Page 43 of Love Sick

“Where’s home?”

“Danville, California.”

He smiles. “A Californian. Should’ve known. And how does your family celebrate the holiday?”

I cross my arms. “With a tree and presents. What about you? Animal sacrifices?”

“No, that’s Easter.”

The light turns green, illuminating his face. Such a careful driver, he obeys every traffic law and allows other drivers passage before him. He has the patience of a frickin’ saint, and my knee jiggles as he refuses to go faster than the speed limit. We aren’t late, but the familiar agitation before a party gnaws at me.

Those dimples go full-scale adorable when he grins. “I think you forgot to put out some fires when you left hell. Your hair has embers in it.”

“They’re sparkles, Julian. They’re pretty.”

“Is there anything about you that doesn’t sparkle? You’re practically aMy Little Pony.”

I should take offense to that, but can’t.My Little Ponywas a staple for me as a kid. “I’d rather be that than Gollum.”

He side-eyes me, eyebrow lifted. “You’re kind of a dork, aren’t you?”

A startled laugh climbs my throat. “What?”

“The Lord of the Rings,Harry Potter,Avengers. Just…dorky references. But it keeps me guessing. Will you call me Darth Vader or Prince Joffrey next? Maybe Feyd-Rautha?”

“You would be a Harkonnen,” I mutter.

He chuckles.

I shrink in my seat. “Shut up. You understand the references, so clearly you’re a dork, too.”

He nods. “And unashamed of it. But I should warn you, I have a date with Maleficent later, so we’re gonna have to leave this thing early.”

Defying my wishes, a chuckle escapes.

“That reminds me.” He checks his blind spot before changing lanes. “Did you know I had to go on a date with that girl you gave my number to? She wouldn’t stop texting me. Hints didn’t work. Finally caved and took her out a couple weeks ago.”

My chuckle grows a distinct edge, and now I’m cackling despite a thin weave of poison speeding my pulse. The picture of him out with that blonde IM resident is an ugly one I don’t want in my head. The cackle hides my discomfiture. “Are you madly in love now?”

“Yeah, we married yesterday. Didn’t you hear?” He shakes his head. “She’s so—her tenacity is… Just,please, Grace. Torture me any other way, but please don’t give my number out to women.”

My full attention locks on his face. Adrenaline floods my system. “You called me Grace.”

He gives me a double take. “What? No, I didn’t.”

“Yes, you did. You called me Grace.”

“I…” He scratches his temple and shifts in his seat. “Okay?”

“Did you confront Daniel Halliwell for me, Julian?”

He scowls. His grip tightens on the steering wheel. “Daniel Halliwell is an asshole.”

“Julian?” My voice is soft.

“I would have done it for any of you girls. It doesn’t mean anything.”

I lean toward him when a muscle in his clenched jaw tics. “Then why are you being weird?”

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