Page 4 of Julian Shared
No, he won’t. Not unless he’s giving me an encore. I don’t take offense to him dancing some more tonight, but I’m not letting him get on his knees for any man but me.
I lean in close to whisper into his ear. “What’re you doing after?”
Julian doesn’t understand. “After what?”
“After college,” I clarify. Pulling back, I watch his face as I lift my hand to his mouth and gently trace the shape of it with my thumb.
Julian, as obedient as ever, takes it into his mouth. Sucks on me again.
I’ve never wanted anyone before. Not like this. I thought I’d spend the rest of my life with hook-ups and one-night stands between deployments, but I want more than that.
I want Julian. Not only for tonight, but for keeps. Maybe his crazy is infectious. Maybe I’ve just finally met the right boy for me. All I know is that I can’t let him get away. I don’t care how long it takes or what I have to do.
Forget about his father. Never mind the age gap.
I’m gonna make him mine. Not just for tonight, but for forever.
We’re gonna get married.
Chapter 1
Julian
Now
“You and Joel have been together for ten fucking years?” Minh gapes openly at my ring. A silver band with a princess cut ruby hugged by marquise diamonds.
That’s right. I nod my head and try not to let my smile slip into a smirk. Most military marriages crash out and burn up within the first few years, but Joel and I were built different. We nurtured our bond and grew together instead of growing apart.
“This was his abuelita’s wedding ring.” Though Joel and had a few moderations done. It didn’t always have the diamonds. “She passed it down to him so he could propose to me with it.”
“How romantic,” Minh sighs wistfully.
I wiggle my fingers so my ring sparkles in the sweltering afternoon sunshine. It’s autumn, technically, even if the ever-victorious Southwest sun makes it feel like there’s not much difference between the seasons. It still feels like summertime. Anything not in danger of melting in the heat has to be set up in the church’s front yard.
I led the charge for the sudden change, so, my muffin baskets are front and center among the outside display tables.
Today’s bake sale has been more popular than planned for. All us military spouses who volunteered to provide the baked goods went above and beyond. Everyone’s baked a little extra and we’ve run out of room inside. That’s a good thing. The more we sell, the more money we raise.
“And that’s right,” I nod as much to my handiwork as to Minh’s question. “The big ten. Our anniversary barbecue is tonight, remember?”
She doesn’t.
I can see the apology in Minh’s deep brown eyes before it even leaves her lips.
“Damn it. I’m sorry, Julian.” She taps the side of her head and then pats her swollen belly. “I can’t remember a fucking thing anymore.”
In another life, one where Minh signed enlistment papers to the Navy instead of a marriage certificate to a soldier, she would have made a fantastic sailor. She curses like one.
“That’s all right,” I tell her with a forgiving smile…and a sympathetic look.
Minh’s due to pop out her twins any day now. The whole process of pregnancy is foreign to me, but the whole idea of getting pregnant sounds like an actual horror plot.
Thank goodness Joel’s side of the family is big enough that he’s never wanted any kids of his own. I certainly don’t want to adopt any. Kids are so…sticky.
And prone to all sorts of messy, chaotic behavior.
That type of thing is totally incompatible with how I live my life these days.
