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“Last I heard, he’s back from the date,” I answer. “I should go see him and ask about it.”

Emma raises an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. “Do you think it went well?”

I hesitate for a moment, not sure how to answer. “I hope it went well,” I say, though my tone betrays a hint of doubt. “For his sake. And for Nova’s sake. They’re all counting on it.”

Emma watches me carefully, her expression softening. “What about Jack himself? What do you think about him?”

I give a half-hearted shrug, brushing the question off like it doesn’t matter. “What do you mean? You know what I think about him.”

Emma shrugs in return, a playful glint in her eyes. “That hasn’t changed?”

“How’s it supposed to change?” I ask, trying to keep my voice steady but feeling the heat rise in my cheeks as I remember the fiery kiss we shared.

I force a scoff, rolling my eyes as I place the last of the flowers in their vases. “He’s Jack Calloway. He’ll always be the guy who does whatever he wants, whenever he wants, without a care about who he hurts along the way. Nothing about that’s changed.”

Emma gives me a knowing look, the kind that says she knows there’s more to this than I am letting on, but thankfully, she doesn’t prod. “All right, all right. If you say so.”

I shoot her a quick glance, a wave of frustration bubbling inside me. “I just don’t care about him. He’s not my problem.”

Emma smiles softly but says nothing more. I know her well enough to know that she won’t push it, but the question hangs in the air—What’s going on with you and Jack?

I’ve always been a confident and sure person, but these days, confusion seems to be the only thing I’m sure about.

“All right, lock up,” Emma says, heading back to the door. “It’s getting late. You don’t want to have to spend the night at Jack’s place, do you?”

She exits before I can bite back.

I quickly lock up the flower shop, a knot forming in my stomach as I make my way to the car. Emma is waiting for me, already standing by her car, her arms crossed and a slight smile on her face. I walk over to her, trying to push aside the thoughts of Ryan and Jack swirling in my head.

“Ready to go?” she asks, her voice light but with a hint of concern that I know all too well.

“Yeah,” I say, forcing a smile as I slide my arms around her for a quick hug. The familiar comfort of her embrace calms me, even if only for a second. I pull back and meet her gaze.

“Thanks for your advice. It’s nice to know you still got it.”

She laughs for a while, but her eyes linger on me for a moment too long, like she knows there’s more I’m not saying.

“Take care of yourself, Mia,” she says softly, her hand brushing my arm before she opens her car door.

“I will,” I reply, taking a deep breath.

With one last smile, we both get into our cars. I turn the key in the ignition, the hum of the engine grounding me for a moment. My fingers tighten around the steering wheel as I drive off. I can’t shake the feeling that something has changed within me when it comes to Jack, but I don’t know what it is yet. Maybe it’s nothing. Maybe it’s just the tension from the kiss still lingering in my chest.

As I drive, I focus on the road ahead, trying to push away the uncertainty clawing at me. One thing’s for sure—I need to find Jack a forever partner and get him out of my town as quickly as possible.

JACK

I’m still angry.

Seeing Mia with Ryan earlier hit a nerve I didn’t even know I had. The way they were sitting so close, so comfortable—like nothing ever happened between us. Like we didn’t share a passionate kiss.

I try not to care, trying to convince myself it’s none of my business. This is business, right? So why does it bother me so much? I keep replaying the look in Ryan’s eyes, the way he gazed at her like he owned her. It’s like he was trying to claim her again, like he thinks he has some right to her.

And the worst part? Mia—she wants him. I can see it. It’s clear.

There’s a knock on my door.

“Jack?”