Queen Of Hearts

Issues

Katherine

Once inside an empty room, Julian closed the door and stalked toward me. "I don't appreciate hearing your ex's name mentioned."

"I don't appreciate you treating me like a child and scolding me. What is wrong with you?"

Julian stood before me and knitted his brows together.

"You knew I had been married and why it didn't last. You've met Cameron. I can't change my past just like you can't change yours."

Julian stared at me in silence.

"Cruz and I were discussing cooking. We weren't talking about my past relationship with his son."

Julian dropped his head, took my hands into his, and cradled them. "I lost you once, which almost destroyed me. I never want to lose you again. It would kill me."

I pulled my hand from Julian's and placed it on his cheek as he lifted his eyes to mine. "No one has captivated my heart as you have. Not even Cameron."

Julian's eyes searched mine.

I placed my other hand on his cheek and pulled him until our lips met. Julian slid his arms around my waist and pressed my body to his as he deepened the kiss.

*******
Cruz

I finished cooking the spaghetti as Joe grabbed plates from the cabinet and set them on the table. While I drained the pasta, Joe set the table. A few minutes later, Julian and Katherine emerged hand in hand.

"Is everything okay?" Joe asked.

"Yes," Katherine answered.

Julian grabbed four glasses and a bottle of wine and placed them on the table. Katherine helped me gather bowls to put the food in to bring it to the table.

"It's not my place to say, but marriage is about understanding and compromise," Joe mentioned.

Katherine and Julian glanced at Joe as I placed the sauce bowl on the table.

"When you love someone, there's no room for jealousy," Joe added.

Katherine offered a reassuring smile as Julian crumpled his brows.

I started dishing out the food on the plates. "Yeah, Vince would pout when Lacey would do something he didn't like. I laughed because it drove him nuts not to have control over her." I shrugged.

"How did Vincent handle Lacey's past?" Katherine asked me.

Julian's brow arched at Katherine's question.

"Vince didn't have a choice because he knew about her past when he met her. I won't say there weren't issues about it because there were. It's something both had to learn how to handle. But as for Cameron, Julian doesn't need to worry," I said.

Julian's gaze snapped to me.

"Cameron is happy with Valeria. Plus, Vince would destroy Cameron if he hurt her." I smirked.

Julian relaxed instantly. It's all about perspective.

"Shall we eat? Then we can discuss our reason for our impromptu visit," Joe mentioned.

We nodded, sat down, and started eating.

*******
Julian

Joe and Cruz talked about different things as we ate. I mulled over what Joe and Cruz said before dinner. My heart ached when I ended things between Katherine and me. I never wanted to experience that type of pain again.