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“Okay, okay. Billie, the reason I was pressing you to come back over and over again—”

“And over and over,” I joke, rolling my eyes.

“Oh shut it, this is important.” She swats the air in front of me. “It’s because I have to tell you something and I had to tell you in person.”

Maggie plants her hand in front of me. A large diamond sits on her ring finger. I have no idea how I missed it. Graham being an absolute jerk and showing up was the culprit for sure.

“Steven decided the perfect time to propose was right after her best friend left the state.”

“Oh my gosh!” I yell, grabbing her hand to look at the big rock. I punch Steven in the arm.

“This is amazing!” I tell him.

I wrap Maggie into a hug, on the verge of tears.

Besides the fact that he and Graham are so close, I like Steven. He’s good to Maggie. He takes care of her.

“Next time you’re here, it’ll be for our wedding!” Maggie shrieks.

“This is so great!” I squeal back. This trip is turning out to be one of my favorites.

◆◆◆

We got back to the hotel hours ago, where I left Sean with only a kiss on the cheek, much to his dismay.

The cushion beneath me has curved to my body for the last hour as I’ve watched people coming and going on the street. The same spot I sat with Mabel the night before.

Her words keep replaying in my mind. No amount of distractions—or sleep could keep my mind off of it. Off of Sean.

What you’re not changing, you’re choosing.

I’ve blacked out as I find myself standing at the conjoining door leading to his room. It’s late, past one a.m. but I don’t care anymore. I don’t want to waste anymore time with him not knowing how I feel.

I start knocking aggressively, so loud that it can’t be ignored.

After a few seconds, faint footsteps quickly get louder, matching the pace of my heart.

When he opens the door, he’s shirtless, wearing only plaid pajama bottoms. He rubs his eyes, disoriented.

His voice is hoarse as he asks, “Bee?”

I take a step forward, entering his room while leaving my common sense behind.

He stumbles back, his eyebrows furrowing.

At this moment, he feels significantly tall. I take another step, closing the distance between us. A knot in my throat beginning to rise.

Before I think too much about it, I grab his head, thrusting my fingers into his thick hair. Stepping onto my tiptoes, I kiss him, capturing his lips with a hunger that has been building for far too long.

I’d forgotten what he tasted like.

Quickly, he pulls his mouth away from mine, pressing his hands against my arms.

His face has relaxed, but he keeps a subdued expression, his eyes still slightly swollen from sleep.

He squeezes them shut—and when they open, it’s like he’s seeing color for the first time. They’re bright and full of life.

He yanks my waist toward him, flinging our bodies together.