Page 95 of Steel Beauty

Am I ready for what comes next?

“JC knows me more than any man ever has. The real me.” Well, almost the real me. The exception, of course, being my name—and the truth about my father.

“So, you’ve been comfortable revealing your true self to him?”

“I am. It’s strange, but with him, it feels easy. Natural.”

“And you’re not opposed to learning who Julius Caesar is?”

“Not at all.” No hesitation. “But it has to be his decision. If he wants me to know, I’ll be ready. If he doesn’t, that’s his choice to make.”

“You should tell him that. Don’t wait. It’d be a shame to spend the rest of your time with anyone other than the real man he is.”

Her words settle over me, a quiet but firm nudge toward honesty. “How were you able to leave Jack when your three months were up?”

Her expression softens. “I was stubborn and scared. I’d built so many walls that I couldn’t let myself be vulnerable enough to tell him how I felt. So, I slipped away without a goodbye, telling myself it was easier than risking the pain of hearing him say he didn’t feel the same.”

Her gaze drifts, a soft smile playing on her lips as though she’s caught in a distant memory. “What I didn’t know was that Jack Henry was already coming for me. He was ready to tell me everything—how he felt, what he wanted. But I’d already run off, and we missed each other by a few hours.”

Her words resonate like an unspoken warning. “Being apart from the person you love is a kind of misery you can’t prepare for. It hollows you out in ways you don’t expect. I lost so much time with him—time we could’ve spent building the life we have now.”

Her words carry a hint of urgency. “Don’t make the same mistake I did. Don’t let fear or pride keep you from being honest. If you care about him—and I know you do—then tell him. Speak your mind, even if your voice shakes. And don’t let something as fragile as doubt rob you of something real.”

Her lips curve into a small, knowing smile. “Trust me, Julius Caesar cares deeply for you.”

He cares deeply for you.Those words hit me with a quiet intensity, sparking a flutter in my chest.

Laurelyn picks up a delicate white lingerie set, all lace and silk accents, holding it up with a playful grin. “Imagine this with stockings and heels, the whole shebang. Trust me, he won’t stand a chance.”

I run my fingers over the soft fabric. “I’m afraid.”

Laurelyn rests a hand on my arm with a quiet assurance that only someone who’s walked this path can offer. “I’ve been there. And I’m telling you from a place ofknowing… don’t let fear drive your choices. Regret is worse than any risk you’ll ever take. It’s better to regret the things you’ve done than regret the things you haven’t.”

Her words sink in, stirring something deep within me, a fragile place I’ve tried to keep untouched. “And if it all falls apart?”

She smiles, soft but sure. “Sometimes things fall apart so that better things can come together.”

Laurelyn’s words settle into something resembling courage. Three months—that’s all I signed up for, all I let myself hope for.

But now, I realize, I want so much more.

Chapter23

Alex Sebring

Of all thegames I’ve played, this one has been the most fun. But now? It’s time to stop playing.

Charleston is beside me, but the weight of what I’m about to do presses harder than ever. Tonight, the truth comes out. No more hiding. No more masks.

I grip the wheel, pulse hammering as I steal a glance at her. The soft glow of the dashboard lights casts shadows across her face, her expression calm, unaware that everything is about to change.

This moment is fragile, electric, like a held breath before the plunge into the deep end. Once I say the words, there’s no going back.

Some games end with a whistle.

This one ends with the truth.

Before we left, I told her to pack a bag for the weekend, throwing enough intrigue into the mix to keep her guessing. Now, as we drive deeper into the countryside, her lips curve into a small, knowing smile. “You love surprising me.”

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