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I look down at the screen. It’s Maggie. Maggie.Answer it, Jess!

“Hello?” I answer, breathier than I intended, but it’s hard to speak clearly when my chest won’t fully expand and allow me to breathe properly.

“Hey, girl. I’ll be there in ten. And thank you again—so much. You’re a life saver.”

“Any time, Mags. You know that,” I say, and I mean it. I love watching my little Charmander. Especially when it means helping out my best friend. “See you soon.” I hang up.

“That was Maggie,” I tell Greyson. “She’ll be here in a few minutes.”

He nods. “I should probably head out, too. It’s getting pretty late.”

I can’t deny the twinge of disappointment I feel at his words. I don’t want him to leave yet. But at the same time, I feel like there’s a lot to process here, and maybe I do need some time to sort these things out in my mind before we move forward—if that’s what we’re even doing here. Is that what we’re doing?God, I sure as hell hope so.

And it’s like he somehow knows it. That I need a little time to soak it all in and let my feelings settle.

Looking into his eyes now, I know with absolute certainty that I’m right, and my throat tightens. Because if I hadn’t already fallen for him eight years ago, I know I would’ve started just now.

We both slowly come to a stand—me on slightly shaky legs, and him as confident and as sure as always. I head for the door while he grabs his coat and keys, sliding them into his pocket. “Thank you for having me over,” he says with a smile that reaches his eyes.

“Of course.” I pull my front door open with a matching fondness tilting my lips. “Anytime,” I finish lamely, but…what else is there to really say now? “Call me sometime”seems incredibly anti-climactic. But I don’t want him to walk away without knowing when I’ll see him again. And I sure as hell can’t tell him that after only spending a handful of hours with him, I think I might still love him.

Again, after all this time.

It’s insane, psychotic even, because how is that even possible?I don’t know him anymore. Not really.I’m only just starting to get to know him again.

Except…it feels like I do. It feels like time and space have shrunk themselves together, dragging eight years ago into the present and landing us right where we left off.

All it took was one look at him for it all to come flooding back, and it hasn’t gone away.

My heart aches. Twists and clenches at the thought of him leaving tonight and not knowing when I’ll see him next. It makes my stomach turn. And I’ve only felt this way once before.

The first time I fell in love with Greyson Hayes.

He walks through the front door and into the nighttime air coating my porch, turning on his heel to face me, casually leaning against the doorjamb. His hand reaches out for my hand without hesitation, and when his fingers slide through mine, he slowly pulls me towards him.

Awareness of our proximity slides over me, making my heart thrum through my body. But then his lips—his lips—lower down onto mine before I can finish a single thought.

A soft, intentional press of his mouth on mine.

And…

“We still have a lot to discuss,” he says, pulling away far too soon.

“I know,” I say quietly.Why I left home. Why I changed my phone number. Why I didn’t wait…I know these are all things he wants the answers to.

The regret of that last one threatens to swallow me whole.

“Call me when you’re ready,” he knowingly says, and then he kisses my cheek and disappears into the night with a small smile.

I’m not surprised.

Patience always was his best virtue, after all.

Fifty-four After

“OKAY, DEFINITELY THE‘fuck me’ heels with the ripped jeans and white tee, and…the leather jacket!” Kat claps. “Yes!”

“Totally agree. Even I kind of want to bang you in that,” Sita adds, looking way too serious about that statement, and I can’t help but laugh.