Page 56 of Holy Hearts
“Thank you for the apology,” I say softly. I want to examine his other words, I want to pick them apart and ask him exactly what he means when he says he’s jealous.
Jealous of Julian? Me? Or… both of us?
His eyes gleam with something mirthful as he looks down at me, his shoulders relaxing slightly. “Speaking of Julian,” he says casually, breaking the tension in a way only someone in a leadership position can achieve. “How’s he doing? Besides being busy trying to take over the world?”
I let out a laugh as my arms loosen at my sides. Kai has a way of bringing Julian into the conversation that feels like there’s a hint of something else beneath it—an unspoken warmth that’s directed at him as much as it is at me.
“Honestly? He’s been swamped with work,” I say, shaking my head. “The new projects are practically taking over our weekends. I think he’s forgotten what a day off even looks like. You know how he gets when he has a new fixation.”
Kai’s mouth quirks in a smile, his eyes glinting with amusement. “Classic Julian.” He pauses, the corners of his mouth tugging into a soft, thoughtful grin. “And to think, the rest of us mortals struggle to keep up.”
I roll my eyes, but I’m smiling despite myself. “Oh, please. You act like you’re any less of a workaholic.” I glance over at him, and there’s something new in his gaze—an intensity I can’t quite name.
He shrugs, the barest smirk still lingering. “What can I say? I have good taste in role models.” His voice softens just a bit, and his gaze dips, lingering on me with a warmth that’s almost…fond. His eyes roam over to the bucket of supplies for Snickers, and my Pilates outfit. “Maybe it’s contagious, spending time with the two of you.”
It’s a lighthearted statement, but I catch a faint note of wistfulness in his tone, a quiet undercurrent that he tries to mask behind a teasing smile. The admission hangs in the air between us, and my pulse quickens, surprised at how his words make me feel—something close to… curiosity.
“What?” he asks, noticing my expression. “Am I not allowed to admire my friends?”
The glint in his eye is mischievous, but his voice is sincere, the words slipping out as easily as his smile.
“How is it that you somehow know how to flirt without crossing any lines?”
He barks a laugh at this, holding his hands up. “No flirting here.” He winces. “Okay, maybe a little.”
I laugh, and he continues.
“But I’m just trying to be a good friend and apologize.”
“Thank you for the apology.” I look at the bucket. “I should go take these things to the stables before it gets too dark, and then I need to shower before dinner. Julian will be home soon. You know where the tools are,” I finish, giving him a teasing smile as I walk over to the bucket and pick it up. “Would you like to join us for dinner?”
The second the words are out of my mouth, I regret them. But I can’t exactly whip around the kitchen trying to make dinner when he’s fixing the disposal andnotoffer to have him stay.
“I’d love to,” he says earnestly, giving me a genuine smile.
An hour later, I feel like I’m living in some sort of alternate universe. Somehow, despite Julian’s chilly reception to seeing Kai shirtless and fixing our disposal, they’ve both somehow been sitting at the kitchen island together… and arguing about art. I’m not wholly paying attention to the conversation, but Kai keeps pinching the bridge of his nose and sighing. Julian hasn’t stopped using his argumentative, sarcastic laugh. Every few minutes, I glance over at them between adding layers to the lasagna, and despite the fact that they’re not agreeing on whatever it is they’re discussing, they’re stilltalking.
And the way they’re sitting facing each other, focused only on what the other one is saying…
I can tell they used to be best friends.
My lips quirk as I triple check the recipe.
I don’t really cook, but my lasagna is one of the only decent things I can make from scratch. Julian does a lot of the cooking, and the other times, we just order a takeaway.
However, Julian just cinched his largest deal of the year and sold a painting for eleven million dollars, so I wanted to celebrate. I didn’t expect Kai to be here as well, but the more the merrier.
“Contemporary art isnotoverrated,” Julian scoffs, the aristocratic lilt to his voice evident. He brings his whiskey tumbler to his lips and takes a sip.
Kai holds his hands up. “I didn’t mean to imply it’s overrated. I just meant that for someone like Monet or van Gogh, a lot more craft and thought had to be put into it.”
“Right, but who classifies that as art? Where do we draw the line? Art is meant to make usfeelsomething, correct? So if a pileof chewing gum makes you feel something, then so be it. And if a large oil painting makes you feel something, fantastic. We can agree to disagree, but you can’t possibly discredit an entire movement because you don’t agree with it.”
Kai sits up straighter and takes a slow sip from his tumbler, finishing off the last of his whiskey. Before he can set his glass down, Julian reaches over and refills it, the amber liquid glinting as it spills into the glass.
“Are you boys going to share?” I ask, my voice dropping low, silkier than I mean it to. “Or do I have to beg for something to drink?”
Julian’s mouth quirks up, his eyes glinting as he leans back and takes his time with another sip. “Might be fun to see you beg,” he drawls, his voice carrying a hint of challenge.
