Chapter 3

Julian didn't stay the night. He had another apartment in the building next door, and he went back there.

The next morning, he came over to bring me breakfast.

There were seven or eight dishes spread out on the table. Zara saw them and smiled somewhat smugly.

"Did Julian know I was here today, so he brought so much?"

"Wow, I love the soup dumplings from this place! Too bad they never deliver. Did you pick them up early this morning?"

Julian looked up at her. "No, I forgot you were here. I even bought two fewer things today. Cassie doesn't have much of an appetite in the mornings, so I just buy a lot so she has choices."

Zara let out a long "Ohhh," but her fingers kept fiddling with her freshly manicured nails. That's how she thinks. I figured if she was just a little interested in Julian before, now she was definitely determined to get him.

I unconsciously tightened my grip on Julian's hand. Maybe feeling the pain, Julian looked at me. I quickly apologized to him and left the table.

That evening, when I got off work, they were again sitting on opposite ends of the sofa. When I walked in, Julian got up to greet me.

He asked me in a low voice, "Does Zara not work? Why is she always here? And doesn't she have her own place? What's the deal with her being here every day?"

I looked up at him. "If you add her on SnapChat, maybe she'll quiet down."

His expression froze, and after a short pause, he said, "Just added her. She said if I did, she'd go home tomorrow."

I just said "Oh" and went into the room. Julian followed, putting his arm around me and asking if I was mad.

"I just don't want to see her every day. I can mute her, you know. Look, I've already set her to 'do not disturb'."

He pulled out his phone as he spoke, holding it up to me, trying to prove his innocence.

I didn't say anything. My disappointment must have been obvious. Julian held my hand, comforting me for a long time.

During dinner, he kept teasing me, trying to get me to talk, and piling food onto my plate.

Zara just smiled when she saw it. "Our Julian is so thoughtful, isn't he?"