They'd been together four years. They'd never said "I love you." She had always assumed it was because they didn't need to. That they both knew. That it was an unspoken constant truth in their relationship. She was wrong.
Tears went streaming down her face as he continued to talk. A part of her wanted nothing more than to tune him out. Another part of her reminded her that this may be the last time she ever got to hear his voice. And oh, how she had fallen in love with that voice. "You have to understand," Minnesota tried, still holding her, petting her hair. "It's not you. It's really, really not your fault. It's me. I never wanted to hurt ya, Jules, you have to understand that. But we can't-" he paused, swallowing the lump now forming in his throat, before correcting himself. "I can't be in love. I like you. I like you so much, but this was never going to work out. I'm so sorry, Jules…"
That was the moment when she left. As much as she wanted to stay cradled in his arms for what she knew would be the last time, she pulled herself away. Pivoting on her heel, she stormed out as fast as she could, muffled heartbroken sobs escaping every so often.
Within a week, she had boarded a plane to Europe. She had family over there, and she needed a change in scenery. She changed her number, packed a suitcase, and never told Minnesota she was leaving.
And that had been nine years ago.
After nine years, she thought things might've have changed. He sat on the edge on her bed, idly playing with his phone. Stretching, Julia moved to sit up, the sudden motion causing Minnesota to turn, smiling "Oh hey, you're awake." He half-whispered. "You were out like a light."
She yawned, but nodded, before explaining "I'm not like you, Min. These adventures take a lot out of me."
"Thanks again, by the way." He told her, smiling genuinely, as he moved to scoot closer to her. "You really didn't have to come along."
Julia shook her head slightly before murmuring "Yeah I did."
And for some reason, in her sleepy delusion, a hand moved to his cheek, bringing him down to kiss him softly. Despite her morning breath, he returned it eagerly. More eagerly than she had ever expected, honestly, as his palms moved to rest on her cheeks, his thumbs lightly stroking her cheekbones.
His hands remained that way after they broke apart. He was smiling, a look of incredulous thoughts etching over his face. Heart pounding, breath shaking, Julia looked up, and told Minnesota Cuke that she loved him for the second time in her life. Immediately, he dropped his hands as though they'd been burned.
He was moving, crawling farther and farther away from her, either unwilling or unable to look her in the eyes. Julia felt her insides give a twisted squeeze, tears welling up. She knew what this meant. "Please…" she pleaded softly.
"I can't." he whispered, still looking anywhere but at the woman.
"You can." She whimpered, her entire body trembling. It was happening again. She couldn't bear the pain again. "You don't want to."
"Julia..." he choked out, racking his brain for a useable argument. None came to mind. Eyeing her now, he felt his heart break. She had brought her knees up to her chest, curling herself into an upright fetal position. She was biting her finger, preventing herself from sobbing loudly. And he did this to her. He hurt her again, he knew it, and he hated himself for it. He grabbed his coat off the floor, not looking back as he muttered "…I have to go."
He didn't make it out the door before her inconsolable sobs escaped – they were ringing in his ears even when he landed back in Moose Lake.
In fact, they were still ringing in his ears when he found himself back in Turkey, standing outside her doorway. He rang the doorbell, and didn't even wait for a greeting before leaning down and kissing her roughly, stumbling back into her abode.
Minutes later, Julia had gasped for air and an explanation, and Cuke's mouth began running a mile a minute. "I am an awful human being and I know that and for some reason you still love me anyway and I'm just a terrible, terrible person who should've never done those things to you and I love you, Julia Rhubarb, and I shouldn't have run from it ten years ago and I shouldn't have run from it now."
She blinked, stunned, and then, as soon as she was able to move again, she stormed past him, slammed and locked her front door, and pushed him up against it. He slunk to the floor, much to her confusion.
She had raised an eyebrow quizzically, before realizing he was on one knee, and had taken her hand into his. "Please." He pleaded softly, fishing the small box out of his jacket pocket with his free hand.
