My Husband Wants An Open Marriage (Julie and Ryan)

CHAPTER 034: Sparks

I bury my face in Luke's shoulder, heat rushing to my cheeks.

"Seriously, Grandpa?" Luke groans, still holding me. "Don't you have somewhere else to be?"

"I was sitting here, minding my own business. I had no idea you'd be... well, carrying on like that."

Luke shakes his head. "You should be sleeping, you know. It's barely even six o'clock."

"I'm in a wheelchair, not on life support," Javier shoots back. "I still have a social life. And in case you hadn't noticed, I like keeping an eye on things. Don't mind me. I was just about to roll myself to the kitchen. By all means, carry on."

At that, I can't help but peek out from Luke's shoulder. Javier meets my gaze with a wink that has me cringing and fighting a smile all at once.

Luke scoffs and shakes his head, moving to lift me up before I can react. My feet leave the ground, and I instinctively grab his shoulders as he sweeps me into his arms, turning toward the stairs.

"Is something wrong with her legs?" Javier calls after us.

Over Luke's shoulder, I say, "Just a little overexerted. Must've stretched too much."

Javier nods. "Don't break his heart," he mouths.

Those silent words hang in the air, a gentle warning. I turn back to Luke, pressing my face into his shirt to hide the unexpected ache those words leave behind. Luke glances down at me, raising a brow. "What did he say?"

"Nothing." I shake my head, not wanting to share. "Just more Javier stuff."

He doesn't press, just keeps carrying me up the stairs, his grip warm and steady. After a short while, I ask, "How long has he been here, anyway?"

He sighs. "Since last spring. After Grandma died, I brought him here from Colombia, thought I'd put him in a group home, you know, so he'd be around people his own age."

"Oh? And that didn't work?"

"Well, he stayed a couple of nights, maybe. But then he figured out some way to sneak out. Escaped the place in his wheelchair, if you can believe it."

I burst out laughing, clutching his shoulder. "He escaped? How?"

"I have no clue. And now he's made it his life mission to haunt my house, and apparently my every romantic interaction too."

He reaches the door to my room, nudging it open with his foot before carrying me inside and setting me gently on the bed. I settle back against the pillows, smiling up at him as he sinks down to sit at the edge. "You know, I imagine it can't be easy having him around, especially when you're dating."

Luke chuckles. "Honestly, it's tempting to blame him, but it's not all his fault." He sighs, running a hand through his hair as he looks away. "Maybe it's a me problem."

1/3

+25 BOALS

CHAPTER 034: Sparks

"What do you mean?"

"I don't know," he says, staring down at his hands. "It's just... I haven't really felt anything with anyone in a long time. No sparks, no excitement."

A playful grin spreads across my face as I raise a brow. "Want me to grab a defibrillator? Shock some feelings back into you?"

He laughs, the sound warm and genuine, and for a moment, his gaze softens, fixing on me in a way that's too intense, too vulnerable. "No need. I think I'm good. Actually, I think I'm healed." He tilts his head, smiling down at me. "I've been feeling all kinds of sparks lately." The words linger between us, filling the room with a heat that's almost suffocating. My heart pounds, my mouth dry as I struggle to form a coherent thought. There's something here-something terrifying and real -and I feel my pulse quicken, my mind spinning as I stare back at him.

I clear my throat, breaking the silence before it swallows us whole. "You know," I start, my voice shakier than I want it to be, "there's a lot I don't know about you, Luke. You know so much about me, my whole messy history, but I hardly know anything about you." He reaches out to brush a stray lock of hair behind my ear, his fingers lingering just a little too long. "What do you want to know?"

"Your grandfather mentioned something about an ex-wife once?" I say, searching his face for a reaction. You've never told me anything about her."

At my question, his entire demeanor shifts. His smile fades, his jaw tightening as he looks away. I can see the wall go up, a barrier slamming down between us, and my heart sinks.

He stands up, turning toward the door. "I have to go."

"Wait," I say. "Did I say something wrong?"

He shakes his head, avoiding my gaze as he heads for the door. "No. I just... I have a backlog of work waiting for me at the office."

I sit up, the sheets pooling around me as I watch him. "Luke, don't go."

He pauses, just for a second, his hand on the doorframe. He doesn't look back.

"Just try to rest, okay? Maybe take the day to sort things out, like that resignation letter you're planning on sending."

"Luke-"

He walks back to me, reaching out to touch my cheek. His hand lingers, fingers brushing my skin as he leans down, pressing a gentle kiss to my forehead. For a moment, he stays like that, his breath warm against my skin, and I can feel his hesitation, the way he's holding

back.

Finally, he pulls away, his eyes meeting mine with a look that's so full of something I can't quite place, something bittersweet and almost broken.

"I'm glad you're here," he whispers.

Then he turns and walks out, leaving me alone in the room.

CHAPTER 034: Sparks

+25 BONUS

Nearly an hour later, after regaining enough feeling in my legs to stumble through a shower, I head downstairs with my laptop in hand, hair still damp and heart still racing with some leftover adrenaline from the mess with Luke.

The sounds from the kitchen reach me first-a lively mix of Javier's voice and a woman's laughter that carries a thick, unmistakable Mexican accent. As I round the corner, I catch sight of her.

She's petite but full of life, her black hair twisted into a no-nonsense bun under a bright red scarf, a floral apron tied snugly around her waist. Her dark eyes are sharp but warm. She's holding a spatula in one hand like it's her personal wand.

When she sees me, she freezes, staring openly as if I'm a ghost who's just wandered into her domain. Javier notices her gaze wandering and turns, catching sight of me. He smirks.

"Ha!" he says, throwing his hands up. "She can walk after all!"

"A miracle," I reply. "Must be your grandson's magical hands."

Javier blinks, at a loss for words-an actual miracle, if you ask me. I take a bit of satisfaction in the way his mouth opens and closes, as if he's trying to come up with something equally snappy but just... can't. The woman in the apron chuckles, bringing Javier back to life. "Javier, who's your pretty friend?"

Javier regains his composure and gives the a knowing look, one that holds both approval and mischief.

"Her name is Julie," he says. "She's Lucas's girlfriend."