part eight.

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"No. Not happening. I'm vetoing it. No."

"Baby, come one." Asra had his arms wrapped around James's waist, his chin nestled in the crook of her beck. "You can't veto me."

James reached behind herself, slapping blindly at the man holding her. "I'm not vetoing you, I'm vetoing your dumb idea. It's a terrible idea, actually."

"Ah, don't be like that, love. I think it could be nice. He might not say no if I ask." He grabbed hold of one of her hands and turned her body to face him, bringing her hand to his lips and dotting kisses to each knuckle. Romance as a distraction was one of Asra's specialties, and heat rose in James's cheeks. "Come on, you know you'd be happier if he were there."

"You wanna charm your ex-boyfriend into officiating our wedding? After he left me crying in the street a week ago?" James shook her head, a fond smile slipping onto her lips. "You're crazy, you know that?"

Asra shrugged, not dropping his fiancée's hand. "It's one of my many amazing traits." He squeezed her hand. "I'm also very persuasive, but I'm open to any other suggestions on how to get him there.

"Who said I even wanted him there? I'd be perfectly happy with Salim officiating like we talked about." She studied his face carefully. "I don't need him there. The only thing I need is you." She watched him, looking for any bit of sadness, of betrayal, but she saw the same steady love and reliable adoration she always saw when she looked at him.

"You don't need to tell me that," he said softly, "and I wish you didn't think you needed to convince yourself of it. It's okay to need him. I regret not letting myself need him, and I regret the years I spent trying not to need you." Asra rubbed warm hands up and down his bare arms. "You and I both know there isn't enough time in life to waste any on pride. Let me talk to him. Please."

James breathed deeply, holding the air in her lungs until it stung. "You're right. I hate it, but you're right. Doesn't change the fact that I don't want a rambling madman officiating our wedding. The man can hardly get out a coherent sentence on a normal day, I can only imagine him stuttering out the rites.

"I'm sure he'll do fine," Asra said with an airy laugh. "I'll ask him about it the next time I see him. I should be heading to the docks, my parents will be here soon." He ducked to kiss her forehead, lips lingering a second more than they needed to. "I'll see you in a bit, my love. Thank you."

She delighted in the feeling of his warm lips against her skin, eyes closing as she sighed. "For what?"

"For letting me help you be happy. For trusting me enough. For trying to trust yourself." His fingertips just barely skimmed hers as he stepped away from the bed. "All I've ever wanted to do with this life is to love and be loved, and you make both so easy. So thank you, for giving me that." That same fond smile took over his features once more before he left with a small wave.

James stayed in bed for a few more minutes, letting the enormity of her fiancé's words settle in. He had been so kind to her the past few days, even more careful with her feelings than he usually was. Neither of them had mentioned their conversation from the week before, and James had been grateful. But as their wedding drew closer, the guilt growing painfully in her chest, she found herself wishing the conversation had never happened. It somehow seemed worse, Asra knowing the feelings she had been trying so hard to push down for the past few years. His unwavering support only left her with an ache, like she'd never be able to repay him if she took him up on the offer.

The more he spoke about Julian, however, the more James began to wonder if he wasn't just offering for her sake. The history between the two men was long and convoluted (she had taken to using the term "ex-boyfriends," albeit loosely), and not even James fully understood why things had ended so harshly between them, but it was becoming more obvious that feelings still lingered. The question was, why now? Why, after all these years of harboring a grudge, was Asra so willing to bring Julian back into his life? What had changed?

glowing. || julian devorakWhere stories live. Discover now