Stay With Me

18. Guilty Until Proven Innocent

Rogers Residence, Philadelphia, PA. July 29th 2018

Landon stands dumbstruck in the dark, his limp dick still in his hand while he stares into Julie's bedroom. He was relishing the in aftershock of his orgasm, slowly stroking himself while envisioning still being buried in Juliette's cunt when Rogers mentioned marriage.

And then Juliette agreed to get married in a week or less. Like she's serious about it. Like marriage isn't something she should want with him. Not Rogers. If she marry's Rogers she can't marry him. The it hits Landon like a ton of bricks to the fucking face. She might actually want to marry this prick. Questions swirl in Landon's head like a cyclone.

Does she love Rogers? Did she really mean it when she said it all those times before? Doesn't she have feelings for him anymore? What about what happened in the bar last night? After all there was attraction there. There was chemistry. Wasn't there? She was turned on, when he cornered her against her desk. Wasn't she? Unless she head butted him because he was too close and doesn't feel the same way. And the heavy breathing was because she was afraid, not because she wanted him and was excited.

Nothing makes any sense even as the light turns on inside his head and he starts to see how she feels about him. Everything he's done for her, to have her has been for nothing. She doesn't want him.

Rage and irrational jealousy smolders under his skin, bubbling under the surface, festering like a poisonous infection. She never loved him. She told him that. She loves Steve Fucking Rogers. She's going to marry him. In the next few days. A small voice in the back of Landon's head tells him, she does love you. She's simply confused by the things he's telling her. Show her you love her more.

He nods to himself. Believing the little voice, knowing it's right. But, he needs to work quickly. He's running out of time. He needs to get her alone. First thing he needs is her phone. So he waits.

—————————————————————————————

Rogers Residence. Philadelphia, PA. July 30th 2018

Juliette kicks her shoes off in the entryway to the house. It's not late, only a little after 10 pm but all the lights in the house are off. Which surprises her, because Steve should be awake. He didn't come to the bar like he said he would, something that also surprised her. Steven never goes back on his word.

"Baby?" She calls down the hallway towards the kitchen. Still nothing. Her eyebrows pull together as she peers into the living room, hoisting the large vase of red roses onto her hip while struggling to carry all the bags her amassed earlier in the morning. One of which carries a white off the shoulder dress she'll marry Steven in.

Seeing the living room is dark and empty she continues down the hall to the kitchen. Every step she takes her heart beats harder, the air thickening. Her body becoming more and more alert, as if danger is near and she's about to walk into the lion's den.

With her hands full, she lifts her elbow to flick on the light. The light washes into the attached dining room, barely reaching the oak table placed in the center or man sitting in the dark. Seeing the kitchen is also empty she sighs and walks towards the island, dropping her bags and the placing the flowers on top of the counter.

Juliette smiles, seeing the gift note. The feeling of danger still hovers at the surface but the thought of Steve settles her.

I love you Sweetheart. I can't wait to start this new chapter with you.

She bites her lip as she smiles and pulls out her phone. It's still too early for Steven to be in bed so he must be out with the guys and Natasha. They were supposed to install the new security system today but it wasn't set when got home and her messages remain empty. She hasn't gotten a text in hours. She opens Steven's thread and types.