Page 36

Dad’s never asked me to come back. Hell, he doesn’t know about half of the bills I’ve had sent directly to me.

Neither of those change the guilt I feel for the shit show my mother dumped on him.

Or the fact that he gave up three years of his life doing what he thought was best for me.

I owe him so much more than paying medical bills can ever repay.

The guilt twinges as I think of the offers made on my dress.

It could help pay for a good chunk of the bills, but it’s the one thing I want to be selfish about.

It’s the glass slipper I want to hold on to so I don’t forget my date with Dalton.

“I need to do more for him,” I say, teeth sinking into my lower lip to keep it from quivering. The need to lean into Dalton for support steals my breath. Squashing the impulse, I shrink away, instantly missing the touch of his arm.

“I understand,” Dalton says with a somber nod.

Then he’s standing and heading toward the door.

The shuddering in my chest keeps me seated, facing the front of the room.

I can’t watch him make the decision to walk away from us, even if I’m the one asking for it.

He’s being the responsible one, while I’m leaning toward the recklessness of wanting more.

“Jenna?” Dalton asks. I turn to find him paused, watching me, hand on the doorknob.

“I had my lawyer look over The Vortex’s contract with your firm.

Relationships with the signing partners are off limits, but it says nothing about staff and players.

I respect your desire to keep this professional for now, and I truly understand why, but I’m going to fight for what I want, too.

If I only have a year with you, I will not waste any time pretending I don’t want more.

Even with a firm deadline. A year with you is better than a year asking what if.

” The promise in his words burns as deep as the determined expression in his eyes. “See you tomorrow.”

Before I can so much as blink, Dalton slips through the door, leaving me to drown in his words.

My pocket vibrates once before the Imperial March from Star Wars blares in the empty room. There’s only one person with that ringtone. I curse my cousin, fumbling for the phone.

“Hey, you oka?—”

“You saucy little slut!” Lacey’s voice blasts through the speaker at full volume. I yank the phone away, screwing up my eyes against the unexpected eardrum assault.

“Good afternoon to you, too, Lacey. To what do I owe the pleasure and new title?”

“WTF?! Your new sexy god is Dalton Ward? I expected your mystery man to be good looking, but DAMN, Jenna! That guy is a fox. If he weren’t so busy doling out orgasms like street candy to my favorite cousin, I would get all up on that.”

I blanch, grateful this is a phone call and not FaceTime. A jumble of words catch in my throat, the lamest escaping. “Excuse me?”

“Don’t play dumb. The posts for your company’s charity dates are going viral. Everyone is talking about it here. Especially the photos you and Dalton took. Everyone wants to be you right now. You realize that, don’t you?”

Panic rockets from my toes to my heart, then slams into the base of my skull.

“I didn’t take any photos…” The words come out flat. Fuck, how did she know?

“Girl, please, don’t lie to me. You may not show your face, but I took you to get that manicure the morning of the big event.

And that ring you’re flaunting in those pics?

I bought for you as a fuck Steve gift last Christmas.

Remember? You went on a date with Dalton Ward.

Everyone at the magazine is dying to know who his mystery date is. Or better yet, BE you!”

Shit. Shit shit shit! I stare down at my coral color nails, the ends now chipping. Has anyone else noticed?

“Jenna, you there?” Concern floods Lacey’s tone.

I push the camera button on the screen, switching the call to FaceTime.

The need to look her in the eyes is damn near palpable.

I pop in one earbud to make sure the conversation stays private.

The screen blurs, then my cousin’s heart-shaped face appears in a shadowy room, her eyebrows pinched together.

“You didn’t tell anyone, right?” I blurt out before she can ask any more questions.

“Of course not!” Her lips pull down with a hurt expression. “After all the shit you’ve been through. I wouldn’t tell anyone. I just can’t believe you didn’t trust me enough to tell me .”

My shoulders sink away from my ears with both relief and guilt.

“I was going to, eventually.” I hope that isn’t a lie. “It’s just messy. I could lose my job if Ramona finds out, or worse yet, jeopardize the charity…”

Lacey holds up her hand, glancing off-camera before refocusing back on me. “Okay, we’re good.”

I take in the garments and steaming equipment cluttered behind her. “Are you in a closet?”

