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“I won't let that happen.” Movement inside the house catches my attention, alerting me to Trey's impending return. “When?” I ask quickly.

“He's meeting with her after the new year.”

“Let me know when and where. I'd rather die than have him ensnared by that woman any more than he already is. This has to end.”

A sad look crosses his face, but he nods.

Turning to face the approaching Trey, I plaster a fake smile across my face.

No way in hell will I let him give any more of himself for me.

Been there, done that, and ended up with my boyfriend with a fake fiancée.

Nope. All this with his mother, Jessica, and Trey ends as soon as we get back.

Ends for good, no matter the effect on my career.

20

Randi

“You're wearing that?”

I stick my tongue out at Taeler's reflection in the full-length mirror before running an assessing eye over my outfit choice for what seems like the hundredth time.

“He said we'd get sandy,” I say more to myself than her. “I'm not so far gone in this new life that I can justify ruining a nice outfit. Not that I packed any.” That’s one part of this life I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to. Packing multiple outfits for one day just because you can and not knowing what you’d feel like wearing that particular day. Me? We’re here five days, so I packed five basic outfits, one swimsuit, and a set of pajamas.

Her tiny button nose scrunches in this adorable way that makes her look like a bunny. “But cutoff jean shorts and a sweatshirt?”

My reflection twists left and then right as I do. “It's off the shoulder. It's cute.” Turning back straight, I slide my hands down the soft cotton and slip them into the front pockets of my favorite jean shorts. “He knows you,” I whisper to my reflection, giving her a pep talk. “He won't expect anything fancy.” But the longer I stare, the more doubt slips into my confident words.

I give my head a quick shake, dislodging the growing unease. This is me, and it is what it is. It’s not like I have much else to choose from in my small bag.

At one minute till eight, I tiptoe across the room, hoping Taeler won’t look up from her phone and make this awkward.

“Have fun on your date,” she calls out as I tug open the door. “Don't do anything I wouldn't do.”

I whip around with an expectant expression. “Which is what exactly?”

She snorts and rolls her eyes. “Go have fun. You deserve it, Mom. You both do.”

A single hand glides down the smooth banister as I descend the stairs of the rental. I inhale a deep fortifying breath. Tae’s right. I do deserve this one night of carefree thoughts. Of love and passion and feeling normal after so many days of constant pressure. So does he. We've both had unending distractions and things pulling us apart since we met.

Not tonight. Tonight, it’s just us.

A heavy floral aroma causes my foot to waver as I lower from the final step. The lush scent fills my lungs as I take a deep breath and force my bare feet forward, padding along the stained concrete as I follow the smell through the darkened house toward a flickering light.

A soft gasp slips past my parted lips as my feet pull to a stop of their own accord.

Hundreds of roses fill the living room, vases upon vases of crimson long-stemmed roses in every nook and cranny. Candles flicker on each flat surface, making the living room seem to move with the shifting flames.

I startle at movement in the corner until Trey's handsome face comes into the light.

“Trey,” I breathe and scan the room once again, taking in even more detail than I did with the first glance. “How…? When…?”

A nervous smile pulls at his lips. He dips his head and looks up through his dark lashes.

“I'm sorry it's taken me this long to do this.” He shakes his head like he's fighting some kind of war in his own mind. “You deserve this kind of wow every day, every second.”