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And then⁠—

Bzzzzzz.

We both froze. The sound came from the bathroom. My phone.

Of course.

Because apparently the universe had appointed itself the official chaperone of my love life.

I opened my eyes. Damon was still inches away. His expression was somewhere between frustration and amusement.

I swallowed. “I have to…” My voice cracked. Excellent. “I need to get my phone.”

He didn't move immediately. For one glorious, terrible second, I thought he might kiss me anyway. Instead, he stepped back and exhaled.

I turned and practically fled down the hallway. Because if I'd stayed another three seconds, I would've climbed him like a tree. And there was a very real chance we would've missed the rehearsal and dinner entirely.

My phone was vibrating against the bathroom counter. I glanced at the screen. Mom. Of course it was. Claudia Parsons had always had impeccable timing.

“Hey,” I answered.

“Where are you?”

No greeting. No pleasantries. Straight to the interrogation.

“We’re on our way, what’s wrong?”

“Julissa is having a meltdown.”

My stomach tightened. “What happened?”

“Apparently, somebody told Jules there's a forty percent chance of rain tomorrow. She's crying, Felicity is checking six different weather apps, and Cherise is threatening to have words with Mother Nature.”

I’d been warned, on Reddit threads, that even the most level-headed bride could turn into bridezilla the closer the wedding got. I hadn’t believed it would happen to my cousin, but that’s what I got for being optimistic.

“I'll be there in a few minutes.”

“You should've been here already.”

“I was on a work call,” the lie slipped out automatically. Smooth. Effortless. Practiced. Because there was no way I was telling my mother I'd taken extra time getting ready because I wanted to impress my fake boyfriend.

Or that said fake boyfriend had nearly kissed me senseless in the hallway.

“Of course you were,” she muttered.

The disappointment in her voice stung more than I wanted it to. “Mom⁠—”

“You know, Mikayla, there are things in life more important than work.”

I closed my eyes. If only she knew. If only she had any idea how much trouble I was in. Because for the first time in my adult life, work wasn't the thing consuming my thoughts.

It wasn't the quarterly projections. Or the board. Or the employees. Or the never-ending list of responsibilities waiting for me back home.

It was Damon. His smile. His hands. The way he'd looked at me like I was the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen. The way he'd said I deserved good things without actually saying those words.

And the terrifying possibility that I was starting to want something I couldn't control.

Someone I couldn't control.