Chapter 24

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The night was winding down, and Julie found herself off towards the back of the patio sitting down on the outdoor sofa just to get a little breather. She set her water on the table and settled back against the corner when she saw Marcus walking up to her tentatively. "Oh, a little bit scared to talk to me now, are you?"

"I don't know about scared, but maybe a little embarrassed." Marcus sighed sitting down beside her but perching himself on the edge of the sofa and playing with the water bottle in his hands. "I wasn't exactly on my best behavior when I got here."

Julie chuckled a little as she looked over at him. "Well, you can relax. Harry says this pregnancy mellowed me, so I won't pounce on you or anything." She reached over and touched his shoulder gently to try and get him to relax back a little. "Marcus, I get it. Kind of. I don't like it really, but I get it." She sighed when he moved away from her touch. "I hate the fact you weren't honest with me a long time ago, because now we are here, and I feel like I'm losing a huge part of my life."

"You weren't exactly the easiest person to get close to. Especially for someone like me." Marcus leaned back against the couch and looked over at her.

"What do you mean, especially someone like you?" Julie asked confused.

"There was me, and there was Jaime. We were the only two that got anywhere near you. Jaime became the easy choice to let in, because it didn't take all that long for you to realize he wouldn't be interested in anything deeper than a friendship." Marcus watched the revelation spread across Julie's face. "We talked about this briefly a long time ago. I knew that in order to have a chance at a deeper relationship with you, I had to get you to trust my intentions first. You were hurt, and so guarded. But, I took it too slow. You and Harry worked things out faster than I could get through to you."

Julie shook her head. "It was painfully slow, Marcus. Even for me. It didn't seem like I was the only one holding back. Even when we did go out. Even the times I thought it was a date, it was agonizingly platonic."

Marcus couldn't help but chuckle. "Remind me never to ask you to sell me to a potential partner."

"Shut up." Julie laughed a little. "I'm not sure you were anymore ready than I was. I think you're using me needing time, as too much of an excuse. And I think maybe you're using me as a cop out now, too."

Marcus looked at Julie as his eyes widened. "And how do you figure that?"

"Because, if you continue to concentrate on what you could have done different in the past, years ago, you don't have to focus on what could be in the present or the future. You have no idea if we would have been anything more than what we are now. We could have been together, and it may not have worked. But it's safe for you." Julie shrugged. "Maybe it's time, my sweet, stubborn, friend, to realize that wondering 'what if' about us isn't going to change what is right now." Julie took a chance and took his hand. "And there is a lucky woman out there who is waiting for you. One who will put up with your stubbornness, your brooding, your dark artistic personality. And I hope I get a chance to say I told you so."

Marcus looked down at their hands together. He did spend a lot of time wondering what it would have been like to have her be his. To do everything she ended up doing with Harry. Dating, moving in together, getting married, having children. But, maybe she was right. Maybe he did that because he'd found someone who understood him in ways he'd never had anyone understand him before, and maybe he hadn't opened himself up to the possibility again. "Yeah, I mean, if someone can put up with with your stubbornness, your mouth, and your dark and depressing attitude, I should be a piece of cake."

Julie removed her hand from Marcus' and backhanded him. "Don't be a dick."

Marcus chuckled. "Don't be a dick? Really?" He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "No matter what you say. You'll always be the one who got away." He leaned over and kissed her cheek. "But, I'm happy that you're happy. And I'll do my best not to be a dick, and be there for my friend."

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