I don't know how long I've been standing on my balcony, looking down 22 stories at Park Avenue thinking this shit, when my doorbell rings and jars me out of whatever trance I was in.
I don't remember anyone asking to be buzzed up and I'm curious so I walk over and open the door.
Fuck.
It's Julianna.
I back away from the door to let her in, but other than that, am pretty fucking silent.
She's wearing black yoga pants and a tight, white t-shirt.
"I was just running," she says, looking at me. "I thought I'd stop by."
Right. I've never once told her where I live. Never once have I even had her over.
I walk into the living room, motioning for her to do the same. She follows me and I go over to the bar.
"Want a drink?" I ask.
She nods her head. She's quiet. Too quiet. I don't like it when she's fucking quiet. She's not normally like this.
"I haven't gotten a chance to talk to you in a while," she says as I pour the drinks but the moment I turn around she averts her eyes.
Well, it's too late for that right now. She's in my fucking apartment. I walk over to her and hand her drink.
"I've always been here," I tell her in response to her statement.
"I've just been told to keep some distance," she says, taking a sip.
You know how I know I'm really feeling this woman?
She takes a sip of the scotch I poured, and doesn't wince.
She doesn't make a face. She takes it down, and lets it burn.
She's more of a fucking player than most men I know.
Maybe even more than me. She's a fucking bad girl. Doesn't take any shit from anyone. Probably one of the strongest people I've ever fucking met.
But even the strongest person withers when the whole world turns against you. I know because I am.
I fucking love her.
Jesus Christ. I can't believe it, but that's exactly what I'm thinking in the moment. Since the moment I fucking laid eyes on her. Since the moment I started checking out her ass. She had a vibe that was attractive to me. More than attractive. Like a fucking siren call out in the ocean.
They say there's plenty of fish in the sea? Well I'm a shark. And this woman has just ensnared me.
"Why'd you come over, Julianna?" I say, looking directly at her, not mincing any words.
She looks at me, and our eyes meet and I can feel an electricity go back and forth between us.
"I wanted to see..." she trails off and looks out the window and I can tell she's kicking herself for how unsure she feels. "I wanted to see how you were. And how Ethan's doing. I haven't talked to him in a while. Ever since..."
I shake my head. No need for her to continue. "Yeah, I haven't talked to him in a while either. Ever since the loss to the stepbrothers and when we..."
Now it's me that doesn't continue.
But it's like it's lit a fire inside of her. She downs her drink and turns around and takes a step closer. All of a sudden I can smell her Givenchy fragrance go through my nostrils and I can almost feel her warmth.