Page 28 of Entirely Yours
Jules is still sitting on the floor next to my bed in stunned silence. I feel like I’m going to throw up.
“I need you to leave.”
That wakes him up.
“Wha—okay, yeah. Should I… I can go pick up a test.” He stands up, pulls the bun out of his hair, and then reties it.
A test. A test would make it real.
“No! No test,” I reply. “Just, I needyou to leave.”
He really looks at me then, hurt flickering in his eyes.
“Thea… I’m not?—”
“Jules,” I interrupt. “I’m so fucking serious. I am freaking out right now,” I whisper, trying to keep my voice down so Chloe doesn’t hear.
“Which is exactly why I shouldn’t—” he starts. I can feel him getting angry which just makes me more anxious for him to leave.
I stand up and walk around him, my shoulder bumping into his as I move by. He grabs for my hand and I quickly yank it away, stomping like a toddler to the front door. I swing it open and point into the hallway. “Get. Out,” I grit.
Jules’ hand runs furiously over his face, but I can tell he’s resigned himself to leaving.
“Where you going, Juju?” Chloe pipes up when Jules passes the kitchen.
He looks at her and… shatters. The evident pain on his face almost makes me close the door.
Almost.
“I gotta go, Chloe,” he finally replies. “I’ll see you soon, okay?”
His steps slow when he gets to the door. “I don’t want to leave,” he says, his voice low enough that only I can hear.
I’m about to respond when the door across the hallway opens.
“What’s up, guys?” Ben says, cheerful as always.
Despite myself, I want to smile when Jules murmurs, “Fucking awesome.”
“Juju is going to take a test!” Chloe yells to her new best friend.
Ben raises a single eyebrow at his twin, who shakes his head in response.
“Princess Chloe, why don’t you come hang out at my place for a bit? I can make tea!” Ben is trying to help, but I just wantthese stupid, handsome men to disappear so I can panic in peace.
“No, it’s fine. Jules was just leaving,” I reply.
“Okay…” Ben drawls. “Prince Julien.” He opens his door and waves his hand with a flourish, welcoming Jules in.
Jules takes one more long look at me. I see the battle raging in his eyes, sorrow mixes with frustration and something else that I can’t quite place. “We will need to talk about this,” he insists. “I’ll be here when you’re ready.”
And then he disappears into Ben’s apartment.
I bury my face in my hands and slide down the door frame until I’m firmly planted on the floor.
The deep breaths are not helping with the nausea or the building anxiety. When I finally uncover my eyes, Ben is still standing in the hallway with me, texting furiously.
“Can you make sure he’s okay?” I ask.
