Page 155 of Fiery Romance

I tamp down my frown of disappointment and try to smile brightly. “Taz.”

This time, he doesn’t laugh.

“You keep saying my name like it’s an alien species.”

“I’m sorry. I’m just… this is so weird.”

“Yeah for me too.” He glances down. “I thought you’d be more excited.”

“I am—I mean, I’m totally excited.” Realizing that neither my words, my body language or my facial expression agree with that statement, I shake off my haziness and move in to give Taz a hug.

He wraps his strong arms around me and I get a whiff of his scent. It’s the same as it was when we were dating in college. His arms hold me the same too. I can close my eyes and pretend we’re high school seniors after spending summer vacation apart. I can pretend we’re in college, meeting again after heading in different directions for Christmas.

He’s back.

Just like all the other times he’s come back to me.

Except this time is different.

Because I met Clay.

My heart shudders with guilt and I ease out of the hug. A smile flits across Taz’s gorgeous face.

He’s the type of handsome that leans… softer. A thin face. Tall. Lanky. Slightly nerdy and uncoordinated in high school, he really grew into himself during college.

By the time we graduated, he’d ditched the glasses, started wearing more turtlenecks and embraced his lean body, extremely pointed jawline, and more artistic personality.

I’d like to say that I’m the one who styled him into this level of confidence. Taz formed a habit of asking me what to wear to events, checked with me before he changed his hair, and listened to every word of my input.

We were always in sync, which was why his decision to leave me and request an open relationship shook the very foundations of my life.

“Oh.” Taz breaks away, runs up the stairs of the gazebo and returns with a bouquet similar to those outside my salon.

The plastic crumples and makes a loud crackling sound when he shoves it into my arms.

“These are for you.”

“Thanks,” I say.

“What did you think of the horse and buggy? I remember you said your fantasy was to be a Disney princess.” He grins wide.

“I did?” I blink.

“Yeah,” he answers eagerly. “In high school.”

My grin fractures. “Taz, high school was years ago.”

“But we’re still here.” He takes the hand that’s not holding the bouquet. “And we’re still us.”

I stare at where our hands are joined, his olive-toned and mine a sharp brown. “Taz, you’ve barely answered my texts or my calls—”

“It’s not like you were calling and texting much lately either,” he defends.

He’s not wrong. Every waking moment these days, I’ve been consumed with work, Clay, and his family.

“I’m not accusing you,” I say evenly. “I’m just trying to make sense of it. Why did you come back so suddenly? You had two months left with the filming crew.”

“I asked to come back early.” Sunshine gleams in his eyes. He leans his forehead against mine and it feels strange.

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