Page 129 of Forty, Flirty & Fall Inn

"Sage proved you're worth committing fraud for," Alex interrupts."Do you know how romantic that is?She risked federal charges to meet you."

"That's not romantic, it's concerning."

"It's both," Connor says."Like most love stories."

"This isn't a love story."

"Really?"Callum pulls out his phone."Because I have approximately forty-seven photos from my engagement party that suggest otherwise."

He starts swiping through images.

There we are, seconds after she walked in, me looking at Sage like she hung the moon.Another of me leading her to the terrace where I thoroughly debauched every inch of her beautiful body.

I look determined.And eager.And stupidly happy.

"These prove nothing," I say, but the words are a crackled rumble—like shattering glass.

"This one's my favorite," Callum continues, showing a photo I didn't know existed.

It's after our terrace...interlude.

Sage is fixing my bow tie, and I'm looking at her with an expression I don't recognize on my own face.

"You look peaceful," Connor observes."When's the last time you looked peaceful?"

I can't answer because I know the answer.

That night.That moment.

With her.

Grayson’s right.

Not about the dating app for emotionally illiterate men—though honestly, that tracks—but about the rest.

About me.

About her.

Because what if this entire time, I wasn’t protecting myself?

What if I was just hiding?

Behind logic.Behind routines.Behind systems and code and metrics I could control.

Because if I let someone in—really in—they’d see everything.And use it.

That’s what I believed.That’s what Veronica taught me.

That intimacy was just intel for future sabotage.

But Sage never weaponized my weak spots.She worshiped them.And when I pushed her away, she didn’t retaliate—she mourned.

Because she loved me.

And I think… I think I loved her back.

Not despite the chaos.