“I agree,” I say passionately. “Whenever I dreamed about the man I’d end up with one day…”
Meaning, whenever I dreamt about him because I’ve crushed on him for as long as I can remember.
When my mind drifted off to fantasies of families and a husband and love, it was always Trent standing there.
But even after everything, I find myself not wanting to come across as too eager just in case I freak him out.
“Yeah?” he prompts when I trial off.
“I always knew loyalty would be the most important thing,” I say. “The idea of cheating on somebody, of being cheated on, it sickens me. It’s why my dad left.”
Tears crack my voice and I shake my head, as though I can force them away.
His knuckles turn white on the steering wheel.
“Do you have any idea how badly I want to hold you right now?” he growls.
“You can’t,” I say, voice shaking. “You know how Youngstone is.”
He sighs and stares firmly at me, waiting for me to go on.
“My dad cheated on my mom dozens of times,” I say, voice trembling. “I never knew why he left until I was fifteen and she finally told me. He traveled a lot for work. And he cheated on her every chance he got. It was in his nature, she said. He couldn’t help it. But she still kicked his ass out. And then he left… and then he got ill, and he died, and I was left with this dad-shaped hole in my heart.”
I cough away my tears, pawing at my cheeks, angry with myself for letting all of this out.
“I’m sorry. I don’t want to depress you.”
“You have nothing to apologize for,” he growls. “I’m glad you told me. I’m glad we feel the same. Loyalty, Snapshot.”
“Loyalty,” I whisper.
“Forever,” he growls. “Which means we have to tell Angela.”
A tremor moves through me, as though an invisible drill is twisting through my body. “What?”
“There’s no alternative,” he says. “What else are we supposed to do? I want you. You want me. We want to have children together. A life together.”
Maybe this would sound crazy if I hadn’t crushed on him since I was a kid. If I hadn’t dreamed of this moment for years.
The only truly crazy part – for me – is that he feels the same.
“Yes,” I say passionately. “But what if she doesn’t accept it? What if she—”
I cut off when Taylor Swift fills the air, signaling that Angie is calling Trent.
He frowns tightly as if to say, it’s like she knows we’re talking about her.
“Do you mind?” he says.
I laugh drily.
Do I mind if he talks to his daughter, to my best friend?
“Of course not. Just please don’t say anything, about, you know…”
“I’d never do it over the phone,” he says. “This conversation needs to happen in person.”
“I agree,” I say, relieved.
He takes his phone from his pocket and brings it to his ear.
Chapter Ten
Trent
“Dad, this is all happening so fast,” Angela gushes down the phone.
Happiness twists through me at the joy in my daughter’s voice, but it’s tinged with guilt and anxiety as I look over at Tessa, at my woman, her cheeks flushed and redness spreading down her neck. I force myself to look away, just in case steamy thoughts spiral into my mind.
Just in case? a voice roars. That’s a goddamn guarantee.
“Dad? Are you there?”
“Sorry, Angela. What’s happened?”
“I’m flying to New York for the advertisement.”
“What? When?”
“Like right now,” she laughs. “They want to film four TV spots and the studio’s in New York. How crazy is that? They’re even putting me up in a hotel. I’ll be gone for a couple of days.”
“I want the address of the hotel and I want you to call me the second you land,” I say firmly.
“Dad…”
“I mean it,” I growl.
“It’s a huge production company. I’ll send you their Wikipedia page.”
“I know who they are,” I say. “I’ve already checked them out. I know it’s all aboveboard and that you’re safe. But please, for me, regular phone calls or even texts, okay?”
“Okay,” she says. “I’m going to have to cancel dinner with Tessa. Do you think she’ll mind?”
“This is your big break,” I tell her. “Focus on that. She wants you to succeed. She loves you.”
My voice almost cracks on the last sentence, emotion trying to twist my voice.
Goddamn, my virgin princess is changing me already.
“Anyway, I have to go,” she says. “I can’t believe this.”
“I can,” I say. “You’re incredibly talented. This is just the beginning. And remember…”
“I know, I know. Call and text.”
“Make sure you do,” I say. “And text me the details of your hotel the second this call ends.”
“You’re so paranoid,” she laughs.
“I’m a SEAL,” I counter. “I’ve seen parts of the world you couldn’t imagine.”
“Okay. I love you. Bye-bye.”
“Bye, Angela. I love you.”
I hang up, shaking my head.