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Straightening, she smiles. And it’s a genuine one.

“I am. Vanessa made me realize we only have another week with the guys and then this is going to be the trip that I was hoping for. What I wanted more than anything was time to reconnect with my best friends. I haven’t felt like myself in a really long time and I knew our time together would remind me of the person I used to be. ”

“Or…”

“Or…?”

“You can be whoever you want to be. I thought Ash’s story about meeting Matt was kind of a great reminder of how we don’t have to stay the same.

” Sighing, I sit down on my forgotten bed.

“I was feeling like an outsider when we got here because everyone was…different than they used to be, and I was looking at it like it was a bad thing. But it’s not.

Like you just said, we need to keep looking forward.

We’ve all grown and changed, and we’re all flawed, but that doesn’t mean that we’re completely different.

Deep down, the three of you are still the same people I have known and loved since Mrs. Marino put us together. ”

She’s beside me hugging me hard in the blink of an eye. “I’ve missed you so much.”

I hug her back just as fiercely. “I’ve missed you too.” When we move apart, we’re both smiling. “How about you and I make the best of this next week and then truly embrace this trip?”

“Liv, I think you are doing more than making the best of the time here with the guys. I’m not begrudging you that.

It’s like the universe wants you and Ash together, so who am I to argue?

And I know I’ve said it before, but he’s amazing.

Like seriously one of the nicest, most genuine humans I’ve ever met.

And you know how I feel about the male species at the moment, so if I’m telling you he’s awesome, you can believe it. ”

“I really like him,” I blurt out, like my mouth has a mind of its own.

Roxie’s eyes go wide. “The last few days alone with him just… gah! I never felt like this about anyone before! Ever. The thought of him leaving and then he immediately has to go to Dallas, and then I’ll be here and then back in Seattle…

I have no idea how this can work. But I really, really, really want this to work. ”

“You’re not tied to Seattle, Liv. You’ve always said that. So why would you stay there? I’m not saying you have to move back to Raleigh—although that would be amazing and we would all love it—but you can move closer to Ash.”

“And I know that, but he travels a lot too. Like…he told me how sometimes he’s gone for two to three weeks at a time. How do you even have a relationship when that’s your life? We both said that we want to figure out a way, but I honestly don’t see how.”

“Move, Liv,” she reiterates. “What’s keeping you in Seattle? Nothing!”

“It was for book research…”

“Yeah, okay, but you’ve lived there, and you don’t need to keep living there. Are you setting this new book in Seattle?”

“Um…”

“Look, I have no idea what it takes to write a book. I don’t get the process or why you felt the need to move in order to write instead of maybe just visiting these places, but that’s just me.

If you think this thing with Ash can really go somewhere, then you need to be bold and brave—which we all know you already are—and be willing to do what it takes. ”

“And what about him? Shouldn’t he have to do something too?”

“How do you know he won’t?”

Oh.

Right.

I don’t know because we haven’t talked about it.

Loren knocks on the door. “Come on, you guys! We’re waiting for you!”

“Just think about it,” Roxie says quietly.

“Trust me; it’s all I’m going to be thinking about.”

The room is bathed in soft, amber light, the kind that seems to wrap around you like a warm blanket.

Everything on the other side of our bedroom door is a million miles away.

We’re back in our little cocoon and it feels like we’ve been away far too long.

The low roar of the ocean is muffled by the thick curtains, and the only sounds are the soft rustle of sheets and the rhythm of our breathing.

It’s a little after one and Sebastian has me in his arms as he gets comfortable in bed. It was a wonderful night and I’m beyond thankful that everything seems to be back to normal.

“Are you sleepy?” he asks.

As if on cue, I yawn as I shake my head. “Sorry. I mean, maybe a little. Why?” I’m hoping it’s for sexy reasons, but when he pulls back slightly and looks at me, I can tell he has something on his mind.

“I was just curious what happened when everyone first got back to the house. We went outside to give you privacy, but I’d be lying if I didn’t say my curiosity has been killing me all night.”

I snuggle against him and yawn again. “It wasn’t very dramatic.

Loren apologized to everyone—which was actually a bit of a shock.

Like…immediately, she just launched into it.

She admitted to being on edge lately because of the whole wedding date thing and then told us about the bombshell her parents dropped on her. ”

He nods.

