I've Coveted You Forever

Chapter 5 Biggest Fool

Julian whispered something in the boy's ear that made him giggle softly, and as he laughed, his shirt slipped out of his trousers, exposing a small sliver of his narrow waist. Julian didn't even try to hide his affection; his fingers slid down the boy's waist, slipping beneath the waistband of his pants to touch his private part.

These were the intimate gestures he'd always denied me.

During our three years together, he'd flinch away if I so much as brushed my hand against his.

I'd asked him why he held back so many times, desperate for an answer.

He'd always smiled at me softly, that fake, loving expression he'd perfected. "Eleanor, I value what we have too much to rush it. I'm not the kind of man who takes things lightly. I won't be intimate with you before we're married. It's my one rule, one I'll never break!"

I'd been so caught up in the perfect lie he'd woven, convinced I'd found my one true love, proud that he respected me enough to wait.

I'd had no idea his "rule" was only for me—he had no problem breaking it for the person he truly loved.

I had no desire to watch them flirt and touch any longer, and I turned to leave, ready to storm out and never look back.

But before I could move, Julian's sickly sweet voice carried across the room, making me freeze in place.

"Come on, Barry, stop being mad at me. I'm here now, aren't I?" Julian cooed, stroking the boy's hair gently.

Barry huffed and pressed his face into Julian's chest, acting spoiled and entitled, secure in his hold. "You were going to marry that woman, Julian. I won't allow it. If you go through with it, I'll really kill myself."

Anyone watching would think they were having a petty argument, but their tones and touches were nothing but flirtatious, a sick game between them.

Julian murmured, pressing a kiss to the top of Barry's head, "Don't be dramatic, baby. You know I've never touched her, not once in three years. I stayed faithful to you, only you. She's nothing but a pawn for our business merger. Having her as my fiancée helps me keep power over Finn and secure more for us. And having her as my wife? She'll be the perfect cover for us, hiding our relationship from everyone. We can even convince her to have a baby, and we'll raise it together. It's the perfect plan."

Barry seemed convinced by his words, wrapping his arms around Julian's neck and nuzzling against him shyly.

"But please, you must promise never to harm yourself again, okay?" Julian said.

Barry laughed softly and picked up a piece of watermelon from the plate on the table, holding it up to feed Julian.

I felt like the biggest fool in the entire world.

The man I'd loved for three years was gay, and I'd been nothing but a beard and a tool to him.

He'd never touched me, not out of respect, but because he was saving himself for his lover.

'Julian, you've ruined me,' I thought, my chest aching with rage and heartbreak.

I was ready to march over there and expose every last one of his lies, but Finn stepped in front of me, stopping me before I could move.

He walked straight over to Julian's booth, his posture calm but intimidating, and stared down at the two of them. "Julian, you skipped your own engagement party to be here with Barry Grant? Did you even think about your fiancée waiting for you?"

Julian's face hardened, and he pulled Barry closer to him, defensive. "You don't understand, Finn. Barry tried to hurt himself because of me today. What was I supposed to do, leave him? I don't want you mentioning any other women around Barry. It's disrespectful to him, and to us!"

I almost laughed out loud at his audacity.

In his eyes, I wasn't even worth mentioning next to his lover, not even as his abandoned fiancée.

Finn leaned down and grabbed Barry's thin wrist roughly, holding it up to show the tiny bandage on his arm, a mocking smirk on his face.

"This is the 'suicide attempt' you're talking about? A cartoon band-aid? You should rush him to the hospital right away—before his little scratch heals completely," Finn said, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

Julian didn't pick up on the mockery at all, too focused on soothing Barry. He pulled Finn aside, his voice pleading. "Finn, I know I messed up with Eleanor. Please, look after her for me. I owe you one, whatever you need, just name it."