Irreplaceable

chapter 43

-43-
-unedited-

luke's pov

I lay back in my hotel rooms bed, Levi sleeping in my lap as I scratch behind his ears. "Mamas mad at me. I understand why... god how stupid was I?" I mumble as he rolls over to his stomach.

I let out a small giggle, rubbing his belly as the dog fully wakes up. "Hey boy"

Levi gets up off my lap and bounces over to the door. Whining at it. It's like he hears something.

Low and behold, the door rattles as someone lightly knocks on the door.

I get up, pick the dog up in my arms and open the door. "Can we talk?" Julie gulps as she looks me in the eyes.

I huff and move to the side. "Yeah. Yeah totally"

Julie walks in and sits down on the made bed next to my suitcase. "I talk. You listen" She points at me as I sit across from her on the unmade bed.

"I kinda cheated on you when we were teenagers. That one time with Nick. You forgave me so I guess... I'd be a jerk of a wife if I didn't forgive you" She mumbles, fiddling with her hands.

I shift in my seat and feel my chest grow heavy. "I'm a flirt. I flirt. We know this and that at times, I cross the line" I pause, taking a deep breath.

"Remember when I first got to Loz Feliz? Right after we because lifers?" I reminisce.

Julie nods. "Other than the flashing cameras and the people not leaving us alone, I remember one thing. Third period, music. You had left class and we were working on some partner project. I can't remember her name for the life of me... Ella something-"

"Ella McKnight" Julie forces a laugh.

"Right. Anyways, that's not important, we were chatting because we were partners. Uh I'm getting ahead of myself. I guess I was flirting with her... I thought it was playful teasing but it was taken otherwise. She had to remind me she has a boyfriend" I shake my head, running a hand over my entire face.

Julie nods, "She told me afterwards and I told her pretty much the same thing. 'Luke's a natural flirt' and that was it"

I reach forward and take Julie's hand in mine. "You're the love of my life. I knew from the moment we... well not the moment we met cause we were both screaming but the moment you walked into the studio. You thought you were crazy, thinking you saw a ghost-"

"We're all a little crazy. I remember" She laughs.

I nod and sit up. "So... I can come home?" I raise an eyebrow.

"You were always allowed to come home. I wouldn't have stopped you" She shrugs.

Levi jumps up on the bed beside her and leans into her stomach, nuzzling and acting all strange. "Hey boy, hi" She giggles, petting behind his ear.

I laugh along and scratch my neck. "You good? You look like you have something on your mind"

Julie's smile fades, her bottom lip rolling between her teeth. "Yeah. Yeah I do but now isn't the time. I wanted to talk later"