Page 76 of The Edge Of Us

"Okay," I murmured to myself. "We've got this."

Brittany noticed the slight tremble in my hands and lowered the phone. "You good?"

"I'm just..." I paused. "It's a big day. I didn't think I'd be back here. Not this soon."

She squeezed my shoulder. "And yet here you are. Like the badass you are."

The shoot kicked into full swing after that. We had flatlays of the product, close-ups of the lipstick bullet itself, model shots of Brittany and me laughing, holding each other, posing in mirrored reflection. Jasper arrived halfway through, holding a bouquet of deep pink roses and two coffees.

He wasn't dressed like the others-no glam, no pretense. Just a black tee, dark jeans, and the same soft smile he always wore when he looked at me.

"You're late," I teased, walking over to him between shots.

"Traffic," he said with a grin, offering me one of the coffees. "Also, I had to bribe the barista to get the last of the vanilla cold foam. Apparently it's a hot commodity."

I laughed softly and took the drink. "You didn't have to do that."

"I wanted to," he replied. "You're working your ass off. I figured you could use something sweet."

I stared at him for a beat longer than I should've, the words catching in my throat. Jasper had this quiet way of seeing me-of knowing when I needed stillness in the chaos.

He held out the flowers next. "Also... for the queen of Luxe."

I blinked back sudden emotion. "Jasper..."

He scratched the back of his neck, then leaned a little closer. "I wanted to ask... after this whole launch thing... do you want to go out with me? Like an actual date. Not coffees and kid drop-offs and pretending we're just 'friends.'"

My heart thudded.

"I-" I paused, lips parting. "Yeah. I'd like that."

He smiled then-wide, boyish, relieved. "Yeah?"

"Yeah."

Brittany caught us mid-conversation, turning her phone camera on. "Okay, lovebirds, let's pretend we're working here."

I laughed, cheeks flushing, but Jasper only slipped beside me and threw an arm around my shoulder. "She said yes," he told Brittany.

Brittany cheered, spinning toward the lipstick display. "That's it, we're putting out a press release. Love and Luxe: a double launch."

I rolled my eyes. "You're the worst."

"I'm your social media manager," she said smugly. "You gave me power. I'm using it."

The laughter settled something in my chest. I felt lighter-until the door opened again.

Allen.

He walked in like he had every right to be there. And maybe, in some twisted way, he did. He was still a shareholder. Still Astrid and Kyle's father. Still the man who shattered me and watched me piece myself back together without lifting a hand.

He nodded toward the camera crew, then caught my eyes.

"Didn't mean to interrupt," he said, voice smooth. "Your assistant let me in."

Brittany's smile dropped. Jasper's grip around my shoulder remained.

"I figured I'd bring the kids by," Allen continued. "Thought they might want to see their mom being a boss."

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