“Luckily, she didn’t go into a whole lot of detail or dominate the conversation, but she admitted that she’s been frustrated for a while with Mike’s lack of commitment to setting a date.”

Another nod.

“Then Roxie apologized for leaving the way she did and how it’s becoming a dangerous coping method for her and how the whole thing made her realize that she needs to start therapy. Counseling. She wants her life back and this whole argument was the push she needed.”

“Okay, so…it wasn’t all bad, then.”

“I apologized for being so distant and wrapped up in my career. Honestly, no one understood how there’s a lot of pressure on me. I don’t get a salary. If I don’t write, I don’t get paid. If my books don’t sell, I don’t get paid. So…it’s a lot, but that doesn’t mean I can’t have a life.”

He kisses my forehead, and I love that tender gesture.

“And Vanessa…” I sigh. “She’s been trying to hold it together for everyone, and Zayne was there to listen whenever she needed to vent and didn’t think she could to any of us. This isn’t a fling for them or just a casual hookup.”

“They’ve always made sense to me,” he says. “Like…whenever we would hang out, they just gravitated toward each other, but I never saw the signs that it turned romantic. I think they’d make a great couple—like moving forward with marriage and kids and whatnot.”

“I think that’s what she wants too, but they’re taking it slow.”

As soon as the words are out of my mouth, I realize this might be my opening to our own situation.

“I told her that taking it slow is overrated,” I tell him and am relieved when he softly laughs. “Personally, I’m a big fan of jumping in.”

Sebastian’s response is to hold me a little tighter and I sigh happily.

“They’ve known each other for years and I get being cautious because they don’t want to jeopardize their friendship, but…I don’t know…everyone’s different, I guess.” I glance up at him. “Do you think we should worry about that?”

“No.” It’s like he doesn’t even need to think about it.

“Like you said, everyone’s different. Every relationship is unique.

I know that Zayne apparently had a thing for her when you were all in high school, so he’s been biding his time.

” Another forehead kiss. “You and me? We felt the connection immediately and we went with it. And I’m really glad we did. ”

“Me too.”

I hug him, loving the warmth of his body against mine. Tonight, it’s not about anything sexual. This is just about enjoying the closeness.

“I do envy them though,” I admit.

“How come?”

“Because when this trip is over, they get to go home and still see each other. We won’t.”

“I know,” he replies gruffly. “But we’re going to work on that.”

“I don’t see how. You travel so much for work and I’m in Seattle…” I pause briefly before amending. “But I’m thinking about moving.”

Now he pulls back and looks at me. “You are? For real?”

I nod. “For real. Seattle was never home. I told you I don’t know where home is anymore, but I know that’s not it.”

“So…you’d be willing to maybe…come back to North Carolina?”

My heart’s racing because this is it. The moment of truth, and I have to wonder if I’m crazy to be making such a bold admission after knowing this man for only a week. But I still nod confidently, even though my voice trembles as I say, “I am.”

Then he’s kissing me—rolling me beneath him like this is the greatest news he’s ever received. But I kiss him back with equal enthusiasm because his response is the greatest response I’ve ever received.

Ugh…love is making me stupid.

Whoa…hang on…

Love?

Love?!

Am I—the girl with serious trust issues—actually saying I’m in love with this man? This sweet, wonderful, spectacularly sexy, exceptional kisser of a man?

I push that question aside and instead focus on all of the feelings. The weight of his body, the warmth of his skin, the scratchiness along his jaw…it’s like he’s a drug and I am utterly and completely addicted to him.

And yet…I know we could stop kissing right now and I’d be equally euphoric about sitting here and talking. I just enjoy being in his presence.

When we break apart, he caresses my cheek, and the look he gives me tells me he feels the same exact way.

“How is this all going to work?” he asks, shifting so we’re back to our original positions.

“I don’t know yet. I basically just decided earlier about the move. So I guess when I go back to Seattle, I just deal with my lease and start looking for a place back in Raleigh.”

“That makes sense. Practical. Logical. Any idea if you want a house? A condo? An apartment?”

“I don’t have a lot of stuff, so probably just an apartment to start. I need room for my office stuff so it would need to be at least a two-bedroom, but I’m sure that won’t be hard to find.”