I don’t know if I’m making much sense to him, but I don’t know how else to put it. Our love is still too new for bold promises and lifelong commitments, no matter how my heart beats for him. We still have careers to enjoy and goals to pursue. I want to pursue them together, but independently as well. We can forge strong pillars of love without collapsing into each other.
To reach that place, we’ll need to learn from each other. Build trust in each other.
William must learn we can depend on each other without growing dependent. And I’ll have to trust that he won’t suddenly change his mind about me, even when I show the worst sides of myself.
“I love you,” he says, holding me tighter. “I want to experience everything with you, no matter what happens with the contract.”
Another sinking of my heart.
There’s still no getting around the inevitable. One of us will win the three-book deal. One of us won’t. But one thing is for sure. I will love him and support him no matter what happens, and I know he feels the same about me.
I pull back slightly. “It’s time, Will. Let’s dissolve our bet.”
His eyes widen. “You’re sure?”
“I’m sure.”
“Then let it be done. I hereby revoke our bargain, dissolving every condition of the bet we agreed to, including all amendments and additions verbally agreed, and now deem it null and void.”
I expect a shudder of magic to wash over me, or some tangible sign that our magically binding bet is no more. Yet there’s nothing. “That’s all? It’s done?”
“It’s done.”
“Then it’s a fight for sales from now on.”
His lips quirk in a sly smile. “A fight to see which of us is really the most popular.”
Our competition has never felt as good as it does now. His taunting grin sparks only excitement in me. Because I know we’ll be all right no matter what happens. Cassie too. Should I win, I have ideas of how we can all benefit. And I know—without him saying a word—he has ideas of his own, should he come out the victor. We’re in this together.
Yet rivals nonetheless.
And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
I want to compete with him all the way to the end.
Lifting my chin, I mirror his teasing façade and release my hold around his neck. I press one palm to his chest while I tap the tip of his nose with my forefinger. Just like he did to me the day we met. “I hope you don’t cry when I win, Willy.”
His arms remain around me, and he pivots until my backside presses against the side of the bridge. Then he plants his hands on the railing, bracketing me as he leans in. “Hey, Weenie.”
“What?”
“Free pass.”
I scoff. “We don’t have a free pass anymore.”
“Maybe not officially, but I still like the game.”
The heat in his gaze has my chest flipping. “All right. What do you want to do with your free pass?”
“Kiss. Touch. Fuck you right here on this bridge.”
I bite back a whimper at those words. My rational side has me casting a glance around the garden. It remains as empty as it was when I entered, not a soul in sight. “What if someone comes?”
He brushes his mouth over the corner of my jaw. “What if you come?”
“I thought you didn’t like doing intimate acts in public,” I say, my voice already breathless.
“There are a lot of things I don’t like to do with anyone else but you. What do you say, love?”
