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“How did it start with Alfie? Did you tell him everything straight away?”

I let him talk without interruption. His shoulders are bunched up by his ears. His voice isn’t smooth like usual; it’s hesitant and rough, like just getting the words out is a herculean effort, even though he’s already told me the story of what led him to call Alfie in the first place.

“Well, we had our first session, and he said it was a bit of a conflict because we grew up together, but he was intrigued, so he said yes. I told him everything, and I meaneverything. All the terrible things I’d done that were so unforgivable. Things I could never take back. And after I finished talking, I asked him what I should do.”

“What was his advice?”

He smiles now. “He said it sounded like I needed a vacation, a long one.”

“A vacation?”

“Yeah, he asked me if it would put me in danger to take an extended vacation from the organization. I thought about it, and I knew that my father wouldn’t physically harm me. So that’s what I did. Anytime a job was given to me, I’d tell my father no because I was on vacation. Avoiding my father’s associate and his wife by running into Squeeze the Day might have been the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

“So, she really wasn’t your type then?” I tease.

“Nah, how could she be?” His thumb runs up my cheek.

I smile, looking down for a moment.

“So, I ran into Squeeze the Day, and you know the rest. I saw you, the heavens opened, angels sang—”

“Stop it, you goof.” I pinch his ribs, and he pulls me onto his chest. I rest my head against his firm chest, feeling how hard his heart is racing.

“I called Alfie that day and told him I’d met you.”

“You told him about me?”

“Olivia.” He seems bolder now that he doesn’t have to look me in the eye, and his voice is steadier. “If I hadn’t met you that day...Fuck, if I hadn’t seen you be so fucking kind and considerate and gentle, I would have gone straight back to work. I would have gritted my teeth and just gotten on with it. You gave me the courage to be better. I wanted to be more like you. A good person that made people feel good.”

“You make me feel good.”

He strokes my hair, and I nuzzle in closer, aware of how monumental this conversation is.

“I think I fell in love with you that day,” he murmurs against my ear.

My heart stops—like a deep breath before the start of a race, before the horses are released and the chaos ensues. My heart kicks back in, galloping against my chest.In love?In love?

“You don’t have to say anything. I...I know this is too soon. Alfie told me not to tell you so soon, but I couldn’t wait. You have to know.”

My heart is in my throat, choking me. It’s blocking my voice box and despite opening my mouth, nothing is coming out. This is where this is heading, right? I know I’m falling for him too. I know I’ll be saying the words eventually, but I just never felt I could trust him to reciprocate them. Like this is all some elaborate game, but he’s proved time and time again this is real. We’re real. I’m going to tell him. I have to let him know, too.

I twist my body around so I’m leaning on my elbow. My free hand feels the warmth of his chest and the thump of his heart. I meet his eyes, and he’s smiling softly, nerves clinging to the corner of his lips.

“Austin, I . . .”

Ringing cuts me off, and Austin shifts, grabbing my arms and pulling me off him.

“I have to get this. It’s my emergency line.”

“Oh, okay.” That’s not what I thought he was going to say.

He jumps off the couch, answering the phone quickly.

“Yes?” He paces back and forth like a lion locked up at a zoo.

I bite my thumbnail, eager for him to come back to the couch, but the longer he paces, the further we get away from the perfect, vulnerable moment we’ve just shared. His eyes keep darting toward me as he runs his free hand over his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose.

“Send the address now. We’ll be there.”