Page 57 of Dream (Fighting Fate)

“I know, right? I mean, to me he’s just this nice guy I met on the beach, and I love hanging out with him. I don’t really see him as anything else. It’s weird.”

She watched me for a minute, her gaze searching. “What has he told you? What does he want from you?”

I sighed, my mind automatically doing a quick recap of the night before. Every time we were together I seemed to lose myself in him. I never wanted him to stop. His ability to hold onto his control frustrated me, but I was also thankful.

“Nothing, really. We both know that when we leave here we won’t see each other again.”

Her gaze turned worrying. “Have you slept with him?”

My cheeks warmed a fraction. “No. Although I probably would’ve let him had he wanted to.” I didn’t think it was wise to mention I probably still would.

Aunt Jenny stood and walked over by the window, her hand rubbing over her collarbone. “This isn’t good, Liv. I don’t think you should get any more involved with him.”

I had sought out her opinion, but this wasn’t what I wanted to hear. “Why?”

“Why?” she asked, coming back to sit on the stool in front of me. “Because it can’t end well, honey.”

“I don’t understand,” I said, frustrated beyond hell. “What difference does it make? Before you knew who he was, you were telling me to go have fun.”

She groaned and rubbed her temples. “I don’t know. This is why I don’t have kids,” she mumbled under her breath. “It’s just different. I don’t know how to explain it.”

I huffed. “Well, you need to try, because I don’t see how it’s different.”

Dropping her hands into her lap, she stared at me, her mind visibly ticking over. “I’ve never met him, Liv, but I know people who have,” she said carefully. “And from what they tell me, he’s a nice guy. Like, seriously nice. I’ve heard his parents kept him pretty grounded growing up, so he hasn’t let the fame go to his head. Apparently, he’s kept the same group of friends he’s had since elementary school, and now they work for him as his personal security team.”

I frowned. Why was she saying this like it was a bad thing? I didn’t see how this backed up her argument at all. To me, it only confirmed my own findings. He was amazing.

“I know what you’re thinking,” she said, her mouth curving upward, although the smile didn’t quite reach her eyes. “My point is, you have this guy—this amazing guy—who would be completely enamored by every part of you. There’s no way he couldn’t be, Liv. You’re too unique. Too different to what he’s used to.” She shook her head. “You have Joshua Emerson’s undivided attention. A month and a half of that would make even the most hardened of girls fall head over heels. It could ruin you, Liv. I mean, he’s going to be your benchmark for every guy who comes after him. How is any guy supposed to measure up to that?”

I hadn’t thought about it like that. I could see her point, but was setting my benchmark high such a bad thing? I certainly didn’t want to settle for something less than what was chaotically perfect for me.

Aunt Jenny sighed. “I just don’t want to see you get hurt, precious. Love can be a real bitch sometimes.”

I tried to see the wisdom in her words. I knew she spoke from experience, and I wanted to take from her what I could, but I also knew that sometimes understanding could only come from your own experience. As much as I wanted to take her advice, I knew within myself that if I were to end whatever was happening with Josh today, I would regret it for the rest of my life. I needed to see it to the end. No matter how much pain that goodbye brought me when it came.

“Would you be disappointed in me if I said I think I need to see it to the end?” I asked.

She gave me a sad smile. “Of course not, precious. Just . . . guard your heart, okay?”

Reaching out, I gave her a warm hug. “I’ll try. I’m not sure how successful I’ll be, but I’ll try.”

She laughed as I released her. “I’d tell you to prepare yourself for the hurt, but I think you already know that, don’t you?”

I smirked. “It’s becoming clearer every day.”

Sitting back, she gave me an odd look. “Just how did you find out who he was, anyway?”

“Ashley and Sarah,” I said, rolling my eyes. “They were horrified with my lack of cele

brity knowledge, so they made me watch a gazillion movies—a lot of them being Josh’s.”

Her eyes rounded. “You didn’t tell them he was staying next door, did you?”

“No way.”

“Oh, thank God!” she said, releasing her breath. “That would’ve been the last thing I needed today.”

I bit my lip. “You won’t tell anyone, will you?”

---