“Of course! I’m at work. Some people just came into the wardrobe room, but they left. I’m not going to talk about my cousin’s secret date out in the open where any tabloid scooping gossip monger can hear. I’m impatient, not an imbecile. No one here gets the scoop on my family.”

The tightness in my chest loosens. “Do you have plans tonight?”

“If by plans, you mean picking up curry and heading to your place for a debriefing. Then, yes. I have plans.”

“I’ll get the wine.”

Five hours, half a bottle of wine and my favorite pair of sweat pants later, I’ve dished everything to my cousin. Including Dalton’s proclamation today. Lacey sat rapt like a grandma, watching her soaps as I divulged the chaos that has become my life.

“Shit, you actually like like him.” Lacey’s elbows are propped on my kitchen counter as she stares me down, fork still in hand.

“Shit, I actually like him.” I agree.

“It sounds like he likes you, too.” She adds, rolling her eyes when I try to shrug off the assessment.

“ AND it sounds like he’s okay with your relationship having a potential expiration date.

He’s kinda good for you. After everything with his mom, Dalton is one of the few guys who can understand supporting a sick parent. Few guys our age get that.”

I shove a crab rangoon in my mouth to avoid answering right away.

“Dalton’s a distraction. I should be focused on my job.

On making more and convincing Ramona I can run a branch for her in Chicago.

Dad needs the money. We need the money.” I tap the latest pile of bills from his last round of treatments.

They’re a morbid reminder of why I’ve been busting my ass.

“And what if I’m not good with an expiration date? ”

“Bullshit.” Lacey points her fork at me, skewered potato and all. “You know I’m all Team Jenna, but time for some tough love and honesty, sugar lump. I’m not holding back my opinion anymore.”

“Was that you holding back before?”

She flips me a middle finger, blowing a kiss with it before twisting her face into something akin to worry, bordering on pity. I want to crawl into my bowl of curry.

“You got baggage. Your mom fucked over AND fucked up your dad. She fucked you up, too. You’ve both spent your entire lives suffering and cleaning up messes made by Alice.

She’s a selfish bitch, and as her niece, I can say that.

She would tell you to keep working to pay her bills, screw your love life and wellbeing.

” Lacey’s words hurt because they’re true.

“But your dad, Jenna, your dad is one of the most sacrificial, kind, and loving people I know. There’s a reason my family loves him more than their own blood.

You’re too much like him, and he would hate to see you throw away a shot at happiness to take care of him.

It would kill Paul if he knew just how much you’ve sacrificed.

Aunt Alice is nothing but a burden. Hell, a freaking blight!

Uncle Paul doesn’t want to be that for you. ”

“What if Dalton turns out to be like my mom? What if I sacrifice everything to be with him only to have my life implode and he just… walks away?”

“Again, bullshit. Dalton is NOTHING like your mother. He’s already proven that. Next shitty attempt at an excuse, please.” Lacey waves a hand as if swiping left, then folds tented fingers under her chin, delighted with the “tell Jenna she’s being an idiot” game.

“Fine, yes, he’s amazing,” I admit. “BUT it was a fucking one-night stand. A fling! I’ve only known the guy for like less than a week—granted, I had more connection with him in seventy-two hours than my entire relationship with Steve.

But what if the magic wears off? What if the sex was only amazing because we had no actual obligations? What if the chemistry fizzles?”

Lacey wiggles a manicured brown eyebrow. “There’s only one way to find out.”

“What if I lose everything?”

“What if you get everything?” She counters.

“Is he worth losing the job I’ve spent the last three years busting my ass to prove how good I am, how much I deserve it? It’s not just the paycheck, Lace. It’s also my future. I don’t know if I can start a successful firm without Ramona’s support.”

Lacey’s playful demeanor slips. She sucks in her bottom lip, chewing the corner. “Fair point there. Damn it.”

“I can’t risk my entire career on a weekend with one guy.” I aim to drive the nail into the coffin of our budding relationship.

“You told him about your mom.” Lacey points at me like she just won a battle.

“So,” I say with an exaggerated eye roll.

“Jenna, it took you almost two years to tell Steve about your family. You told Dalton in two days . Hell, he might know more about you than Steve ever did. I’m not saying to throw away your career on one date.

But… maybe tell Ramona you guys met at the auction, hit it off, then were shocked to find out you’re working together.

Then, in a few weeks, explain that Dalton asked you out.

It’s as close to the truth as possible and covers your asses. ”