human

I stood in my kitchen, spatula in hand, as I gazed at Julian in shock. "You hate maple syrup?" I repeated, incredulous.

Julian nodded, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Well, I find it disgusting," he said, his voice matter-of-fact.

I eyed him like he was a ghost. "Okay, then, what do you eat with your eggs?" I asked, curiosity getting the better of me.

Julian's response was immediate. "Nutella."

My eyes widened in horror. "You're not a human being," I declared, dramatic flair infusing my voice.

Julian burst out laughing, a deep, rich chuckle that sent shivers down my spine. "Hey, don't knock it till you try it," he teased, his eyes sparkling with amusement.

I shook my head, smiling despite myself. "I think I'll pass," I said, flipping the pancakes.

Julian leaned against the counter, watching me with an intent gaze. "So, what made you decide to cook breakfast?" he asked, his voice low and smooth.

I shrugged, feeling a flutter in my chest. "I just wanted to say thanks for last night," I said, trying to sound casual.

Julian's eyes locked onto mine, a hint of warmth in their depths. "You didn't have to do that," he said, his voice soft.

I smiled, feeling a sense of connection with him. "I wanted to," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

The air seemed to vibrate with tension as we stood there, the only sound the sizzle of the bacon. Then, Julian broke the silence.

"Smells great in here," he said, his voice light.

I laughed, feeling a sense of relief. "Thanks," I said, sliding the pancakes onto a plate.

As we sat down to eat, I couldn't help but steal glances at Julian. He was unlike anyone I'd ever met – quirky, charming, and utterly captivating.

And as we chatted and laughed over breakfast, I knew I wanted to spend more time with him. Lots more time.

~~~~

"So," Julian started, his voice gentle as we dug into our food. "You were pretty sad at the bar. Can I ask what happened?"

I hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. But there was something about Julian's kind eyes that put me at ease.

"I broke up with my boyfriend," I said, trying to sound casual. "His name is Michael."

Julian's expression turned sympathetic. "I'm sorry," he said. "That can be tough."

I shrugged, trying to downplay the situation. "Honestly, he's not the first guy to cheat on me," I said, trying to sound nonchalant. "So, it didn't hurt as much as it could have."

Julian's eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched in anger. I could almost see the wheels turning in his mind, planning his revenge against Michael.

In his mind, Julian was seething with rage. "Who is this Michael guy?" he thought to himself. "I'll hunt him down and destroy him."

But out loud, Julian said something entirely different. "You deserve so much better than someone who would cheat on you," he said, his voice filled with conviction. "You're an amazing person, Lexi."

I felt a surge of gratitude towards Julian. No one had ever stood up for me like that before except lila.

"Thanks, Julian," I said, my voice sincere. "That means a lot coming from you."

Julian smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Anytime, Lexi," he said. "Now, let's finish breakfast and forget about Michael, okay?"

~~`~

As we finished up the last of the breakfast dishes, Julian glanced at his watch and frowned. "I'm so sorry, Lexi, but I really need to go," he said, his voice tinged with regret.

I smiled and nodded, trying to hide my disappointment. "Thanks for the breakfast," Julian said, his eyes crinkling at the corners.

"I really had fun," I replied, feeling a flutter in my chest.

Julian smiled back, his eyes sparkling with warmth. "Me too," he said. "See you soon."

As he turned to leave, I felt a sudden pang of longing. I wanted to drag him back and kiss the living daylight out of him.

"Fuck, where did that come from?" I muttered to myself, shocked by the intensity of my feelings.

I waved goodbye as Julian got into his car, but my view was blocked by another vehicle. I closed the door and leaned against it, feeling a little dazed.

He's really a gentleman, I thought to myself. He helped me clean and wash the dishes, something Michael and my other exes had never bothered to do.

As I stood there, lost in thought, I couldn't help but compare Julian to my other relationships. He was kind, considerate, and genuinely seemed to care about me.

I felt a surge of excitement at the prospect of seeing him again. Maybe, just maybe, I had found someone special.

I took a deep breath and pushed off from the door, feeling a sense of renewed hope. I was looking forward to seeing Julian again, and exploring the connection we seemed to share.

As I went about my day, I couldn't help but feel a little spring in my step. Maybe this was the start of something amazing.

I spent the rest of the day lost in thought, replaying our breakfast conversation and wondering what the future held for us.

As the sun began to set, I realized I was smiling to myself. Julian had brought a spark of joy into my life, and I was eager to see where things would go between us.

With a sense of excitement and anticipation, I drifted off to sleep, dreaming of Julian and the possibilities that lay ahead.