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His head shakes. “Man, I told you to stop with those Lifetime movies. They’ll keep you paranoid. Trust me, I know.”

We look through his family connections and educational background and get to what he does for a living. That’s when our eyes go wide.

It all makes sense why he’s here.

“No shit,” we both say.

Chapter 21

Justice

It’s past nine by the time I wake up. I smile and roll over. These sheets really do wonders.

It takes forty-five minutes for me to get out of bed and run through my morning routine. My steps falter when I close my bedroom door and see Emma in the common area. She’s dressed in a V-neck sweater blouse and—am I seeing straight? Jeans?

“It’s rude to stare, Jay.”

“You’re injeans. What do you always say? Oh yes, ‘over my dead body.’” She’s also not an early riser. It’s a miracle to see her dressed before ten. “Going somewhere?”

There’s a slight pause before she glances down at her phone and slides it into her pocket. “Something work-related came up. Had to slip out to the business center to take care of it.” She walks into the kitchen. “What’s on your agenda for today?”

“I’m meeting Preston for lunch.” Another date with the charming horseback instructor.

Last night didn’t have to end the way it did. An alternate ending would’ve had me curled up in the corner with my red eyes, a sore throat from crying, and enough chocolate wrappers to craft an area rug. For all I know, Terrence and Madison went back to one of their rooms, tore each other’s clothes off, and had fifteen years’ worth of sex in one night. I’ve shed enough tears on my ex and am ready to move on.

“Be careful, Jay. We don’t know him. Text me when you arrive and leave, wherever you’re headed.”

I roll my eyes and grab an apple. “Yes, Mom.”

Her stare catches me off guard. Oh, she’s serious.

“I mean it. I want to know you’re okay. Last I checked, dating isn’t a level of expertise for you.”

She’s not wrong, but what’s up with this mood swing? Wasn’t the point of this trip for me to meet someone? “Okay. Thanks for looking out, Em.” It’s lunch. Not a rendezvous in a dark alley for some tickle play.

“Always, honey. I have to go, and I won’t be back before you leave. I’ll see you later this afternoon for dance lessons.” She grabs a bottle of water and does atoodleswave on her way out.

What the heck was that?

Paranoia aside, her concern is cute. Annoying, but cute.

Two hours to myself before I need to head down to the restaurant.

What to do, what to do.

Back to bed it is.

I flip from channel to channel with no success. Nothing catches my eye until I seeIndecent Proposal. Laugh all you want, but this movie makes me cry at the end. I crossed my fingers Diana and David would find their way back to each other. And they did. After a million-dollar proposition that cost them their marriage and dream home. Took some soul-searching and a hippo, but they did it.

Terrence and I spent many nights in each other’s arms, pretending our life was a movie through our own words.

“Did I tell you I love you today?”

“No.”

“It’s true.”

“Even now?”