“You will tell me the next time something like this happens,” Julian says firmly.
I wasn’t planning on telling him when I arrived at his penthouse half an hour ago, but Lora convinced me I should tell him about my apartment issues. I also wanted to talk about the car, but he was mad, so I decided to do that later.
I get that he’s concerned about me. He’s shown me many times that he cares about me. He is, however, still my professor. Our relationship is already forbidden, and keeping it hidden is our top priority. How can we do that if someone from school sees me here, let’s say, Kristoff?
“I already explained why,” I reason.
“That’s not an explanation.” He paces back and forth from the living room with his phone pressed to his ear. Who is he trying to call? He frantically punches the end call and dials once more.
“Could you please calm down? Everything is fine now. My benefactor’s assistant will find me an apartment.”
“What if he can’t find you a place to stay for a few weeks? Where will you go?” Julian questions, which I had already considered.
“Lora will return the rent I paid this month, and then I’ll be able to find a hotel room. Julian, I can’t stay with you for much longer. Besides my ex, your ex, and Peter, who knows about this place? Someone from Whitlock? A student? Maybe a professor. We can’t take the risk.”
I won’t be able to do my homework here either. I’ll lose my cool around him, which throws off my concentration.
He stares at me for a moment. “A hotel room? I don’t think so.”
“You didn’t answer my question.”
He sighs. “McAdams, Leighton, Dr. Bronson, and Clarke have been here once. They won’t come here again.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“They won’t,” he promises. “And you will stay here until your benefactor’s assistant finds a new place for you. Understood?”
“It’s almost as if we’re living together.”
“You make it sound like it’s a bad thing.”
I chuckle. “It isn’t, believe me. I like the idea of being here with you, but this is something new to me. I’ve done nothing like this before. I’ve never lived with someone I’m dating.”
“It’s only temporary,” he says softly, “and I understand your worries because I don’t think you should live with me for the same reasons you do. You’re right. Consider this an emergency situation. Hello?” “Where is the list I asked you for?I take my phone out of my pocket and read Lora’s text message from earlier. She said my belongings would be at Julian’s door in thirty minutes. I lay flat on the couch and looked up at the ceiling.
A few minutes later, the delivery guy brought me a luggage bag containing some clothes and my books. Then, I knocked on Julian’s door and asked about using his computer. He said it was in his study, next to his bedroom, so I went there while he was still on the phone. This is a good time for me to do my homework. It’s been a long day!
Before writing lyrics, I work on my theory and world literature studies. I send a message to the group chat Kristoff, Lora, and I use.
Me: I’m safe and sound here at my boyfriend’s place.Thanks for sending my stuff, Lors. How are your lyrics going?Lora: You’re welcome :) I finished it today.Me: What’s your title?Kristoff: Why am I still in this chat?Lora: Hey. Sorry about what happened earlier, Kris. I mean it.Kristoff: If you really mean it, sure, apology accepted. Hey, my song is called, “When Will Tomorrow End?” That is not a grammatical error. It’s on purpose.Lora: Is that for Candice or Anya?Me: Don’t freaking start, Lors.Kristoff: HAHAHALora: I’ll buy you guys Trey’s burger. It’s so good! I had Anya’s take-home. By the way, my date is canceled. The asshole bolted. What an idiot! So I’ll join you tomorrow. Can you guys make room for me?Me: Oh gosh. I’m sorry to hear that. Do you want to talk about it? You should definitely come. And yes, Trey’s burgers are delicious.Lora: He’s not worth our time. Great! I’ll bring food.Kristoff: Since you’re both coming, I think we should do it at my house. I’ll provide the drinks!Me: That’s a good idea! I’ll bring something sweet. Cake?Lora: Strawberry cake. Definitely.Kristoff: Looking forward.I laugh at our texts. We used to be like this before everything went wrong. I’m glad our friendship is finally getting back on track. I pick up a pencil because I’m in the mood to write. My lyrics need to be revised.
I erase some words and replace them with something much more meaningful, still grinning as I eagerly await tomorrow. Because the competition is on Friday, I need to finish my lyrics by tomorrow.
“Something good happened?” Julian appears at the door, his deep, cultured voice penetrating my stomach.
“Yes, I have a group study with Lora and Kristoff tomorrow.”
He nods and crosses his arms. “Where?”
“Kristoff’s house. I can’t go back to my, uh, former apartment.”
“Of course. Kristoff. Again“Do you mind?”
“Should I mind?” Julian walks inside and sits on the desk. He reaches for my face and caresses my cheek with his thumb.
“Well, you know...” I shrug, chewing on my lower lip.
“If I told you not to go, would you listen to me?”
“It’s not like that.”
“Just yes or no, Anya.”
“I’m still going. I have to because I don’t have any other friends besides those two.”
“There. You have your answer. I don’t want you to think I’m trying to control you. I only care about what makes you happy and safe.”
“I am happy and safe. They’ve been my friends ever since.”
“I’m aware, and Kristoff is a gentleman, so I know he won’t do anything that would infuriate me, so I know you’ll be fine.”
I frown. “What? Of course, I’ll be fine.”
“But I’ll break his hand if he does something stupid. I don’t care if he finds out about us.”
“You don’t want me near him, do you? I can tell.” I look straight into his eyes.
“I don’t forget that he had you first, even if it’s my fault why.”
My eyebrow raises in confusion. Why would he say that? “How can that be your fault?”
“Because you wouldn’t have dated him if I’d approached you sooner. I can’t really blame anyone but myself for that.”
“So you’re jealous?”
“I am. I just have a proper way of dealing with it. But don’t worry about me. It’ll pass.”
“Hey, I’m sorry.” I catch his hand. “That was insensitive of me. It’s perfectly normal for you to feel that way. I felt the same way about you and Stella. This is, after all, a normal relationship.” Yes, I can now say that. What we have differs from my previous relationships.
Julian, on the other hand, maintains his cold demeanor. He isn’t as charming and sweet as usual.
“Is there something wrong?” I ask.
“Why do you ask? I’m fine.”
See? Even his reaction is apathetic. “You aren’t telling me everything.”
He gives me a long stare before speaking again. “It’s nothing. My assistant and Rafe are asking me to come to this... party. It’s been an exhausting day.”
Yes, it is. We’ve just got back from Long Island this morning, but a lot has already happened. But what he said raises a question in my mind. “You have an assistant?”
“I have two more people working for me outside of school,” he simply responds. “Anyway, I have to get ready. There’s food in the kitchen. I had it brought up from the restaurant across the building.”
“What? You’re leaving me here?” I’m getting even more astonished by the sudden situation.
“The party is tonight. You don’t have to wait for me, okay? I’ll be back as soon as I can.” He leans in to kiss my lips, then marches out of the room before I can react.