“You know what I am asking Jules,” I said now just above a whisper. “Is she…is she mine?” I finally managed to get out.
She stood back a little shocked like she didn’t believe I would actually ask. She looked back at the little girl again as if weight her options. Finally, she grabbed my wrist and tugged at me.
“Come on,” she said pulling me towards the back of the apartment. “I don't need you waking her up.”
We walked silently down the hall and into a room. One quick look around told me it was hers. Not only did it have a queen bed with a simplistic white comforter, but it was also a disheveled mess.
I raised an eyebrow at her as I looked around. The dresser was covered entirely in trinkets, folded clothes not yet put away, and various papers. On the floor was a massive pile of laundry. The bed was unmade, and shoes laid scattered everywhere.
I may have changed in the last six years, but from the looks of Julie’s room, she was exactly the same. I coughed a little to hid a laugh.
“What? Something you want to say?” She said arching her own thin brow in my direction.
She shoved some shoes under her bed and pulled up the comforter over it.
“Nothing at all. It’s just good to see your still the same.”
“I’m not the same,” she said in a harsh tone. “You think I would just stay here frozen in time waiting for you to come back. Life moves on, and so did I.”
I couldn’t help but feel my heart sink a little. I really couldn’t blame her for moving passed me, but at the same time, I couldn’t honestly say the same.
“Look, Jules. What happened…”
“I don’t care. You up and left out of the blue. Two years and not even a goodbye. I don’t care, though. I am past it, and I appreciate it if you would just drop it too.”
“Okay, if that is what you want, fine,” I said trying to calm the anger I could see brewing in her.
She may have said she was past it, but it was easy to see still that it was raw.
“Just tell me. Is she mine?”
Julie sank down on the bed she had just quickly made. I was prepared to hear her say what I knew deep down.
“It was right after you left,” she said softly. “I was heartbroken. I went to a party with Savannah. She thought it would get me out of my funk. It was just a one-night thing that didn’t mean anything. But I found out a month later something more came of it.”
‘Bullshit,” I said not believing her.
I thought back to the girl laying on the couch. It wasn’t just her matching black hair that made me think she was mine. There was a connection I had with her. I felt it, I was sure of it.
“I’m serious Hawk. I’m sorry, but she isn’t yours.”
“Okay, then tell me who the guy was.”
“I don’t remember his name,” she said slightly hesitantly.
It was the chink in her armor I was looking for. It was easy to see she was making it all up. Julie was not the type of girl to have a one night stand, especially with a guy she didn’t know even his name.
I got down on my knees in front of her. I hesitated for a few seconds before taking her hands. It felt so good to touch her again. It was like electricity waking me up anew.
“I know you are lying,” I said softly. “She is mine. I know it.”
Though it looked that Julie had too soften at our touching, her honey eyes narrowed on me now.
“Even if she was yours, not that I am saying she is, what does that matter? You have no right to come here out of nowhere and ask me that.”
“Jules, if I had known…” I started.
“You would have what?” Julie stood up and put some space between us. “Turn around and come home?”