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“Anything,” I say without any hesitation. “Name it.”

She looks into my eyes. “Be selfish.”

“Selfish?” Bauer questions. “That’s the last thing William has ever been.”

“I know.” She shoots him a look. “He needs to be now, though, Bauer. I think he’s in love.”

“What?” I bark out an exaggerated laugh.

She pats the top of my hand. “Your face says it all. There’s this profound happiness in your eyes I’ve never seen before, and your smile is brighter.”

I shouldn’t be surprised that she’s picked up on the happiness I’ve been feeling since I met Opal. I like Opal a hell of a lot, but she’s made it clear I’m nothing but a fun fucking stop on her life journey.Literally.

“I know you haven’t said much about her.” She pauses to shake her head. “Or anything at all, but she means something to you, so be selfish. Make time for her even if it means blowing off work or us.”

Arguing with her will be useless, so I take her hand in mine for a squeeze. “I will.”

“Promise you’ll introduce me to her before you propose.” She slides her hand from mine. “I can’t wait to help plan your wedding.”

Bauer chuckles. “You’re jumping the gun, Scout. Take a breath.”

She ignores him and focuses solely on me. “Promise.”

It can’t hurt to promise something that has no possibility of ever coming to fruition. Opal has made it very clear that our relationship is casual. I haven’t lost sight of the fact that I’m her temporary lover, so I give my sister what she wants. “I promise.”

49

Opal

“Fancy meeting you here.”I smile as soon as I spot William on the approach on the sidewalk outside of my bar. “I didn’t expect to see you again today.”

I truly didn’t.

Since we parted ways earlier, I’ve been knee deep in preparation for the official launch of Turquoise Crown. That included giving a Manhattan-based influencer a sneak peek of the bar. She arrived just over an hour ago, and after twenty minutes of conversation, she posted on her socials about how Turquoise Crown was going to take the bar scene by storm.

She agreed to pop back in on the night we officially launch.

I have Myra to thank for all of that since she is friends with the woman and was the one who convinced her to carve out a bit of her time in her packed schedule to meet with me.

“I come bearing dinner,” he says. “Something tells me you won’t be eating a decent meal tonight, so I brought something I think you’ll like.”

My gaze drops to the large brown paper bag in his hand. Something deliciously fragrant is inside of it. The smell is filling the air around us. “What is it?”

“Grilled vegetable sandwiches with the best burrata you’ve ever tasted.” His eyebrows lift. “I had no idea if Myra or Bristol are vegan or avoid gluten, so I had the restaurant prepare a couple of salads too. There’s no dairy cheese in those.”

His thoughtfulness is almost too much to bear. Every other man I’ve been with never even took the time to consider what I liked, let alone what the people around me may have preferred.

“This is beyond kind,” I whisper, studying his handsome face. “How can you be real?”

He laughs that off as if it isn’t a valid question.

I don’t join in, but instead, I stare at him. “I’ve never met anyone like you, William.”

He steps closer to where I’m standing. All of the noise of the city and the people rushing past us melt away. All I can see and feel is him. “That works both ways, Opal. You are, without a doubt, the most incredible person I’ve ever known.”

My heart lurches in my chest. I swear I feel the barrier I constructed around it to protect myself chip away.

Could I fall in love with him? Is that happening already?