Page 73 of The Wrong Move

I press a palm to their locked fingers. “Byron, we have a long drive ahead of us.” I stand between them. “I’ll see you on Monday, Dante.” I place a hand on Byron’s back and head out of the ballroom.

“That wasn’t awkward at all,” I say sarcastically as Byron and I reach the foyer.

He glances down at me, his expression taut. I sense he wants to say more about what just happened. Instead, he remains tight-lipped, takes my hand, and walks briskly toward the doors and hands the valet his card.

“Do we need to return to our room?” I ask.

He shakes his head. “I have everything in the car.”

“I need to change.”

“Later.”

His gaze focuses on each car picking up guests and driving away.

His car arrives. Byron opens the door for me. “Thank you.” He closes the door, and I look over the seat to see some clothes and…

My hand goes to my throat. Byron slides in and smirks when he sees what has caught my attention. He picks up the bunch of red roses. “These are for you.” He hands them to me and leans in to kiss my cheek. “I am proud of you, Gi. You rocked it on the stage. You’re a natural.”

I peer into the petals and inhale the sweet scent, closing my eyes as joy fills me. I’m energized and equally calmed, filled with hope, and can see a future of contentment.

“Thank you,” I say excitedly. “It’s so thoughtful of you.”

I never imagined Byron to be a romantic or envisioned us ever getting back together. It’s why Mom always told me never to assume or rule anything out. While something might be wrong for you at a certain point in time, it may be the perfect fit in another.

The present always changes.

Our path in life fluctuates with every decision.

I believe in destiny.

Fate.

Maybe we are soulmates, and while our decisions affected our relationship years ago, we were destined to eventually end up together.

Or maybe we are destined to right our wrongs, forgive each other, make peace, yet not remain together.

I take another deep breath to be hit with the dopamine of happiness from the roses, engraving the memory of this night into my brain. The present is what we have, and I’m going to enjoy every second of it with Byron.

I keep hold of the flowers until we are on the highway heading toward Pescara and then making our way south along the coast.

Even with the cool air blowing on my face, I need to change. “We’ll need to stop for coffee and so I can get out of this dress.”

Byron glances at me, his gaze lowering to my chest. “I like you in that dress… though it would be better if you stripped out of it now.”

“And then we wouldn’t arrive by tonight.”

A smile grows on his lips while his gaze returns to the road. “What’s wrong with sleeping in the car?”

I shake my head.

“Judging by the way you’re perving at my boobs, we wouldn’t be sleeping.”

“I can’t help it if I’m already planning what I want to do to each breast. To all of you.”

“There’ll be plenty of time for you to have me all to yourself.”

Laughterin the distance and the quiet hum of music invades my brain. Slowly, I wake and realize where I am.

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