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Looking around, I scan for any paparazzi or coworkers. Rhys believed my migraine story, but I think he’s still suspicious, so I need to be extra careful.

We’re standing in a relatively secluded spot, and few people are loitering about since there’s a big party happening on the ship right now.

When I don’t see anyone I recognize, I place my hand on Rex’s cheek, his perfectly groomed scruff scraping my fingers.

He lets out a sigh—a soft one, but I hear it, nonetheless.

“Do you know what’s one of the most common emotions I see in my practice?”

Rex shakes his head, his brow lifting.

“Guilt. Over the past, over what a person should do but isn’t doing. Over not feeling one hundred percent one way, like when you’re happy but also sad, when you’re grateful but also resentful.” I stroke his cheek, watching his breaths quicken, a flush crawling up his face.

Sliding my hand to his neck, I rest my fingers there to feel his pulse.

It’s fluttering rapidly. I’ve hit the mark.

“It’s okay to feel that way. Life isn’t black and white or two-dimensional, and neither are we,” I whisper.

The Adam’s apple bobs in his throat as he swallows, and he stares at me.

I want to spend forever staring into those gray, mesmerizing pools. I want to know what secrets and hidden meanings they hold.

I want to watch his movie again and again.

A slow smile curves up his lips, and he lifts my hand away from his cheek, turns it over, and presses a soft kiss on the backs of my fingers like a gentleman.

My blood heats from the intimate gesture—the small touch holding so much emotion in it.

In this moment, I’m his forever, the forever he thinks he can’t have, the one I want to give to him.

Why Rex, why are you sabotaging yourself? Why are you rejecting us?

I’m sad and angry. I don’t understand, and I will never understand. I want to shake him and walk away because I deserve someone who will fight for me. But I also love him and want to enjoy the last few days with him in our small slice of paradise. It’s messed up and toxic. It’s beautiful and bittersweet.

And that’s okay.

“Come on,” he murmurs, his voice hoarse. “Let’s go create some chaos.”

Without warning, he picks me up and deposits me on the back of a motorcycle, chuckling when I shriek and swat at him for scaring the shit out of me.

“You are nuts if you think I’m going with you on…this. Do you even know how to ride this?”

He plucks the pins from my hair, and my bun unravels.

“Hey!” More swatting and chuckling.

“Your bun is in the way and your hair is gorgeous.” He smiles when he fastens a helmet on my head before tightening it.

My heart skips a beat, warmth gathering in my chest. Being this close to him is like I’m staring straight into the sun. But instead of being a shadow cast on the ground, he’s shining his light on me, showing me off to the world.

“I’m a great rider. You think only Maxwell owns the bragging rights to anything with wheels?” His straitlaced brother loves street racing. In fact, that’s how he and Belle met.

Rex climbs onto the bike and slides my hands around his waist. “Well, there was one time when I crashed Ryland’s car in high school, but that was four wheels. Fuck, he was so pissed.”

“Isthatsupposed to make me feel better? You crashed something with four wheels and somehow two wheels make this safer?”

“Well, I guess you’ll just have to trust me and be brave, huh? What is it you like to say?Carpe diem.”