The Best Mate He Trusted Wanted Me More Chapter 02

The Best Mate He Trusted Wanted Me More Chapter 02

At ten o’clock, the doorbell rang.

The second I opened the door, I was pulled into a tight embrace.

Julian had already cleaned himself up. No trace of liquor remained.

“Still awake?”

His voice was rough, his eyes locked onto me.

I traced my fingers along his brow.

Julian’s gaze darkened.

I really did love his face.

Especially that faint beauty mark beneath his left eye. His whole face was cold and unapproachable, but that one tiny detail made it hard to look away.

Even though I was wearing something incredibly sexy tonight, he only touched me once.

I reached for him again.

“Julian…”

The way his hand tightened at my waist told me he wasn’t unaffected either.

But he only frowned and carried me into the bathroom.

“Easy. You need rest.”

The reader feed chuckled.

“Keep listening to your best friend. You’ve been running that self-control routine for so long, and you still can’t keep your hands off her the second you see her.”

“A man who locks himself in the bathroom at night but won’t satisfy his girlfriend deserves to lose his spot.”

I raised an eyebrow.

Thanks to the feed, I knew better now.

Otherwise, I might still believe Julian when he said less was healthier.

I gently pushed him away, turned around, and washed up by myself, refusing his offer to help.

I didn’t cling to him or demand more attention like I used to.

And that made him visibly uncomfortable.

“Clara, if you really want to, we could go again…”

I wrapped myself in a towel and walked out of the bathroom.

“Forget it.”

Let him keep his self-control.

The next morning, I woke up naturally. Julian was already gone.

On the nightstand sat a gift he’d had delivered overnight.

“Sorry for upsetting you. I’ll make it up to you tonight. Twice, if you want.”

I tossed the note in the trash.

I wasn’t upset.

Not really.

Not when he had a face like that.

Besides, Julian hadn’t actually done anything wrong.

He was good to me.

But it still rubbed me the wrong way.

That feeling didn’t last long, though.

Because my phone rang, and Rowan’s voice came through, practically grinding his teeth.

“Clara Sutton, what the hell did you do to me? Why do I get zapped every time I try not to call you?”

I was surprised.

The System had moved fast. Rowan had been bound overnight.

“Answer me!”

His voice shot up on the other end.

I winced and held the phone away from my ear, then gave my order.

“Be at my place in thirty minutes. Bring a pastry from Rose & Rye Patisserie. I want it for breakfast.”

Before he could respond, I hung up.

I’d been frustrated all morning, and now I had a target.

Twenty-six minutes later, the townhouse door flew open.

Rowan stormed in, muttering under his breath, pastry box in hand.

“I knew there was something wrong with you. Julian wouldn’t listen.”

I opened the box, took a bite, and watched him with satisfaction.

“That message last night, was it on purpose? And you’re the one who dragged Julian out, weren’t you?”

The disgust in Rowan’s eyes was barely contained.

“So what if I was? Don’t think I’ll just stand by and watch my best friend get played.”

The reader feed was furious.

“With a face like that and a mouth like that, I actually want to hit him.”

“Maybe stop managing other people’s relationships like it’s your job?”

I finished the last bite of pastry and held out my hands.

“I had an appointment at the Chelsea nail salon today. But I think Mr. Blackwell is such a fast learner that you could probably handle it after watching a few tutorials.”

Rowan’s brow furrowed deeply.

“What the hell are you talking about?”

He froze mid-sentence.

A pained grunt escaped his lips.

I watched him with interest.

After a few more shocks, his face had gone several shades paler.

He ground out the words through clenched teeth.

“I’ll learn. I’ll do it. Just stop zapping me!”