Page 71 of Forever Mine
“Yes.”
I’m surprised she even remembered that I was at CU and not at fucking Stanford.
“She wanted to talk to me.”
“Why?” It comes out harsher than I intend, but what the fuck? Why does my mother, who wants nothing to do with me, want to talk to Julien?
He runs a rough hand over his face, then looks at me. “She said some bullshit about making a mistake and thought I could be her way in to get you to talk to her.”
Nothing. I have absolutely no response to that.
“And did you?”
“Did I what?”
“Talk to her.”
He tenses. “I met her at the coffee shop, but I was too angry to let her say much. Told her to fuck off, then left when David called.”
I don’t know why I start laughing. Perhaps it’s because I can imagine her face when Julien went off on her. Mom is as prissy and prim as they come.
I crawl into his lap and kiss him senseless. “I love you.”
His kiss-swollen lips quirk up in amusement. “Not the reaction I was expecting.”
“Thank you for telling me. I’ll bring it up with Dad when I speak to him.”
I have no idea what she’s up to, but I’m done when it comes to her. If she somehow developed a conscience, tough shit. Too little, too late.
Hopping off the bed, I pick up my discarded clothes strewn around the room. “Can I borrow some clothes?”
Julien grabs stuff from his dresser. “Graphic tee or Randy’s Custom Auto?”
I point to the Randy’s Custom Auto shirt. It’s softer.
After a quick shower that may have involved me taking him against the tile wall—because I couldn’t help myself no matter how sore I was—we get dressed and head to the kitchen. The roasted aroma of coffee draws me like a divining rod.
“Just in time,” Ryder says as he transfers sausage links from the frying pan to a plate.
“Hey!” Jayson grouses when Julien steals his coffee.
“Need it more than you.”
“Wonder why,” Jayson quips.
Ryder snickers when Jayson pulls up a video of two rabbits having sex.
Julien pops another pod into the coffee maker. “You’re such a child.”
I take the barstool next to Jayson, and Ryder passes me a plate filled with scrambled eggs, sausage, and two pieces of toast. I fall upon it like a man starved.
Jayson nudges my side with his elbow. “You okay?”
“I’m good,” I say with my mouth full.
“Want to meet up at the gym later?”
I do a mental calendar check. After class, I work until five. Julien has practice and won’t be done until seven. Gym it is.
