Chapter 2
[Seriously. His shirt button just flew off.]
[Knock already. Elizabeth, knock on his door, quick!]
My mind was still hazy, but before I knew it, my body was already moving.
The wine was making me bold. I spun around and made my way to the door across the hall.
The dark gray security door loomed in front of me, locked up tight.
I raised my hand and knocked.
I'd barely knocked once, and the door opened in a flash.
It opened so fast that it was like the man had been standing there waiting for me.
Julian stood in the doorway.
He was tall—easily over six feet two—wearing a white shirt with a collar button popped open, showing off his perfect skin and prominent collarbones.
His hair was a bit messy, like he had just showered and hadn't dried it yet, a few stray strands falling across his forehead.
He was drop-dead gorgeous.
He was so handsome that I literally forgot to breathe for a second.
His eyes were deep and brooding, his nose straight and high, lips pressed into a thin line, jaw clenched so tight it looked painful.
He just stared at me, his gaze dark and smoldering, like he was barely keeping something in check.
I know him.
It was Julian.
He was Grady's business rival—a notorious mad dog in the business world—and he was also my classmate back in high school.
We shared a desk for three years and hardly spoke a word to each other.
The comments exploded again.
[OMG, he opened the door. He actually opened it.]
[That look in his eyes... Damn, I wish I could be the one standing there.]
[Elizabeth's in a wedding dress, strapless, floor-length. Julian's eyes are totally red.]
[He's been crushing on her for ten years, and now he's watching her stand outside his door in her wedding dress, locked out.]
[Oh, dear.]
[Look at his Adam's apple, it just moved again.]
[The veins on the back of his hand are popping out. What's he holding back?]
[Either he wants to kill someone, or he just wants to drag her inside and lock the door.]
I stared at him, the alcohol buzzing in my veins, my mind blanking out for a second, and I blurted, "You... been standing here the whole time?"
Julian didn't say anything.
He dropped his eyes, staring down at me from above.
His gaze was dark and intense.
After a few seconds, Julian finally spoke, his voice rough and low. "The password? It's Grady's birthday mixed with Elsie's."
I stared at him. "What did you say?"
"He changed the password before the wedding," Julian said, his voice so casual it was like he was just talking about the weather.
The comments exploded.
[Holy crap, he actually heard it?]
[With these thick walls, he must've been glued to the door to catch the error beep.]
[LOL, the mighty Mr. Schneider, eavesdropping on Elizabeth at the door.]
[Enough, he's gone off the deep end.]
I paused for a few seconds.
Then I asked, "Were you listening all along?"
He stared at me, not saying a word.
That silence said it all.
The comments were going wild.
[He didn't just eavesdrop. He got pics of Grady and Elsie kissing in the parking garage saved on his phone.]
[Yeah. He literally just took them. Caught those two making out in the car.]
[Julian was standing there, phone in hand, hesitating about whether to send the pics to Elizabeth, and then she knocked on his door.]
[Send them already. Julian, for god's sake, just send them.]
I spun around, ready to leave.
Julian caught my wrist in one swift move.
His grip wasn't forceful, but it was firm, like he was scared I'd run off.
"Where you headed?" he asked.
"Back," I said. "Waiting for someone."
He stared at me, his eyes so dark and heavy it felt like he was holding something back.
"Who are you waiting for?" he asked.
I stayed silent.
He lowered his head, leaning in a little closer.
He was close enough that I could smell the faint scent of body wash on him, mixed with a trace of cigarette smoke.
"You're in your wedding dress," Julian said, his words slow and heavy, voice barely above a whisper. "Standing outside his door. Is that what he told you—to just wait out here?"
I looked up at him.
His eyes were red, almost like he'd been holding back tears.
The comments went wild.
[Oh, he's crying.]
[No tears, just his eyes are red. Who can even understand this? The girl he's been secretly in love with for ten years is standing outside his door in her wedding dress. He's falling apart.]
[Julian can't take this anymore.]
[Elizabeth, look at him.]
I looked right at him.
I locked eyes with him and asked, "Have you been drinking?"
He looked surprised for a second.
Then he nodded. "Yeah."
"How much?"
He paused for a second and then said, "A whole bottle."
"Vodka?" I asked.
"Yeah," he replied.
I grinned. "Guess we're both a little drunk tonight."
He looked at me, his Adam's apple bobbing as he swallowed.
I continued, "My mind's a mess right now. Whatever I say probably doesn't mean anything."
He asked, "What are you getting at?"
I stepped closer to him.