The Last Round (14 page)

I know this is difficult for Julian and the fact that he’s trying to make an effort, instead of keeping all of his feelings bottled up, is huge for him and I shouldn’t make it so hard on him.

“It’s okay. How ‘bout we talk more later? I’d rather discuss this in person. Can we meet earlier than dinner? I’m free the entire day. I can get dressed right now and pick you up. We can have the entire day just for us.”

“I’d like that, but I have a photo shoot soon at ten. It’s for the cover of TREND SETTER Magazine.”

He whistles, making me laugh. “That’s awesome,” he says, pride filling his words.

“Thank you.”

“Need some support? I don’t mind hanging around the photo shoot until you’re done and then we can go out and have the rest of the day to ourselves.”

I contemplate this. Having Julian hanging around the set for three hours may be a bit intimidating. But it may also ease the nerves about standing naked with so many people surrounding me. “If you want to. I mean it’ll be boring for you. I’m not sure how you’ll feel about being around makeup and hair stylists, while I stand in front of lights and cameras as the photographer directs my every move.” I giggle.

“I’ll be near you, and that’s all that matters.”

My grin widens. “Okay. I’ll send you the address. But if you don’t make it, it’s not a big deal.” I assure him. “I have to be there within an hour. So you don’t have to be there the entire time. I can actually just call you when I’m almost finished, if you prefer.” Now I’m just rambling. Great.

His chuckle surges through me. “Natalia, just send me the address. I’ll be there.”

“Okay. I’ll see you later.” We end our call.

Holy shit. Julian is going to be at my shoot. Butterflies begin to flutter deep within me. I’m suddenly nervous to see him.

Julian

After I got a call from Natalia this morning, I can’t deny that for the first time in six months, I feel hope. Confident about our relationship. I have no idea where today will lead, but I’m going to try my damn hardest to make sure she recognizes the new me. I’ve worked so hard in the past six months to improve on myself and I want her to see it.

No, I’m not saying I’m completely a new man. I still have struggles within myself I’m learning to work on, but I have definitely turned a new leaf in my life, and it’s all because of her. And deep down I know I needed to do this for me as well.

I pull into the parking lot of the building where the photo shoot is. Some people may think this is a wrong move, to come follow Natalia around like a lost puppy, but what most don’t realize is I don’t give a damn what they think.

I will follow Natalia
anywhere
at this point. I haven’t seen or spoken to her in so long, until last night at the charity event, and I refuse to allow another sleepless night to go by without a word from her.

As I walk into the building, I immediately see Viviana, Natalia’s sister. She meets me halfway in the lobby. With a huge smile, she pulls me into a tight hug. “Long time no see, dork! It’s so good to see you.”

“You too,” I respond. “And thank you, Viv.”

She pulls away and looks up, winking. “Shh,” she whispers. “Let’s keep it between us. Okay?”

I nod. Although Natalia and I haven’t spoken, I’ve been in touch with both her mother and sister. They have been keeping me updated on her. They wouldn’t tell me details on where she was staying. But they’d keep me informed on how she was doing.

Mostly, they would shoot me a text that she’s good, but busy. I speak with my mother-in-law over the phone at least once a week. The split between Natalia and I didn’t keep me from staying in touch with her family. My mother-in-law has played a major role in my life. She’s like my second mom. I love that woman just as much as I loved my biological mother, and the fact that she treats me like the son she’s never had, even after the split with her daughter, makes our relationship much stronger. She calls me to check in on me and generally cares for my wellbeing.

“I know,” I respond. “But I still appreciate you giving me the info.” I called Viviana after I left the charity event and I basically nagged her until she was forced to give me the hotel information where Natalia was staying. Viv gave up the details, but under one condition. I don’t show up uninvited, which is when I came up with the idea to send Natalia the roses.

Viv nudges me with an elbow. “Of course. You know I’ve always been Team Julian.” Her features turn stern. She lifts a finger. “But don’t break her heart again. If she gives you another chance, Julian, don’t fuck it up.”

I bow my head. I’m ashamed I fucked it up to begin with. “I promise with everything I am, I will never fuck up again.”

Viviana drops her hand. “Good, but you don’t need to convince me. It’s her. I can’t force her into taking you back. You know Natalia better than I do; she needs to feel that she’s making the ultimate decision in her own life.” Viv steps back, taking me in. “Natalia loves you, always has, always will. But you truly broke her and I’m sure her thoughts are running wild with what she should do. Her heart is saying, ‘
Yes I want him back. No questions asked
.’ But her mind is filled with many terrible memories, which cloud over the decision her heart is trying to make.”

What do I say to that? Nothing. Because it’s all true. I shredded Natalia’s heart and maybe we can’t go back to how it was, but maybe, just maybe we can be better.

“Come on,” Viviana says, waving her arm. “I’ll take you to her. She’s in the makeup room. She’s kind of nervous for this shoot.”

I follow behind her, taking in the building as we pass the receptionist and enter the elevators. Viv presses the button for the 45th floor, and we shoot up. “Why is she nervous?”

“It’s her first nude shoot.”

My heart dips. Screw that, my heart literally free falls from a sixty-foot building. At least that’s how it feels. “Nude?”

My wife’s sister turns to face me. Her teasing grin lingers. “
Julian
.” She says my name to caution me. “Yes, it’s nude. Don’t make a scene. I will have you kicked out,” she warns.

My heart comes back to life in palpitations. Why the hell do I feel like I’m having mini strokes? I’ve seen my wife naked, plenty of times. It’s something that’s sacred between a man and his woman. But to have the world see her, that’s something I don’t know I can handle. Natalia has photographed for many magazine shoots, which I support one-hundred percent, but nude?

