Page 83 of Reflections of Peonies
“You’re biased,” Kayla said, holding my phone to me. “And blind. Haven’t you been paying attention to her plans?”
“What plans?” Bryce—who left the ring display—joined in.
“Girl stuff,” she answered and shoved the phone at me after I’d made no move to grab it. I fumbled, holding it to my chest as she added. “Feel free to text me when things settle down.”
“Now—” She glanced toward Julian, who was watching her with barely concealed surprise. “Didn’t you say you were busy? I’m actually working here. Leave me be.”
Julian’s surprise turned to contemplation, then resignation. “Having you around Biancawouldmake me feel better.”
“Now you oweme,” Kayla said, brushing her shoulder as she returned to her previous location.
Julian nodded in response. “Thanks.”
“Stop pouting already,” Kayla said as she sat on a stool and crossed her arms over the glass. “Just don’t be too hard on him?” she asked, glancing at Julian.
Julian’s arm stiffened slightly before, after a breath, he relaxed. “I’ll think about it.”
Without another word, he led me from the store, leaving Bryce behind to talk to the two women. And even though I couldn’t see them anymore, I could feel Kayla and Hanah’s gazes burning into my back.
“Do you think they like me?” I asked, peeking up from my phone. Kayla texted herself from my number, while Hanah added herself as a contact.
There was only sincerity in his gaze as he looked at me. “Darling, I’m still mad as hell at them, but I won’t lie; they like you very much.”
I bit my lip, returning my attention to the screen. “What makes you think that?”
He steered me to a vacant storefront but didn’t speak again until we’d stopped, and he set the bags he was holding on the floor. My back was against the wall, and he gently touched my cheek.
“Darling, Kayla lied tometo prioritize your well-being,” he said. “She wouldn’t have done that if she didn’t like you.”
The confusion must have shown in my gaze because Julian sighed and continued, “There are those of us whom everyone knows never to cross. For example, Miles allows his Officers a lot of freedom. In comparison, Titus, Damen, and myself are much stricter. For Kayla and Do Yun to lie to me, they must have felt strongly about keeping you secret.”
There was a pause while he seemed to consider something, then he grimaced and added, “As much as I loathe to admit it, Finn too.”
“What?” I asked.
“Finn is an idiot,” Julian said, pinching the bridge of his nose. “He should have come to Damen with his concerns, especially when given the opportunity. Because of that, his actions have affectedyou, and that’s what I can’t forgive. That, and his feelings have ventured into places he’s not allowed.”
“What do you mean?” I tilted my head, the movement causing a lock of my hair to fall over my eyes. “He doesn’t have any feelings.”
Julian’s mouth dipped as he tucked it behind my ear. He studied where his hand touched, and a shadow of anger clouded his face.
“Julian?” Why was he looking at me like that?
The sound of his name seemed to pull him from his reverie, and he shook his head. “Never mind. Let’s go home. Damen should be ready by now.”
“Ready for what?” I asked as he picked up the bags with one hand and placed the other lightly on my waist, but Julian only hummed in response.
‘Ready’was referencing Damen’s remodeling project.
By the time Bryce, Julian, and I returned, the furniture had been removed from my room, sans a mattress on the floor in the corner, and Damen was painting the walls a soft pink.
“What is this?” I asked, stepping into the room.
Damen, who’d been standing on a small ladder as he trimmed out a corner of the ceiling, made a surprised sound and almost fell to the floor.
“You’re back?” he asked, looking toward me as he caught his balance. “Already?”
What did he mean? I glanced at my phone. “It’s been hours.”
