Page 56 of Sweet Escape

And when you’re faced with that, day in and day out, you start to wonder ...AmI too much?ShouldI change?DoI deserve to be loved just like I am?

But lying here, in Memphis’s arms, I’m so at peace.

Because the person Memphis knows is nuts. She’s crazy and sassy and wild and unapologetically herself.

And he still wants her.

Me.

He still wants me.

And it feels so fucking good to be falling ...

I freeze, my eyes flying wide when I realize what I almost thought.

Almost.

Almost.

I didn’t think it.

But I almost thought it.

Fuck.

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

That is not supposed to happen.

I sit up quickly, pushing off Memphis, very careful not to look him in the eye.

Because to be honest, I don’t know what he’s going to see there.

“Well, thank you for the ride,” I joke, keeping my voice light and jovial as I grab my clothes off the floor and begin to put them back on.

Memphis pushes off the couch and slips his boxers back on. He grabs the blanket he laid down on the couch and wads it into a ball.

“You okay?”

I lick my lips, then turn and give him the most genuine smile I can muster.

“Yeah, why?”

He shrugs. “Just checking.” He pauses. “Wanna make sure I wasn’t too rough.”

My shoulders fall, and I shake my head. “Not at all.”

I make quick work of putting my clothes back on, and I’m fully ready to go as Memphis is tugging on his jeans.

“I’m gonna head out.” I aim my thumb toward the door. “See you later?”

He gives me another assessing look before nodding. “Yeah. Have a good night, Vivian.”

I give him a little wave and then turn, heading out through the door, into the cooling evening air.

My feet move me quickly along the path that leads back through the vineyard to the Hawthorne house, and my car still parked out front. I almost trip a few times in my haste, but I don’t think about how fast I’m moving. I just go.

It almost feels like I’m running.

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