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I fidget just slightly on her fingers, a rush of nerves floating back as I remember the text from my father. I want tonight to be her night, but I can’t stop the racing of my mind.

“Why are you so fidgety?” she asks like she feels my nerves too.

“Just the cold, I guess.”

It’s her who stalls our steps this time, the rest of our group not even caring that we’re far behind. Rooted on the sidewalk, Fia grabs my other hand, her chin nudging upwards to look at me.

“Don’t you think I know you better by now?”

“I think you know me better than I know me sometimes,” I admit with a forced smile.

“What’s going through your head?”

“I know we leave tomorrow, and we have a lot to do to get ready before things pick back up, but…”

Something about asking her to be there for me is a lot harder than being there for her. I should be able to do it alone, should be strong enough to handle this by myself.

“But…”

“My father wants to meet with me again.”

Shock crosses her face, but she leaves me room to continue.

“I want you to come with me,” I finish.

“Oh, Jett, I can’t, that’s your⁠—”

“Please.”

Nerves dance through her features. “You really want me there?” she whispers, emotion in her eyes.

“I need you there.”

CHAPTER 57

FIA

I meet my boyfriend’s father today.

When Jett asked if I would come to meet his father with him, I didn’t know how to process it. Things with us have felt like they’ve been coming together for years, like the universe has been connecting every link just perfectly, but now things seem to be moving quickly.

It’s not that I don’t want to meet his biological father; I’m honored he wants me by his side. But this is such a big deal.

Am I ready to meet his father? Not in the slightest, but he needs me, and I couldn’t live with the feeling of not being there for him, when he’s done so much for me—the least I could do was show up for him.

The week leading up to last night, things between Jett and me have been bliss. But I can’t avoid the fact that since meeting his father, Jett has seemed more reserved at times. I’ve ignored it for the most part, but every so often, the cloud that follows him sits briefly over us. I just don’t get why, and I don’t know if he does either.

I want him, I need him, and I know he feels the same, but something still feels like it’s holding us back. Some unspoken answer he’s looking for, some green light I’m waiting for, just to come right out with how I’m feeling. I don’t know what it is, but hopefully after today, we can finally put our worries aside.

As I finish getting dressed at Jett’s penthouse, I wander out to the common area where he waits, mindlessly staring out the window.

“You didn’t sleep much last night.”

As he turns to me, I hate the worry that darkens beneath his eyes.

“Nerves.” He shrugs, agony in the creases of his forehead seemingly permanent on his skin.

I step toward him, wrapping my arms around his hips, feeling the instant release my touch gives him. “I’m with you,” I tell him. “Everything’s going to be fine.”