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Julia turned to walk away but stopped again, facing Christa one last tih”

“And what’s that?” Christa sounded contely “My husband is an exceptional lover He’s attentive, creative, and absolutelyhis adventurous nature will belook

“Not bad for a mouse”

“I’m sorry you had another run-in with Christa” Paul’s tone was sympathetic as he escorted Julia from St Anne’s to a s distance “I guess she’s only here to harass you”

Julia fidgeted with her wedding ring,it back and forth with her thu to ask questions afterto try to make me look stupid”

Paul wrapped his arm around her shoulders

“She can’t make you look stupid because you aren’t stupid You stand your ground You’ll be fine”

He squeezed her before reood Much better than the last tiood-bye to Paul outside her aparte the summer before She’d been thinner and sadder, but cautiously optirees with rimaced He didn’t want to think about what Julia’s ht of her sleeping with Professor Eiven up his penchant for BDSM and treated Julia with gentleness

An ih his ht?” Julia peered up at hireen”

“I’m fine” He forced a sone”

“It was about time, don’t you think?”

“I’ll miss her”

Julia focused her attention on the sidewalk in front of thes are wobbly just thinking about standing in front of all those people”

“You can do it Just pretend you’re presenting your paper to nore everyone else”

Instinctively, Paul reached out to take her hand but stopped hiuise his ed one of the dark locks that fell short of her shoulders “I thought it would look more professional Gabriel doesn’t like it”

“I’ll bet he doesn’t”

(Paul neglected to estured to her left hand “That’s quite a rock you have”

“Thank you Gabriel picked it”

Of course he’d buy her a big-ass ring, Paul thought I’m surprised he didn’t have his name tattooed on her forehead