You Only Loved The Version Of Me That Needed Nothing Chapter 05

You Only Loved The Version Of Me That Needed Nothing Chapter 05

Dinner ended, but nobody was ready to go home. Someone suggested grabbing another round of drinks downtown.

I passed. Chloe offered to leave with me, but I could see the truth on her face — she wanted to stay.

“Go. Have fun. I know that face.” I gave her a nudge and headed for the elevator alone.

Julian was waiting outside.

He didn’t bother with small talk. He only tipped his head toward the street. “I’ll drive you home.”

I knew exactly what he was thinking. He thought I had come back because of him.

Everyone except Chloe thought the same thing. I couldn’t blame them. In this city, most of my history had Julian’s name written all over it.

Other than Chloe, more than half my memories here led back to him. Five years could do that — stitch someone so deep into your life they start to feel like muscle memory.

But three years was enough time to break a habit. “I already called a ride.”

He accepted the no without pushing. “Alright. I’ll wait with you, then.”

He rubbed his thumb against his fingertips, a rare tell of hesitation. “How long are you in town?”

“Just a while.” The wind picked up, pressing my skirt against my legs. We stood there making the kind of small talk that meant nothing.

“You going back to Northridge after?”

“Yeah.”

Something in Julian’s voice caught — just half a beat — before he smoothed it over. “Chloe mentioned you had something to take care of back here. What is it? Maybe I can help.”

I looked at him. I wasn’t about to mention the wedding.

I’d planned to keep it small — just a few close friends, something casual. But my fiancé’s parents worried it would look wrong, like they weren’t treating me right.

So we’d settled on a small ceremony. Just big enough to make it official. “Just some personal stuff.”

“My ride’s here. I should get going.”