A bubble popped up almost instantly.
I’ve been pacing for twenty minutes. Drive faster.
Ali smiled down at her phone, stomach flipping like it always did when it came to him. God, she couldn’t wait to see him.
Ali’s phone buzzed just as they took the exit off I-4 to Dylan’s house.
Change of plans.
Rocky and Naomi invited us for dinner. Super casual. Steaks and kid mayhem. They said “Bring the Instagram girl.” ??
Ali snorted, thumb flying.
That’s me. A coastal influencer now. Do I need to wear linen?
Only if it’s wrinkled and off-white. Bonus points if you say “mouthfeel” at least once.
Ali bit her lip to stifle a grin.
You want us to come straight there?
Nah. Come to the house first. I want you to myself for at least twenty minutes. ??
Her stomach flipped at the emoji, heat rising in her cheeks. Abigail didn’t even pretend not to notice.
“You’re blushing,” she said. “Did lover boy send a sext or a dinner invite?”
“Both,” Ali muttered, sliding her phone face-down onto her lap.
Ali’s heart did a little skip as Abigail’s Range Rover turned off the main road and onto a quiet, palm-lined street. Everything in Lake Nona looked pristine—golf courses like green velvet, sleek sidewalks curved between fountains and sculpted hedges, and houses that looked like something out ofArchitectural Digest.
“This is where Disney villains live when they retire rich,” Ashley muttered from the back seat, eyes wide behind her sunglasses.
Ali gave a breathless laugh, but her pulse wouldn’t settle. The closer they got, the more real it felt. This was Dylan’s world now—polished, expansive, private. She wasn’t sure if it made her want to swoon… or throw up.
“This one,” he’d texted earlier, along with his gate code and a photo of the driveway. Big white stucco, tall windows, bronze hardware, and a wraparound porch with fans turning lazily overhead. Florida luxury at its most laid-back.
As Abigail eased into the circular drive, Ali’s stomach gave a nervous twist. His Bronco was parked out front. This time, there was no hiding behind sunglasses or “keeping it lowkey.”
“You good?” Abigail asked, cutting the engine.
Ali nodded, but her fingers gripped the handle a little too tight. “He lives here.”
Ashley smirked. “And he wantsyouhere.”
Raleigh Ann leaned forward from the back. “Now get out of this car and go knock the wind out of your man.”
Ali took a deep breath and pushed open the door, stepping down onto the stone drive. The air smelled like citrus trees and fresh-cut grass. She smoothed her dress, adjusted her tote on her shoulder.
Then the front door opened—and there he was. In joggers, a tee that clung to his chest, and bare feet on the porch like some kind of barefootGQad. His grin hit her like sunshine.
She didn’t even realize she was smiling until her cheeks started to hurt.
Lavender Haze
Dylan
Dylan pushed open the front door and stepped aside, grinning as four pairs of flip-flops and sneakers padded into the entryway like it was the damn season premiere ofHouse Hunters: Book Club Edition.
