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She sighs dramatically. “Fine. But you’re only hurting yourself if you’re not willing to open up, Rosa.”

“I’ll take that risk.” I scrub a hand down my face. “Can I hang up now?”

“One last thing. I promise it’s not a question.”

I clench my teeth. “What.”

“Tell Logan he has my blessing, and I’m sure your father will feel the same. I know he doesn’tneedour approval, but I wanted to share.”

Despite the insanity of this conversation, I smile. “I’ll tell him.”

“Oh! And I’ll put together one of my special boxes for you two. I just got in a delightful new vibrating cock ring I think you’ll like.”

Dear. God.

One of my mother’s favorite perks of being a well-known sex therapist is the free samples. Sex toy companies from across the globe are constantly sending her new products to try, hoping she’ll give them a marketing plug on-air. If she really likes something, she buys it in bulk and adds it to herspecial boxes. My mom still offers therapy outside of her podcast, and every new client receives a box as a welcome to her practice. It’s sort of like a “welcome to the neighborhood” basket, but with dildos and flavored lube. According to her, they’re abighit.

Sylvie is never,evergoing to let me live this down.

“That’s really not necessary, Mother,” I grumble.

“Oh,nonsense. I insist. You know what I always say…your pleasure is my pleasure.”

Awesome. She’s officially figured out a way to include her branding tagline into everyday conversation.

Kill me now.

We say our goodbyes, and after hanging up, I think about what she said about how Logan and I acted around each other in high school. Were we really that obvious? If so, why couldn’t we ever see it in each other? And did my engagement truly break his heart? Ugh, my chest hurts just thinking about it. I’m quite familiar with thatfeeling because a little part of me felt it every time I saw him with a beautiful new woman on his arm.

God, all those wasted years.

I take a deep breath, resolving to make the most of every moment we have now. Logan’s going to tell my brother about us tonight, and then we’ll be free to be together publicly. The tabloid assholes may have tossed a wrench in our plan, but I’m confident in Avery and Nick’s ability to counteract them.

Whatever life throws at us, Logan and I are going to tackle it together.

26

LOGAN

“Didyou even hear what I said, Logan?!” Rosie throws her hands up in exasperation. “She’s curating one of herspecial boxesfor us! Mymotheris giving us a bunch of‘Dr. Tate Approved’sex toys!” Her face falls into her hands as she groans.

I shrug, kicking my feet up on the coffee table. “I heard you just fine. I just don’t see the problem. Why look a gift horse in the mouth?” I poke her thigh. “If they’re‘Dr. Tate Approved,’they’re probably top tier.”

She spreads her fingers, glaring at me through the gap. “Donotfeed the monster.”

I pull her hand away from her face. “C’mon, Pip. It’s not a big deal. She’ll hand the box over, you’ll take the box, and that’ll be the end of it as far as she’s concerned.”

“Have youmetmy mother?” Rosie deadpans.

“Okay, that’s fair.” I laugh.

She flops onto the couch with a dramatic sigh, her head landing in my lap, legs stretched across the cushions. I take the opportunity to run my fingers through her silky hair.

She sighs and closes her eyes. “I love that you’re here, but I hatethat Ryan couldn’t go out with you tonight. I want to get this over with, so we can stop worrying.”

“I know.” I trail my fingers down her bare arm, watching as goose bumps rise in my wake. “But Ry seemed really excited the coffee girl said yes to another date. He promised to call if their night ended early, but I wouldn’t count on it.”

Rosie moans as I start massaging her scalp. “You’re the best boyfriend ever.”