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“I have such a weird feeling every time I meet him… I don’t understand it.”

“He’s practically a stranger, Jett, of course you feel nerves about seeing him. But you’re so strong, and if today doesn’t go the way you want it to, you never have to see him again. It’s your choice, but I’m proud of you for giving yourself the option.”

All of this is so new to me. Being with him, staying with him, fighting for a relationship, even when the memories of my past tell me that hiding from something like this would be easier.

I know Jett wouldn’t hurt me, but rewiring the data inside my brain is hard sometimes. Forgetting my past is almost as painful as it was keeping it.

Nothing about falling for Jett Parker is safe. It’s forcing myself to rely on someone other than me; prying myself open for someone to love not only the outside, but inside too, and that’s not guaranteed.

Even with him.

But it feels worth it.

His car pulls into the runabout valet of The Grand Hotel, and Jett puts it in park. White knuckling the steering wheel, he lets out a shaky breath.

“Ready?” he asks, as if this is a bigger moment for me than for himself.

“Are you?”

“To get it over with.”

When he appears on the other side, he opens my door at a leisurely pace. Stepping out, I smooth the front of my T-shirt. The sudden worry about my appearance makes me self-conscious.

Is this okay enough to meet his dad?

“Thank you again,” he murmurs, guiding me into the front door. The sear of his touch on my lower back makes the bustle of the restaurant irrelevant.

A few days without feeling him feels like a lifetime.

“Stop thanking me.” Interlocking my fingers with his, I pull him gently to the side before we get too deep into the dining room.

“You’ve been there for me through everything. You’ve helped me in so many ways, and I’ll do the same for you. Whatever happens with this, we’ll get through it. Together.”

Promising eyes look me over before he nods, gripping tighter onto my hand as he pulls me into the restaurant.

For a Sunday, the hotel restaurant is quite packed. We pass a few people who recognize Jett, and more now than ever before, I’m proud to be the woman on his arm.

“He said he had a meeting with a client, so we may have to wait a little.”

Jett’s voice is rough with emotion and echoes as the back booth comes closer in my vision. Squinting, I do a survey of who’s around when I land on the last table just as Jett’s feet come to a halt, and my world stops.

My grip on his hand turns deathly. Sweat forms at my temples, mouth dry like I just swallowed sand.

As Jett steps forward, I step back.

My ears ring, head shaking as my feet do their best not to trip over one another. A small tremor of my lip morphs into full-blown shaking. I feel almost as trapped as I did that night.

“Fia.”

I hear in the distance but can’t respond.

I’m frozen.

“Sofia, did you hear me?”

Jett’s louder this time, giving the ringing in my ears a moment to slowly dissolve.

“S-Sorry, I, um…I’m going to use the restroom?”