Juliana grated, “Well, I’m so glad you protected her, you lying,

cock-sucking bastard.” This was really going to hurt when she

thought this conversation over later in the evening. She could feel it

coming.



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13

“I used condoms for your sake as well, Juliana. I’m sorry I didn’t

tell you sooner, but it never seemed the right time. You were always

working. Always busy.”

“Don’t blame this on me. I have responsibilities, and you know

that.”

“Yes, you do. I’m sorry to have caused you any distress.”

“You’re sorry for causing me distress?”

“I’ll swing by the store with your house key.”

“Just put it in my mailbox. I can’t believe you’re doing this over

the phone. No, wait, maybe I should be grateful you didn’t text me

with the news,” she added over the lump growing in her throat.

Lawrence was a heavy texter. There was another awkward pause, and

then he sighed irritatingly. “You thought about it, though, didn’t

you?”

“It would have saved us this unnecessary emotionalism.”

“Unnecessary emotionalism? Lawrence, I’ve been your girlfriend

for five years, not a casual fuck. You mean it would have saved you

the hassle of talking to me like a human being.”

“There is no need to be coarse.” Lawrence had always disliked her

potty mouth, which she’d done her best to minimize around him. “I’ll

be by for my things in a couple of days.”

“Don’t come to my house. I’ll box everything up and put it on

your porch.”

“Fine. Well…Merry Christmas. Good-bye.”

“You are a horrible person for saying that and for doing this

today, of all days.” Juliana disconnected the call.

She looked at the backlit screen of her cell phone. The call had

taken less than five minutes. Five minutes to uproot and discard five

years of her life. Hell, who was she kidding? All they’d done was

bridge the gaps between work and loneliness for each other. Then

there was his mother. Maybe she should call him back and thank him

for saving her from having to hear, “Mom and I have been talking,”

ever again.



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Heather Rainier

Remaining seated in the dark, Juliana drew her calves up under