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I couldn’t help a smile. “You’re not sure what to do with Ryan being bisexual, huh?”

She let out a short, thick laugh. “I just hadn’t expected it. I’m a little… confused, and a little concerned, but just because I know the world won’t be kind to her for it.”

“Lots of parts of the world are kind these days. What matters more is whether the people closest to her are kind to her for it. Her family, for one.”

“You’re right. I know.” She shook her head. “I never would have imagined it. But if she wants to be with a woman, well… I just hope it’s a woman like you.”

Oh, god, now I was going to get sentimental. I put on a smile, hoping the prickle I felt in my eyes was nothing. “I’m just the bartender. Just a quick stop in paradise.”

“If you were to be more than that, then I wouldn’t be sad. You’ve done more for her than any of us. That’s all I want—from anybody she’s with. Somebody who looks after her, who… who has her back, who makes things better for her.” She stood up slowly. “Thank you, Brooklyn. Tell her… well. Tell her whatever you want to. I guess you’re right, I can’t keep… asking you to be my messenger for my own daughter. Just don’t hurt her, please.”

Ah, well, dammit. I was going to hurt her. Going to hurt myself, too. But it wasn’t my choice—wasn’t hers, either. Just something the universe chose for us. But I smiled and said, “I won’t. I promise.” I paused. “Also, if you’re going to order something here, don’t get the white chocolate tart. It’s not as good as it sounds. Try the cheese pastry.”

She laughed. “Well, I’ll trust the recommendations from the locals.”

And that was just it, wasn’t it? I was the local. Ryan was the traveler with the jetset lifestyle, comfortable with a rich family. She was a warm, compassionate woman, not like the typical silver-spoon brat, but the fact of the matter was, she was in a different universe from me. And I had to accept that.

She’d find someone else who was more suited to her world. I just hoped she’d remember me well. I was a little sappy like that.

By the time I got back to the house, Ryan was awake, and my chest ached at the sight of her rumpled and still touched with sleep around the edges, sitting up in the bed with her laptop in her lap. She shut it and smiled sweetly at me when I stepped into the room, setting it aside and crawling across the bed towards me.

“Good morning,” I said, holding the bag up. “I brought some morning treats—”

For the time being, she couldn’t seem to care less about the morning treats. She took me by the front of the shirt and pulled me down into a kiss, and she wrestled me towards the bed, pulling the bag from my hand and setting it on the bedside table, tugging me down into the bed on top of her, and I lost myself in her, kissing slowly and sensually under the warmth of the early morning sunlight filtering in through the window, cracked to the sound of the ocean.

“Good morning,” Ryan said softly once she pulled back, her hands under my shirt, caressing me softly and looking at me with those eyes like she’d keep me here forever if she could. And god, if I didn’t want to let her.

“You’re in a good mood this morning.”

She gave me an unbearably cute little pout, tugging on my shirt. “You walked in the room. Of course I’m in a good mood.”

“Worried it was someone else coming in the house?”

She laughed, kissing me again. “You know what I mean,” she said. “Although I wouldn’t be surprised if it were Allison breaking in looking for pizza.”

“Touché.” I sat up in the bed next to her, and she sat up with me, her expression following mine into something more serious as I said, “Your mother talked to me while I was out.”

She raised her eyebrows. “Oh, god. What’d she say?”

Suddenly I felt too embarrassed to actually name it, all the parts aboutif she’s dating a woman, I just hope it’s a woman like you. “She wanted you to know she’s sorry,” I said. “That she wants to do better, she just doesn’t know how.”

Ryan wrung her hands in her lap. I smiled tentatively.

“She’s very, very surprised that you’re bisexual. And she clearly doesn’t know all the right words. But she just wants you to be happy.”

The weight slipped off her shoulders, and she looked down. She was quiet for a while before she breathed, “I really don’t know what to say.”

“You don’t have to say anything right now.”

“Just… what a week, huh?” she laughed breathlessly. “Broke up with Shane, blew up my family, came out as bisexual, and now putting it all back together?”

“I’m amazed you’ve had time for rock climbing in the middle of it all.”

“Well, yeah. I like when you stare at my ass.”

I put my hands up. “Itisa really nice ass.”

She kissed me again, sinking into me. “Thank you.”