Page 68 of The Best Wrong Move

“Go make yourself some coffee,” she finally says, “so we can have a real conversation about it.”

I turn toward the coffee maker. My heart’s pumping so fast I’m not sure I need more caffeine, but I follow her instructions anyway.

“I’m walking to the coffee pot now. He’s not even living in his own place right now because his house is getting renovated.”

“Listen, I know you haven’t dated in a hot minute, but these days you have to Google everyone you start seeing. Haven’t you watchedDateline? Anyway, when you told me you spent the day at his place yesterday, I wanted to make sure he wasn’t Hawaii’s version of Ted Bundy or something, so I Googled him.”

“I don’t really think that information would be on Google. I mean, if Google knew, then the police would know, and—”

“Liv, put the coffee grounds in the little spot for coffee grounds. Pour the water . . .”

I do as she says and pressBrew. The coffee pot bubbles to life while I lean against the counter.

Billionaire?No. Successful? Sure. But billionaire status? Google has to be wrong. It’s probably intermixing his net worth with Quinton’s.

* * *

“Thisis why you’re in that townhouse, Liv!Thisis your shot! None of it has anything to do with Rex.”

“Abby, it’s not like that. Dom offered for me to pitch Quinton when he comes here in about six weeks. But I’m not sure I can take him up on that. I don’t want him to think it’s the only reason I’m seeing him.”

“Are you shitting me?” She’s practically screaming into the phone. “How close are you to being done with that thing?”

“It’s getting there. But I can always just call one of my contacts at the station when I’m back home. We’ve had so many actors and directors onThe Good Day Showsince I’ve been there. I have other people I can pitch once it’s done. I don’t need to mix business with pleasure.”

I can hear her sighing on the other end of the phone. “Let me just read this from Google for you.”

It feels like we’re somehow snooping into Dom’s private life. I try explaining that to Abby, but she refuses to hear me out.

“Everyone Googles the people they start dating. Especially when they’re related to film industry legends. You need to be informed about what you’re getting yourself into.”

I close my eyes and press my fingertips to my lips, remembering what it felt like to have his mouth hungry against mine. The moon hanging overhead while we held onto each other’s hands in the gentle waves, under a sky filled with stars.

“I couldn’t care less who his brother is, or how much money he has. That’s amazing, yes, but it’s just a bonus. If I could spend every single day for the rest of my life coming home to those eyes. And that smile. And the way he makes me feel like I’m the most fascinating person in the room. Any room.”

She stops clacking away at the keyboard. I press the FaceTime button so her face pops up on the screen. She’s back in her own apartment for once. Toby’s white tail is twitching in the corner of the screen, almost out of sight.

“Hi, Toby!” I call out. He doesn’t turn, but his tail twitches back and forth like a pendulum.

“He’s still mad you got a new cat.” Abby is covering his ears, smiling. “Now, spill it.”

“Last night was one of the best nights of my life.” I can feel a huge shit-eating grin wrapping its way across my face.

“Oh my God, you’re really starting to fall for this guy, aren’t you?”

I smile and nod. “He’s the most incredible guy I’ve ever met. Even without any of that other stuff added in. I’ve never met anyone like him.”

“Does he have a brother that isn’t married to a former supermodel by chance?” She must have already read about Quinton and his wife, Selma. “This is a superior upgrade from Rex. So glad you’re finally leaving that dick in the dust.”

“I don’t know how I’m ever going to come back to New York.” Just thinking about it makes my eyes sting.

“Oh, honey.” She sets aside her laptop, putting everything she just learned about Dom out of sight. “This is more than a vacation fling. I haven’t seen that look in your eyes in way too long.”

“It was supposed to just be a fun diversion from living next door to Rex. I’m not sure how it morphed into . . .” I can hear the conviction in my own voice. “My life back in New York already feels so far away, and I still have a few more weeks to go here. I can’t imagine where I’ll be, mentally, when I have to board that plane to go home.”

“Are you sure you don’t want to know any more details about him? There’s nothing bad to say. But this guy you just happened to stumble upon? He’s a ten, Liv. Outlandishly successful, seemingly private, and handsome as fucking hell. This guy might be the reason why everything happened the way it did. The proposal, the public backlash, the sudden sabbatical to Hawaii. Maybe Rex has nothing to do with why you’re there. Maybe it was all just the universe’s way of lining you up for success,andfor love.”

“It’s messier than that. He has a past too. And his is possibly even more complicated than mine. He was engaged once before, and the reason it ended makes everything I’m trying to do here a little more complicated when it comes to him and me.”

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