The Boy Who Knew Me When(41)

“I love you too Brandon.”

And with that we hung up. I no longer knew what the future had in store for me and Brandon but it gave me hope to know that we had a date to talk. We had been through so much together, he knew some of my deepest darkest secrets and there was no way I was going to lose him.

I made the call from my room all while Julian sat in front of the television watching The Fast and the Furious, it was just my luck that he stepped in to hear the butt end of the conversation.

“Movie ended,” he mumbled leaning up against the door jam. I could sense the quiet sadness emitting off of him.

“I do love him, Julian. I’m sorry if hearing it hurt you but I do.”

Julian nodded his head and walked over to me lifting me off of my bed and putting his arms around me. “I get it. Don’t apologize for your feelings.”

I smiled.

“You know, Brandon said the same thing to me about you.” His eye brow lifted.

“You told him you loved me?”

“I didn’t have to tell him.” I responded.

I had never told Julian I loved the man he has become. In part because of the fact that he was someone I had only recently come to know, it sounded so silly to me, but also because I was afraid to tell him. I did love Brandon, but I was starting to become more and more aware of the fact that I was completely and wholeheartedly madly in love with Julian.

Julian placed a soft kiss on my lips, careful not to put any pressure, then quickly pulled away. We both knew what happened when we opened our mouths and got lost in one another.

“Sweetheart, I do get it. He was there for you when you had no one.....” He paused thoughtfully.

“He might have been your yesterday, but I was your when, I am your now and no matter what it takes, even if it kills me, I will be your future.”

I let out the breath I was unaware that I was holding in and threw my arms around Julian’s neck holding him with all of my might. He wanted a future with me, a future that I could plainly see. I had never pictured myself growing old with anyone before, everyone in my life left me therefore it was decided that there were no tomorrows. I lived every day for only that day because I knew all too well that planning your future could easily end up leading to misery.

“I love you, Julian.” I whispered into his neck.

He tightened his grip around my waist pulling me closer and held me for several moments before pulling away. He briefly looked into my eyes and returned the words back to me.

“I love you to Jemma Hale, always have, and always will.”

What I would not have done to have been able to rip his clothes off right then and there. It just seemed wrong to declare our love to one another and not end up a naked tangled mess of pure pleasure. A girl can dream! And dream...and dream...and dream. Five more weeks.





Chapter Eleven





“So what time is Julian and his friend supposed to be here? You haven’t given me a definitive time yet which kind of fucking sucks balls,” Brea said.

Julian had called me a few days ago to let me know that he had a friend coming in from San Juan for a few weeks. He had wanted to spend time with him but since we were both desperate to spend time together he didn’t want to lose the entire weekend with me either. Together we came up with the idea of setting him and Brea up on a double date. She had become a real homebody since her classes started and when she didn’t have her face buried in a text book she just moped around the house eating, sleeping and driving Julian and I absolutely nuts. She lectured me nonstop and insisted on being present every time he was here. To say that I was starting to feel a little suffocated by my best friend would be an understatement. Her non stop mother hen routine made me want to strangle her.

I was a little apprehensive setting her up with someone I had never even seen before. Truth be told Brea was pretty damn superficial and I knew that if she did not like what she saw then she would completely check out on me. Getting to know Brea over the last few weeks Julian fully registered the words and pulled up his friends Facebook page. Not only was he gorgeous but his name was Jonathan, a little tidbit of information I had left out when I asked her about dinner. Operation “Get Brea the Hell Out of Our Hair” was well under way.

“Seven o’clock.”

“What? Fucking hell Jem, that’s in like, two freakin’ hours!”

I could have sworn I told her already but Brea had a tendency to forget little tidbits like time. Especially when she was nervous and did not really want to participate in an event at the said time, if ever. It took me half a day to convince her to go on the blind date which she only agreed to after I threatened her with sex.