I inhale deeply as the elevator doors open. We step out. My eyes scan the set, there’s an all-white backdrop and lights focused on it. Several people are scattered around the set, one woman is prepping the props. Another man is setting his cameras. One guy sits behind a computer that focuses on the set. Others run around with contracts in hand, and yelling out what else is needed and so on.

It’s intimidating.

Viviana continues to guide me into a room. We enter and there’s about two more people in there. Natalia sits on a chair before a mirror in a robe. She has her head back and eyes closed as a makeup artist works on her eyelids.

“Hey, look who I ran into in the lobby!” Viviana exclaims as we further enter the room.

I swallow as everyone lifts their heads to face me. Natalia opens her eyes and catches my reflection from the mirror. Her lips curl into the most beautiful smile. “You made it!” she states.

I shrug, lightly tossing my arms in the air and dropping them back to my side. “I’m at your service.”

She laughs and it eases me. “Well, have a seat. I’m almost finished.” She points to a chair beside her and I sit down after greeting both the makeup artist and hairdresser.

Viviana says she has some paperwork to look over and leaves the room. The makeup artist finishes the last of Natalia’s face by staining her lips red. The hairdresser drags her fingertips through the length of Natalia’s hair and sprays a few spritzes of spray. They both give Natalia one last look and then they leave the room as well.

It’s just Natalia and I now. She twirls around in the chair and faces me. “So, what do you think?”

I smile. “Beautiful.”

Her cheeks flush. “Thank you.”

“You’re outfit flatters you as well.” I point at the large white robe, covering her body. “All you need is a pair of bunny slippers and your look will be complete.”

Eyes widening, she bursts out into the Natalia laugh I’ve loved for so many years. It makes me beam, smiling from ear to ear. “You remember that?”

“Well, it was around the time I came to your rescue. Seriously, let’s face it.” I lean back into the chair. “If it wasn’t for my homemade specialty soup, you probably wouldn’t be here right now.”

“Homemade, huh?”

My grin widens as I shrug. “From what I remember, it was homemade.”

“
Really
?” She stands to her feet. The movement causes her perfume to linger and I breathe her in. She smells fucking delicious. “If I remember correctly, you poured the can of Campbell’s soup into a bowl and popped it in the microwave.”

“It was many years ago and you were high on cough syrup. You are clearly mistaken.”

She punches my shoulder and I burst out laughing at her attempt to hurt me. The punch tickled if anything. “I can still knock you out. Don’t forget that,” she states playfully.

“Yeah, okay. After so many years, I’m still waiting on that knockout.”

Natalia shakes her head, the smile she holds continues to tug at her lips. It’s good to see her like this. Happy, free, playful.

I straighten as she checks herself out in a tall mirror by the closed door. “I’m glad you’re here,” she admits, her tone softening. Her smile falters as well.

“Me too.”

She turns around to face me. “I’m nervous. It’s my first nude shoot.”

Again, I swallow as my heart takes another dip. “Viv told me.”

Natalia does this thing with her thumbnail when she’s lost in thought. She brings it up to her lip and chews at it as her mind continues to go off track. “Do you think it’s a good idea? You know, me doing this? Would it be bad for my image?”

I stand and head her way until I’m directly in front of her. She looks up as I tug at her chin. My selfish mind wants to tell her,
“No, don’t do this. It’s not what will make or break your career.”

But my heart tells me to fully support her, regardless if I’m against it or not. “You have to be one-hundred-percent comfortable. It’s normal to have doubt. In your career, you are going to have lots of doubts. Doubt if you took the right role, if the movie will bomb, if you could have done better. Doubt with an interview you had, the choices of clothes you make, and how others will see you.” I run my hands through her hair, lifting her head back. She shuts her eyes at my touch.

“But regardless what you decide in any choice you make within your life or your career, Natalia, you have to be willing to deal with it. You have to look back years from now and wonder if the decision was the best at the time. No one will know until it’s said and done, but if you are willing to deal with it, then go for it. But remember, with the kind of career you and I have, being in the limelight, there comes both the good and the bad.

“No matter how hard you try to paint this perfect image for others to see, there will always be some negative bastard trying to tear us down. As long as you are happy with whatever decision
you
make, then that’s all that matters.”

“You’re right . . .” Natalia’s eyes flash open. She stares at me for a moment. Her eyes truly exploring my features. She places her hands on both sides of my waist and pulls me into an embrace. I hold her, wanting this moment to last longer.

“Well,” Natalia pulls back, “I guess I should get out there.” She looks up at me.

I bend down and leave a gentle kiss on her lips. It’s just a small gesture and something I’m used to. “Good luck,” I say as I pull away.

Natalia touches her lip with her fingertips, a tiny grin pulls at the corner of her mouth. “I’m glad you’re here,” she says again.

I wink at her. “You said that already.”

Her smile widens and she follows up with another punch at my arm. We both laugh as we leave the room and head onto the set.

Natalia and I enter my car. She fastens her seat belt and slams her head back against the headrest. The photo shoot lasted longer than expected and she looks exhausted. Hell, I’m exhausted and I wasn’t the one being told what to do or how to pose left and right for the past five hours. But she did amazing. I’m proud of her. She stuck her ground and decided not to go nude. It was a decision she chose for herself. Instead she posed with revealing outfits that flattered her. She looked fucking hot, and every time she posed a certain angle that revealed her cleavage or the silk of her skin, I felt a bulge growing in my pants.