Chapter 9: Cold stops.
(Rory's POV)
What did I just say?
I thought, my mind spiraling as I stared out the window, the city scape visible through the glass.
Not that bad? I mean, Ethan was a jerk, but he didn't do anything… wrong. Not really.
I shook my head, trying to push the thoughts away. Forget it. What's done is done. I'll probably never see him again, so there's no point worrying about one night.
But the unease lingered, a quiet whisper that I wasn't as unaffected by Ethan as I wanted to believe.
I didn't notice the way Julian's posture stiffened, the way his jaw clenched tighter, his thoughts darkening with every second of silence.
I was too caught up in my own head, dreading the moment I'd have to face my parents and explain where I'd been. What could I say? That I'd caught Jonathan cheating, gotten drunk in a bar, and ended up in a stranger's hotel room? The truth was too messy, too raw, and I wasn't ready to lay it bare, not to them, not to Julian, not even to myself.
The car eased to a stop by the pavement, the engine settling into a soft purr that vibrated through the seat. The dashboard's amber glow cast sharp shadows across Julian's face, highlighting the hard set of his jaw, the tension in his brow. Outside, the sky had brightened into a soft canvas of pale blue, the clouds parting to reveal the morning sun. It was well past eight, the world waking up around us, but the air inside the car felt frozen, heavy with unspoken words.
I blinked, leaning forward slightly as I peered out the window. My brows furrowed as I recognized the familiar curve of the sidewalk, the row of neatly trimmed hedges just a block away. My house was right there, so close I could see the familiar red mailbox at the end of the street. "Why did you stop here?" I asked, turning to Julian with suspicion creeping into my voice. "My place is literally right down the street."
He didn't look at me. Instead, he leaned an elbow on the center console, his fingers resting casually against his temple, his gaze fixed on the road ahead. "Something came up," he said plainly, his voice devoid of its usual warmth. "I remembered there's something that requires my attention. You should get off here."
I narrowed my eyes, my irritation flaring. "Seriously? Are you doing this because I said nothing happened between Ethan and me?" The accusation slipped out before I could stop it, sharp and cutting. I hated how petty it sounded, but his sudden coldness stung, a reminder of how quickly he could shut me out when he was upset.
Julian let out a soft, disbelieving breath, almost a laugh but laced with exhaustion. "No, Rory. Do I look that petty to you?" He turned the wheel slightly, his eyes still avoiding mine. "Just get out here so I can go."
His tone was clipped, not quite cold but distant enough to hit me like a slap. For a moment, I just stared at him, searching his face for a crack in his stoic facade, trying to decipher if he was lying or if something really had come up.
But his expression was unreadable, his amber eyes guarded in a way that made my chest ache. Julian had always been my anchor, the one person I could count on to understand me, but right now, he felt miles away.
"Are you getting out, or do you just enjoy making people worry about you for no damn reason?" he said, his voice sharper now, his brow twitching as he shot me a fleeting glance. "Should I remind you that Aunty and Uncle are still waiting?"
The words cut deeper than I expected, a jab at my guilt that made my throat tighten. "Fine!" I snapped, my hand shooting to the door handle as I shoved the door open with more force than necessary. I swung one leg out, pausing just long enough to throw one last barb. "Thanks so much for the ride, Your Highness ," I said, my voice dripping with venom-laced sarcasm as I stepped out onto the pavement.
I slammed the car door shut, the sound echoing in the quiet morning air, a sharp punctuation to my frustration. I didn't care about the luxury vehicle's delicate finish, didn't care that I was probably overreacting. Julian's coldness, his refusal to meet my eyes, had lit a spark of anger that burned hotter than my guilt.
He didn't flinch, didn't roll down the window or offer a parting word. Instead, the engine roared back to life, the rear tires skidding slightly as the car executed a crisp U-turn, the tail end drifting just enough to kick up a whisper of dust. I stepped back instinctively, my arms folding tightly across my chest as I watched the sleek blur of metal and pride disappear down the road, its taillights fading into the morning light.
I huffed, the sound sharp and exasperated. "Still an annoying jerk," I muttered under my breath, glaring at the spot where his car had vanished. "Just in shinier packaging." The words felt hollow, a weak attempt to mask the hurt twisting in my chest. Julian had always been there for me, but right now, his distance felt like another betrayal, another crack in the foundation of my world.
With one last annoyed glance at the empty street, I turned on my heel and started walking toward home, my shoes clicking rhythmically against the pavement. The morning breeze teased the hem of my dress, cool against my skin, but it did nothing to soothe the storm of emotions swirling inside me.
I had a lot to face when I got home, my parents' worry, their questions, the inevitable truth about Jonathan. But as I walked, my thoughts kept drifting back to Julian, to the way his eyes had darkened, to the unspoken vow I'd sensed in his silence. Something told me this wasn't the end of it... not with him, not with Ethan, and not with the pieces of my heart still scattered across this city.