Page 77 of Guarded Love

Me: Your definition of heart attack material and mine are probably very different.

Knox: Probably. Love you, Wills. Be safe.

Me: Love you too. Stop worrying.

I set my phone aside and look at Madison, who's been watching this entire family drama unfold and she’s barely holding her laughter in. I don’t blame her and would be having the same issue if I wasn’t the one at the center of said drama.

"Feel better?" she asks.

"Not really." I stand up and smooth my dress again. "Now I'm thinking about how Knox would react if he knew what actually happened today."

"What would he do?"

"Probably get on the next flight to Puerto Rico and drag me home by my hair." I grab my small purse from the dresser. "Or worse, he'd confront Blaise."

"And that would be bad because...?"

I pause and think about the question. Why would that be bad? Because it would embarrass me? Because it would force Blaise and me to confront whatever this is between us? Becauseit might ruin Knox and Blaise's friendship? And destroy their hockey team because Knox truly won’t give a fuck?

All of the above.

"Because it would complicate everything," I finally say.

Madison stands and checks herself in the mirror one last time. "Maybe everything needs to be complicated. Maybe simple isn't working for you."

She has a good point. Whatever is building between us is going to snap at some point, much like Blaise’s control earlier today. But the thought of anything else happening between us makes me want to toss caution to the wind or bury myself alive.

"We should go," I say abruptly. I have to stop this line of thinking before I spiral further. "Everyone's probably already downstairs."

"Ready to face the music?"

"As ready as I'll ever be." I slip my phone into my purse and head toward the door.

This dinner is either going to be amazing or a complete disaster. Based on how this day has gone, probably both.

24

WILLOW

The nightlife in San Juan is everything that I wanted and so much more. Not that I have so much experience with night life since I’m under twenty-one, but being able to walk into a bar or club here since the minimum age is eighteen is already a step up for me. But that’s just the starting point.

This whole street feels like a celebration someone forgot to end. Every bar is pulsing with music, each one competing to be louder than the last. Normally this much sound and movement would have me overstimulated and looking for a way out, but tonight it feels likefreedom. And I want to be part of all of it.

"This is amazing!" Madison yells.

She needs to raise her voice because of the reggaetón beat coming out of the nearest bar. She looks like she can’t believe this is real either. I think we’re both pinching ourselves mentally to confirm we are actually here and get to have this experience.

Blaise, Tyler, David, and a few other people from our group are walking behind us. I've been hyperaware of Blaise's presence behind me since we left the restaurant. Every time I laugh too loudly or lean into Madison while we walk, I can feel his eyes on me. It's like there's a spotlight following me around, and he's theone holding it. Or he’s still very fixated on this whole bodyguard job that my brother promoted him to.

"Where do we even start?" I ask, but I’m already being pulled by the wrist toward a glowing purple-and-gold bar with an open front and a brass band layered over electronic beats. Curiosity wins. It always does.

The place is packed, and I quickly realize it is standing-room only near the bar. But for some reason, it doesn’t feel claustrophobic. It feels electric.

"First round's on me," a voice says behind us, and I realize how close this person is to me because I can hear them clearly despite the music.

I turn to find Blaise standing close enough that I catch a hint of his cologne over the mingled scents of rum and salt air. I look over his shoulder and wonder if it’s a coincidence that he’s positioned himself between David and me.

"You don't have to do that," I say, but in order for him to hear me, I have to turn my head so that I can say it in his ear. It brings us even closer together.

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