The Temporary Boyfriend

Chapter 203: Making things right

Lyvana stood on the shore, letting the warm sun sink into her skin. She was wearing a beautiful, but scantily clad bikini, making her bump slightly visible now.

Julian came up behind her, his hands sliding onto her hips. He had purposely chosen it for her, and he definitely liked what he saw.

"You look hot," he murmured.

She turned around and wrapped her arms around his neck. After a few deep smooches, they fell into easy small talk, laughing about how Emily and Ethan were probably still asleep.

​"Oh, I just got an idea," she said, her eyes lighting up. "For the new campaign, I suggest we get two models. One pretty girl and a very handsome male. Then we can..."

​Julian’s grip tightened on her waist playfully. "Stop calling other men handsome in front of me," he whispered in her ears. "I am a very jealous man."

She leaned back slightly against his arms, looking up into his dark, intense eyes. "You won’t even let me finish my sentence?"

"I don’t need to hear the rest. The moment you say another man is handsome, my mind stops working. I only want you looking at me. No one else."

​She chuckled and tapped his nose playfully. "You are impossible, baby. It’s just business. If I don’t look at the models, how am I supposed to run this campaign?" fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm

"So let someone else do the hiring," Julian said. He trailed a line of soft kisses from her cheek down to her neck, making her shiver despite the warm sun. "Or better yet, use me. I can be your model."

​"You?" Lyvana teased, arching her brows. "The great Julian Harrison Grant the Third, posing for a clothing line? I don’t think the company could ever afford your rates."

​"For you, I am entirely free," he whispered, before capturing her lips in another deep kiss that effectively ended all talk of business.

But not everyone was enjoying the peace that came with the sunrise.

Back in the city, Pamela stood by John’s bedside, looking down at him.

​"John," she said.

​He opened his eyes weakly at her voice, but he didn’t say anything.

"John," she called out again, sounding worried.

​He didn’t move. He just lay there on the bed, staring blankly up at the ceiling as if she weren’t even in the room.

The stress of the past few weeks had taken a heavy toll on him. His face looked tired, and there were deep, dark circles under his eyes.

"John, please look at me," Pamela said, stepping closer to the edge of the bed.

It was incredibly painful to see him like this. Just a short time ago, he had been a proud police officer. But everything had shattered the moment the department discovered his secret connection to El. The investigation had been quick, and the decision, final. He was kicked out of the force, his career completely ruined.

John finally turned his head slowly toward her, his eyes dull and empty.

"What do you want, Pamela?" he asked.

​"I brought you some groceries."

​She turned back and set the plastic bags down on the small table near the bed.

​"You need to eat, John," she continued, looking around the dark, messy room. "You can’t just lie here and starve yourself, no matter how angry you are."

"We are no longer partners. Stop acting like you’re still a part of my life," he said, turning his head away from her toward the wall.

Pamela felt the words hit her like a physical blow. She stood frozen by the bedside, her hand still resting on one of the grocery bags. The silence between them grew heavy and suffocating.

"I know we are no longer partners," she said calmly. "But that doesn’t mean I’m just going to watch you destroy yourself. Even if you don’t want me here, you still need to survive."

John let out a cold, weak laugh against the pillow. "Survive for what, Pamy?"

He pulled the blanket higher up his shoulders, completely turning his back to her, cutting off the conversation.

Slowly, she began taking the food items out of the bags, putting them neatly on the counter.

"Just get out," John spat. ​"I don’t need your pity, and I don’t need your cheap groceries."

"This is not pity."

"I didn’t ask you to come here, Pamy."

​"I came here because I cared. I thought we were friends."

John let out a bitter laugh. "Why? Because we slept together like... once?"

​Pamela stood completely still. For a second she was hurt, then it turned into anger.

"This is the part where you apologize."

​John didn’t look at her. He just stared back at the wall, his face cold and stubborn.

​Pamela realized there was no point in staying. She picked up her purse, turned around without another word, and walked straight out of the room, slamming the door shut behind her.

John cursed under his breath and got out of bed. He kicked one of the grocery bags she had left behind, sending a plastic container rolling across the floor.

He then marched over to the door, intending to lock it so she could not come back in.

​As soon as he reached the door, there was a knock. It was El.

​John opened the door and stared at him.

​"What are you doing here, you scum?"

"Well, good to see you too, brother," El said calmly, as he stepped into the room without waiting for an invitation.

"I am not your brother," John snapped, slamming the door shut behind them.

El didn’t look bothered by the attitude.

"Look, I’m sorry, okay?" El said, holding his hands up in a peaceful gesture. "I know I was selfish and stupid."

John just stared at him, his fists tightly clenched at his sides. He didn’t say a word, his silence heavy with days of built-up anger and resentment.

El took a step further into the room, looking genuinely remorseful.

"I messed up, John. Being behind bars gives a man a lot of time to think. I just want to make things right."