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“Okay,” he agrees finally, and I can’t stop myself from crawling onto his lap. The need to touch him is unbearable. He pulls me into his arms and buries his face in my neck. I hold him tighter than ever, and I wish that I could take back every word I said today.

CHAPTER 29

ALEXANDER

I park the Audi in the garage under the gallery, and as soon as she gets out of the car, I take her hand in mine. I don’t know why I do it—I did it when Gino came over, too, but it’s my statement right out of the gate. I’m not afraid of people knowing we’re together. I’m not hung up on this image of myself anymore.

Of course, her statement the other day about trusting me hasn’t quite dissolved yet. It’s still settled between us like pollution, clogging up the air we breathe.

I didn’t want to be angry at her for that statement, but I was. I was angry she said those words to me, but I hated the fact that it was true even more. Again, and again, I’m backed into a corner with Sunny.

She’s forcing my hand.

If she stays home for me, I will have to live with the fact that she gave up her future because I’m a piece of shit. At least in her eyes. I have been and always will be an untrustworthy scum of a boyfriend, and even if I can make up for the mistakes of my past, she will never have this opportunity again.

So how could I let her stay?

She has to go. Now more than ever, she has to go.

It’s not up to me. The minute she uttered those words, the decision was made.

“Nervous?” I ask, kissing her on the temple.

She looks beautiful tonight. In a floor-length blue dress, she braided her hair and let it drape softly over her shoulder. The light fabric of the dress hangs over her curves, and I love the feel of the soft cotton under my fingers, inviting me to touch her all night long.

But I know I can’t do that. This event is important for her. Gino’s friend Valerie invited us to tonight’s gallery showcase in hopes of introducing Sunny to the director of the program as well as a few of its alumni. Although it’s really more than that. This is Sunny’s audition of sorts.

This is her chance to meet people, be seen, heard, make her presence known.

Tonight, I will be the man on her arm.

As we enter the gallery, Sunny tenses next to me. “Don’t let go, okay?” she whispers, glancing up at me.

“Promise.”

My eyes linger on her face, and for a moment, I forget that she’s only twenty. She’s grown years since I first met her back in June. Sunny has always shown maturity in her eyes, but I was just waiting for her to express the confidence that I knew she should. Now, in that bold dress with so much within her reach, I wonder when she will outgrow me. When she will realize that I’m not worthy…just because I’m older, have money I didn’t earn, friends who don’t care about me, a lifetime of regret and mistakes.

“You made it!” Valerie shrieks as she runs over to hug us. Valerie is one of those women who is beautiful, but too intimidating to any man who might consider flirting with her. She’s practically a goddess, and with her gold leaf headband tonight, she looks more like one than ever.

She takes Sunny’s hand and pulls her away from me. “I have so many people to introduce you to.”

As she pulls her away, Sunny’s eyes go wide and she stares down at where our fingers are linked. “Wait,” she whispers, but I pull her hand to my lips and press a kiss to the back of her knuckles.

“Go ahead. I won’t be far.” With a wink, I send her off with Valerie while I scope the crowd for Gino, who I find mingling toward the back by the drinks, naturally.

When he sees me, he greets me with a freshly mixed mule. I politely sip on it with plans to leave it on the bar at some point in exchange for club soda.

The party usually starts at these gallery shows, but I’ve been to enough to know they don’t end here. There’s either a private after-party or a secret speakeasy nearby where these people get ridiculously drunk, when their real freakiness comes out. I’ve fallen down that rabbit hole a couple times, and I learned quickly, it was fun, but not quite for me.

And I definitely don’t want Sunny getting involved with that, so I’ll be keeping her close today.

Of course, once she starts the internship, she’ll be on her own. She’ll want to meet new people, try new things, and I should want that for her. I should encourage her to be adventurous. Sunny is not impulsive like I am. She’ll keep things moderate and safe without flying off the ledge like I did at her age.

Speaking of wild things I did, a familiar face across the room comes into view and sends my heart racing.

Diana York.

My best friend’s wife. Correction: ex-best friend's ex-wife.