Valerie's POV
I stood in my living room, still reeling from the kiss we had just shared. It felt like a dream—intense and exhilarating—but also frightening in its implications. How could I have let that happen? My mind raced as I stared at the door where Liam had just left, the warmth of his lips still lingering on mine.
The moment we kissed, the world had seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of us caught in a whirlwind of emotions. But as quickly as it began, it ended, leaving me feeling confused and guilty. How could I reconcile this newfound intensity with the life I had built with Julien? My mind was a storm of questions, each more overwhelming than the last.
I glanced down at my phone when it began to ring, and my heart sank at the sight of Julien's name flashing across the screen. The call brought me back to reality, and I quickly composed myself before answering. "Hey, Julien," I said, forcing a smile that I hoped would translate through the phone.
"Hey! I'm almost home. I was thinking we could go over the wedding plans together tonight," he said, his voice cheerful. I felt a twinge of guilt for the sudden unease creeping in. How could I focus on our future when I was still haunted by what had just happened with Liam?
"Sure, sounds good," I replied, trying to sound enthusiastic. But inside, my mind was racing with questions. What was happening to me? Why was I feeling so torn between my commitment to Julien and this new, undeniable connection with Liam?
I hung up and paced around the living room, my heart heavy. How could I reconcile my feelings? On one hand, I cared about Julien deeply. He was kind, supportive, and had been there for me through everything. But on the other hand, Liam was this magnetic force that seemed to awaken something within me that I didn't even know existed.
The kiss replayed in my mind, and I could still feel the electricity that surged between us. It had felt so right in that moment, but now it felt like a betrayal. I had to make sense of this, and I needed to figure out what I truly wanted before things spiraled out of control.
The sound of the front door opening snapped me out of my thoughts. Julien walked in, his face lighting up when he saw me. "Hey! There you are," he said, stepping forward to pull me into an embrace. I wrapped my arms around him, wishing I could fully relax into his warmth. But the knot in my stomach tightened as I remembered Liam's kiss.
"Hey," I murmured, forcing a smile as we pulled apart. I could see the excitement in Julien's eyes, and it made me feel even worse about my internal conflict.
"Are you ready to dive into the wedding plans?" he asked, already leading me to the dining table, where I could see the stack of wedding magazines and notes scattered across the surface.
"Yeah, let's do it," I replied, trying to muster enthusiasm. As we sat down, I could feel the weight of my feelings pressing down on me. I needed to sort this out.
But as we began discussing details, I found it difficult to concentrate. My mind kept wandering back to Liam, to the way he had looked at me, the way he had kissed me. I could tell Julien was excited to plan our future, but all I could think about was how I had just stepped into uncharted territory.
"Valerie? Are you listening?" Julien's voice broke through my thoughts, and I blinked, looking up to see him watching me with a hint of concern.
"Sorry! I was just... thinking," I admitted, biting my lip.
"About what?" he asked, his tone gentle but probing. I hesitated, unsure of how to voice the turmoil within me without causing unnecessary pain.
"Just about the wedding and everything," I said, hoping to deflect. "I want it to be perfect."
