Page 96 of Heart to Heart
“It’s always been you,” she murmured, her eyes watering. “Look at you, hitting all my favorite romance tropes except my number one.”
“Which one’s that?”
“Enemies-to-lovers. But it’s okay. We can just skip that one.”
“Or we can role-play it sometime.”
“What are you doing with Jessica today?” she asked, her voice losing enthusiasm.
“Sending her home in—” I rolled over to look at the clock, “about twenty more minutes.”
“Did you think, during this competition, that you would, you know, fall in love with her again?”
“What? No.” I placed my arm around Avery, drawing her into me. “There was not one time when I wanted to be with Jessica during this competition after I met you.”
“Then why bring her into it at all? Why is she still here?”
It was a valid question, and I was surprised I hadn’t been asked before now. “Jessica came to Catalina with all kinds of apologies. Apologies laced with tears and nostalgia. At first, I blew her off, thinking I would end the competition with you on the beach. But when that didn’t happen, I didn’t care anymore. She seemed perfect, given what my objective was. I wasn’t in love with her anymore, and I suspect there’s more she wants from me. Her career has stalled a bit over the last year with a few flops. I can only assume she’s here for clout; if that’s the case, it was a win for her and me. But it really wasn’t a win for me.”
Avery frowned. “It’s okay,” I said. “Really.” I pulled her back into me. “Everything worked out the way it was supposed to.”
“I can’t help but wonder what we would be doing right now if I’d stayed on that beach.”
I gestured to us in bed. “This, I assume.”
“Probably.” I was relieved to see the smile return to her face. “What happens now, Tristan?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, after the show. You and me. How is it all going to work?”
“I haven’t thought that far yet, but we’ll figure it out. If you want your privacy, I’ll do everything I can to ensure that you get it. There isn’t anything I won’t do for you, Avery.”
“You don’t have to propose marriage, do you?”
“No,” I answered her a little too quickly. “I mean, did you want to be proposed to?”
“No,” she answered just as quickly. “Marriage is something I want someday, but I’m still in school. I want to finish that first and, you know, at least meet your parents. If it gets that far, of course.”
It struck me then that I hadn’t considered it wouldn’t get that far. “Of course.” I leaned in and kissed her on the forehead. I couldn’t extend the single best night of my life out any longer.Jessica would be waiting for me downstairs soon, and I still needed to take a shower. “As much as I would love to stay in this bed with you for the rest of eternity, I have something I have to take care of.”
“Give Jessica my regards,” Avery deadpanned.
I rolled out of bed, throwing last night’s clothes on. It was time to face the music with both the producers and Jessica and take back my life on myownterms.
CHAPTER 55
AVERY
I’ve never smiled so muchwhile in so much pain. Every sore spot reminded me of how Tristan had touched me, of how I had touched him, of how we touched each other. I should have been exhausted, but I was high on adrenaline. So high, in fact, that I hauled myself out of bed and hopped in the shower, excited to face the day with the man of my dreams…quite literally. It was embarrassing how many dreams I’d had involving him before this competition even began.
For the eight-hundredth time, I wished I had my phone back so I could call Kiki. With the show ending, I would be able to go home soon. Maybe Tristan would come, or maybe he wouldn’t. There was so much to work out, but with him, I had little doubt we would do just that.
I looked at the clock. It had been well over two hours since Tristan had left to give Jessica the boot and tell producers the show was over. I both loved and hated how much his absence affected me.
I loved Tristan Tagmatarke. And I hadn’t even told him yet.
The phone in the bedroom rang, and I ran back in to answer it, thinking it had to be Tristan.
