Back in Time, Chapter 16
by ejcrane
“I’m fine, damnit…just get a doctor in here to sign my release form!”
Julian slid his arm through the armhole of his jacket.
“Mr. Crane, DON’T!” Linda warned, but it was too late.
Julian opened the door to his room and was bombarded by reporters, their
questions and the flashes from their cameras.
“Mr. Crane, what were you and Dr. Eve Russell doing in a car together
before your accident took place?” one reporter questioned.
“Mr. Crane! Was there something going on between you and the town’s famous
doctor that we don’t know about?” another raised a brow and grinned.
“Mr. Crane…”
“No comment,” Julian repeated over and over as he made his way through
the swarm of journalists…until…
He ran smack-dab into Eve. The two ended up with their arms around each
other, and just stayed still as they both heard the clicks from the shutters
of each camera.
HARMONY’S TOWN DOC IN THE ARMS OF HER LOVER, JULIAN CRANE?
…was what was posted on the front page of “Harmony Herald” with a picture
of Julian and Eve to top it off.
“Eve! WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS?!”
“TC…I…I don’t know either,” tears streamed down her face, “I don’t remember
anything from that day…you have to believe me, please! You know how the reporters
are here. If they can’t find an interesting story, then they make one up…”
He sighed and pulled her into his arms.
“I suppose you’re right, but I just can’t help but wonder what you two
were doing in the same car…MY father’s car to be exact.”
“I don’t know, TC…I don’t know,” she sobbed into his shoulder.
Weeks passed and the rumor about Julian and Eve was soon forgotten.
It was now the day of Pilar’s surprise party at the Lopez-Fitzgerald’s
home. Everyone was out back when Sheridan, Ethan, and…Julian arrived. The
three entered the home and placed their gifts onto the table and were on
their way out back…
“I’ll meet you two in a sec, I have to take care of business…” Julian
grinned, while his son and sister rolled their eyes and laughed.
They were happy to have Julian back. He was so different coming out of
his coma; he was not the person they once knew…
Outside, Julian walked upon his son defending his aunt to Luis.
“What is going on here?” Julian asked as everyone looked to him in shock,
including Eve.
What was he doing there?
“CRANE!” Luis seethed, “All of you, GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE! YOU’RE NOT
WELCOMED!”
“Mr. Crane, what are you doing here?” Pilar walked up to Julian.
“Please, Pilar, ‘Julian’.” He smiled, “I just wanted to wish you a happy
birthday,” he shrugged, “But, I’ll understand if you want us to leave…we
didn’t mean to cause a disturbance…”
“YES! LEAVE!” Luis yelled over Tc’s shoulder.
“No,” Pilar shook her head, “I want you all to stay,” she smiled.
Everyone was now inside after the piñata had been broken outside,
and also, after the confrontation.
Left in the doorway to the bedrooms, Julian was ignored by all the party
guests. Yes, he had changed, but no one knew that, and no one wanted to get
close to him to find that out.
He watched as Luis walked up to Eve and asked her to tango, and watched
as she declined, and also heard hers and TC’s excuse. Rolling his eyes to
their excuse, he raised a brow when Sheridan accepted Luis’ challenge.
Well, well, well…what do we have here?
Julian’s eyes soon left the couple in front of him and watched as Eve
excused herself and made her way over to him.
“What are you doing here?”
“I don’t owe you an explanation for anything, but maybe you owe us all
one…”
He looked her up and down.
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“Well…” he smacked his lips as he stared at her dress, “For starters,
this is a ‘Mexican’ party, and everyone is wearing Mexican attire, BUT…”
he bit the inside of his cheek, “…you’re dressed in an Asian dress, hmm,
you fit right in, Eve,” he gave her a thumbs up.
“Ugh, excuse me, I need to get to the bathroom.”
“Help yourself…” Julian held out his hand towards the hallway.
Eve huffed and walked by. Seconds later, Julian looked for Tc. He wasn’t
around, so, Julian walked back towards the rooms and when he heard Eve unlocking
the door to the restroom and watched her come out, he grabbed her arm and
yanked her into Pilar’s room.
“JULI---…” she managed to mumble with his hand over her mouth.
“Just because TC doesn’t dance, you’ve stopped?” he breathed onto her
face, “And you used to be such a great dancer, Eve…and great at other things
as well,” he nuzzled her cheek.
“Don’t touch me! I’ll scream if you do anything, Julian…I’ll scre---…”
“No, you won’t,” he rubbed his bottom lip against her chin, “And you know
why?” he stared into her startled eyes, “Because…TC would never forgive you
if he knew about us…AND because deep down inside of you, there’s a part of
you that still feels something for me. I can see it; I can feel it,” he
said seductively as his palm rested against her ribcage.
“NO!” she struggled in his arms.
His hands released her and ran down the sides of her body until they reached
the bottom of her dress. Smelling her sweet perfume, her breath, and feeling
it on his chest through his shirt, Julian grabbed onto the hem of her dress
and began raising it up, up, up past her knees, her thighs…her hips.
“You’re still so lovely, Eve…those legs. Do you remember when you used
to wrap them around me, hmm?” his lips brushed hers, “Do you?”
“No, stop!” she shook her head from side to side trying to avoid his kisses.
The hem of the dress soon left his hands as he let go of it and draped
back down, but over his hands, which were cupping her firm derrière.
“Ahhh,” she sighed and rested her hands against his chest.
Lost in the moment, Eve couldn’t help herself and tried desperately to
meet her lips with Julian’s, but…
“Well, TC must wonder where you are at…” he removed his hands from her
body, pulled away from her, and walked out the door.