Page 52 of Meet Me In The Dark (Skeptically In Love #3)

Celeste

I’m balancing a pizza box on my hip and fishing for my keys when I turn into my hallway.

“Celeste! Open the door.”

“Julian?”

He’s leaning against my apartment door with his forehead resting on it, like he’s been standing there a while.

“What are you doing?”

He looks up, a crooked smile breaking across his face before relief replaces it. “My brain needed to see you.” He swirls a finger near his temple. “It goes quiet when I see you.”

That’s when I notice the slight sway and the glassiness in his eyes.

“You’re drunk.”

“No.” He waves me off. “I’m fine.”

“You’re drunk,” I repeat, brushing past him to unlock the door. “Come inside before my neighbors call security.”

He follows me in, eyes landing on what I’m holding. “Is that pizza?”

I pull it away from him. “Hands off.”

“You’re not going to eat a whole one by yourself.”

“Watch me.”

Steering him toward the kitchen, I guide him onto a stool when he misjudges the distance and almost misses it.

A minute later, I set a large glass of water in front of him before switching on the coffee machine.

“Drink,” I tell him.

Thankfully, he doesn’t argue.

I slide him a plate with a slice of pizza, then another.

“You can’t keep showing up here like this, Julian.”

I think he mumbles an apology, but I can’t be sure.

The coffee maker clicks off. I pour him a cup and push it across. “Careful, it’s hot.”

That stupid grin is back on his face. “Like you.”

“Stop it.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he says before offering me a weak salute.

He takes a sip of coffee and winces. “Strong.”

“That’s the point.”

Up close, I notice things most people wouldn’t see—the faint lines carved deeper into his face, the shadows beneath his eyes. I see every invisible crack and carefully hidden fracture .

Somewhere between our reckless kisses, his protective silences, and the moments he looks at me like he’s drowning, I’ve learned him.

I’ve learned the Julian beneath the suits and ruthless power.

I can tell when he’s hurting. Pain recognizes pain, and it terrifies me how much I want to reach out and pull him free.

How much I want to show him he isn’t alone.

God help me, but I think I’ve fallen in love with the darkest parts of this man.

Which is wildly inconvenient when he is currently stealing my dinner.

I clear the plates, come back, and he’s slouched against the counter, fighting to keep his eyes open.

Inhaling, I press the heels of my palms into my eyes and count back from five before slinging his arm over my shoulders. “Up you get.”

It takes effort, but he finally stands so I can guide him down the hall.

“I can leave.” The words are sluggish but stubborn.

“And get yourself killed on the way?” I shoot him a look. “Forgive me if I don’t want that on my conscience.”

His lips twitch, like he wants to smile but doesn’t have the strength.

In the bedroom, he flops back onto the mattress like a dead weight.

“This big fucker,” I curse under my breath as I take his hands and tug. “Get up.”

When he finally sits up, he grabs my waist and rests his head on my stomach.

I fight the need to touch him, but I don’t have it in me tonight. I’m exhausted.

He groans against my skin when I slide my fingers through his hair and massage his scalp .

“I’m still angry at you,” I whisper.

“Good.” His voice is muffled against me. “You should be. I’m angry at myself, too.”

“Can you stand?” I ask.

He doesn’t answer but he stands without resistance.

As I start unbuttoning his shirt, his fingers tighten around my wrists.

The world thinks he’s untouchable, but he’s holding on to me as if I’m the only thing keeping him from falling apart.

“Julian?”

His hands leave my wrists to cup my face. “Why are you doing this? After everything I’ve done, why are you still showing up for me?”

“Because I see you, remember?”

His throat works on a swallow. “I wasn’t supposed to be seen, Celeste.”

For the first time tonight, his words aren’t delivered with the slurring that alcohol brings.

“Yeah.” My voice catches. “Neither was I.”

“Weren’t you?” He shakes his head, his palms still framing my face like he’s afraid I’ll disappear if he lets go. “So why does it feel like I’ve been waiting to see you my whole damn life?” I close my eyes and let a single tear fall as he whispers, “Even in the dark, I knew you were mine.”

His words hit something so deep in me, I’ll never be able to dig them out.

“I’m sorry,” he breathes, forehead pressed to mine. “I’m so sorry.”

“Then talk to me,” I beg.

“I can’t. It’s too much of a mess in here. It’s fucking dark, Celeste, and I’m too broken.”

“You’re not broken. ”

He closes his eyes and turns his head just enough to press a trembling kiss to the inside of my wrist. His lips linger there, and I feel the faintest shudder pass through him.

“Look at me,” I whisper.

When he does, he looks like someone who’s been holding his breath for years and doesn’t know how to exhale.

“I promise you’re not broken.”

He slides his arms around my back and pulls me flush against his body.

I let him.

I let him cling.

And I hold him just as tightly because every inch of his body is begging me not to leave, even if he can’t bring himself to say it.

∞∞∞

I wake to find, as expected, that Julian is gone.

He’s become skilled at this disappearing act, but last night wasn’t about promises or whispered good mornings. He was hurting, and he reached for me.

I dress in silence, pull on my running gear, and tie back my hair.

The front door feels heavier than usual as I step out into the cool air, but with the sight in front of me, I stop and release the breath I think I’ve been holding all week.

Julian stands against his SUV, eyes cast downward.

His throat bobs on a swallow. “I left to get changed.” He steps forward. “Celeste, I’m so fucking sor—”

His gaze drops to where I’m holding out the earbud in offering.

He doesn’t need to talk right now. I won’t force it out of him.

It’ll come when he’s ready.

With a harsh exhale, I feel the relief wash through him as he pulls me into an embrace so tight I can hardly breathe.

When he finally pulls back, he takes the earbud from my hand and gently places it in his ear. Youth by Daughter begins to play, the soft strum of guitar filling the silence between us, and without another word, we start to run.