If You Only Knew (And Then Came Love Book 1) (23 page)

Chapter Thirteen

April 29
th

Julian arrived early on Sunday morning. It was the first time he’d seen her since Wednesday. “Can’t we call your parents and have them meet us half-way?” He sat on the couch, waiting for Liza to get ready. He’d rather be at his parent’s house since he hadn’t been there for Sunday breakfast in two weeks. “Or we could have them meet at my parent’s house?”

“No, you promised me you’d drive the car to them,” Liza called to him from the bedroom.

“They’re going to hate me.”

Liza walked out of the bedroom, rolling up the sleeves on her gray top, and chuckled. “Did you just whine?” She flopped down next to him to put on her shoes.

“I think I did.” He bumped her shoulder with his. “You look really good today.”

“And look at you, white button-up shirt, dark wash blue jeans. Who are you trying to impress?” She smiled. “I half expected you to show up in a three-piece suit.”

“I’m sure, an asshole covered in tattoos, who grows pot, and got their daughter pregnant was who they planned their daughter to be with.”

Liza laughed. “They won’t hate you. They’re not happy, but they won’t hate you.”

Julian met her gaze. “I guess we should be going then.”

*****

By the time they arrived, Julian was seething. He got out of the car and slammed the door. She was already there and waiting from him. He stalked over to her and shook his finger at her. “You drive way too fast on these country roads for someone who’s pregnant.”

“I grew up on these roads. I know them better than I do the roads of Bryton.” She shrugged.

He growled and raked his hands through his hair. “Don’t you realize how dangerous a car accident could be in your condition? You don’t need to go that fast.”

“Like you’d take them any slower?” She glared at him, her hands planted on her hips.  

He let out a heavy breath. “I just want you to be safe.” Pulling her into his arms, he pressed a kiss to his cheek.

She shoved him away. “Damn it, you’re doing it again.”

“Doing what?” He put his hands up in surrender.

“Pretending we’re a couple. It’s not funny.” She marched toward the door.

He caught her arm and twirled her toward him. “I want us to be a couple again.”

She pulled her arm away from him and jabbed at his chest with her finger. “Then ask me.”

“Liza—”

The door to the house opened. “You two going to stand out here fighting all morning?”

Julian looked up to see her mother standing in the doorway her arms folded across her chest. The resemblance was there. Like mother like daughter.

Liza went over and hugged her mother. She whispered something to make Liza laugh.

Julian walked over to them. “Mrs. Thomas.” He held out his hand and she shook it.

“It’s Sally.” Her gaze was skeptical. “Julian, I presume and even though you were clearly fighting in my front yard, I see you two are on speaking terms.”

“Yes, Ma’am. I was getting after her for driving too fast.” He put his hands in his pockets and bounced on his heels.

“Don’t call me, Ma’am.” She held the door open for both of them.

“Might be a hard habit to break me.” Julian followed her and Liza inside.

Liza’s father stood up from his place at the table to meet them. Liza went over to hug him and then looked at Julian. “Dad, this is Julian Vitalli. Julian, this is my dad, Rick Thomas.”

“Nice to meet you, Mr. Thomas.” Julian held out his hand for her father.

“I can’t say nice to meet you fits in this situation.” Rick gave Julian a stern look.

Julian dropped his hand. “I completely understand, Sir. And I apologize, wasn’t my finest hour.” He blew out a breath. “I think I should go sit in the car.”

Sally cleared her throat and took a seat at the dining room table. “You didn’t expect this to be the most pleasant afternoon of your life did you? I mean, our daughter is pregnant with
your
child and from what we understand you didn’t take it well.”

“No, I didn’t, but I’m trying to make up for it and ensure she’s taken care of.” Julian held his hands out from his body. He hadn’t dealt with this much of an interrogation since he was sixteen.

“Knowing my daughter, I doubt ‘being taken care of’ is high on her priority list. I think feelings and emotions may be a little more of what she’s looking for.” Sally chuckled.

“We’re working on it. Getting to know each other better.” Liza stepped closer to him.

“You’re supposed to do that
before
you get pregnant.” Rick crossed his arms.

“I agree and in a perfect world it would have happened that way.” Julian back-pedaled faster than a kid getting chased by a bully. “But I didn’t even think I could get anyone pregnant. My ex-wives and I tried to get pregnant. It didn’t happen. I’m thirty-three years old and there has never been a pregnancy scare.”

“Wives, as in plural?” When he nodded, Sally continued. “It doesn’t give you an excuse to react the way you did.”

“I am fully prepared to take responsibility for my actions. It’s my hope we can work it out and be together, but I don’t want to make a promise I can’t keep. I don’t want a third ex-wife.” Julian looked around the house. It was small, but comfortable. The kitchen, dining room, and living room all joined in an open concept. His brain was stalling trying to come up with something to say to make them understand.

Liza interlocked her fingers with his.

He looked over at her.

She gave him a smile and squeezed his hand. “What Julian is trying to say is he cares and is supporting me in the only way he can.”

Rick stood up and rested his hand on Liza’s shoulder. “Are you up for a stroll? Just you and me.”

Liza gripped Julian’s hand tighter and patted it with her other hand before nodding to her father. “I suppose.” She stood on her tiptoes and kissed Julian on the cheek. “You’ll be fine,” she whispered.

“Are you sure?” He glanced over at her mother.

“Of course.”

Julian caught her arm. “I do care a great deal about you.”

“I know.” She gave him a smile before she headed out the door with her father.

“Why don’t you sit down?” Sally motioned to the chair across from her.

Julian sat down. “You know, I have every intention of taking care of your daughter and our baby.”

“You’re repeating yourself, are you nervous?” She nodded. “You said you’re going to take responsibility, you’ve said you’re going to take care of her, and I even heard you say you cared about her. The one thing I haven’t heard you say is anything about the ‘L’ word.”

“I know where this is going. I have a great deal of feelings for your daughter, but do you want me to speak honestly or use the other ‘L’ word and lie to you both?” Damn it! Why couldn’t he force the words out? He loved Liza, but he couldn’t force the words from his lips. Three little words, which would make a world of difference to her and everyone else, but damn if he could say them.

“It’s going to take her a while to fully trust you again.”

“Yes. I screwed up.” He rested his arms on the table.

“I don’t know how you convinced her to take the car. When she talked to me, she was adamant about not taking it.” She mirrored his movement.

He shook his head. “I’m sorry. My screw up shouldn’t cost you money.”

“I don’t want your money either,” she said. “We needed a new vehicle and my son can drive the old car.”

“I can buy the car off you and give it to your son, if it would help any,” he suggested.

“What’s your problem?” She cocked her head and narrowed her eyes.

Julian shrugged. “I’ve got the money. I’d rather help someone out who needs it.”

“You have an interesting philosophy on money for someone of your stature.” Sally nodded and leaned back in her chair.

“Meet my parents, you’ll understand where I get my ideas from.” He shrugged and looked her in the eyes. “I had every intention of buying the car for Liza, but my father walked in and paid for it first.”

Sally threaded her hands together on her stomach. “You do know you can’t buy my daughter’s forgiveness, right?”

“You, too?” He raised his eyebrow.

She tapped her fingers against her hand. “How much did the necklace you bought her cost? The one from Tiffany’s?”

“She wouldn’t accept it.”

“Just answer the question – there is a point to this.” Sally tilted her head to the side and waited.

Julian crossed his ankles. “Seventeen hundred for the charm and the chain.”

“Are you out of your mind?” Sally let out a whistle. “Anyway, so let’s say I didn’t like you, and said you’re a crazy psychotic nut ball and my daughter shouldn’t give you the time of day.”

Julian’s eyes widened at the comment. “I-I—”

Sally held up her hand. “I don’t think that, it’s an example. That would piss you off and hurt your feelings, right?”

“To say the least, yeah.” Julian nodded. He raised his eyebrow and rubbed his neck.

“Then, two weeks later I show up at your door with a check in my hand for one thousand seven hundred dollars. I hand you the check and say, I got this for you and I’m sorry. How do you take that?”

“As you trying to buy my forgiveness.” Julian shrugged.

“How is it any different than what you’re trying to do?”

Julian’s heart sunk as everything clicked in his mind. He opened his mouth to say something, but then closed it. He pursed his lips, realizing she probably saw him buying her the car as another way to get in her pants. “Damn.”

“Money’s a nice thing to have, but it doesn’t buy everything. Liza’s choice to be in a relationship with you had
nothing
to do with money.”

Julian put his elbows on his knees and rested his head in his hands. “I screwed up royally, didn’t I?”

“I’m sure you can make up for it.” Sally gave a half smile and shrugged. “I understand you’re over thirty, but what do your parents think about this whole situation?”

“Mom’s doing her best to push Liza and me in the right direction. Dad called me an idiot and smacked me in the head.” He should call Dad, he hadn’t spoken to him since the day Liza brought the car back.

“I think I’m going to like your father.” She snickered.

“Everyone likes my father. He has no qualms about telling any of us when we’re doing something stupid.” His father was a pain in the ass sometimes, but there was no doubt he loved his kids. “I have nine siblings. He spent half of our teenage years smacking us in the back of the head.”

“Liza said you came from a pretty big family.” She nodded. “We’re not close to our family. We tend to see our them about twice a year. I have one brother who lives out of state. Then Rick has a sister, but she is farther south. Liza’s always liked the idea of having a big family.”

“Why?” Julian shook his head. “Never mind, I’ll ask her myself. She’ll be stuck with my big family, even if we don’t work out as a couple. My brother, Jake, hasn’t been around in five years, but his wife and daughter are right there with us every Sunday morning.”

“You must be trying to get on Liza’s good side. Missing Sunday breakfast to come down here and deal with people not too happy with you.” Sally smiled.

“I don’t think my parents expect me to be around for awhile. They’re mad at me, too.” Julian blew out a breath. Now that he and Liza were talking again maybe next week they’d make an appearance.

The door opened.

Julian and Sally both turned to see Liza stick her head in the door.

“Are you two done talking?” Liza came inside her hand on her stomach.

Julian went to her side. “Are you all right?” He helped her into the chair.

“I’m fine. I haven’t eaten this morning. I’ve found if I try and keep at least a little in my stomach the morning sickness isn’t so bad.”

“Do you want to eat? Should I get your pills?” Julian knelt beside her, rubbing her back in a circular motion.

“Julian.” Sally tapped him on the shoulder with something.

He looked up to see a package of crackers in her hand. Taking the crackers, he handed them to Liza. “I can’t take credit for that one.” He smiled and rested his hand on her knee. “Do you have your pills with you?”

“They’re in my purse in the car.” She squeezed his hand.

Julian looked up and met her gaze. “Liza, I want—”

She pressed her finger to his lips. “We’ll talk about it later.”

Julian nipped her finger and then winked at her as he stood up. “I’ll get your purse.”

Liza laughed. “You’re an ass.”

He shrugged and turned to head outside only to see her dad standing in front of him. “Sorry, sir.” He looked down as he walked past Rick and headed outside the car. How’d he always manage to get himself in trouble?

He grabbed her purse out of the car and headed inside.

“They’re in the main section.” Liza opened the package of crackers and ate one.