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“It just physically hurts when you’re not with me.” His gaze meets mine. “I just really like you, Emma.”

This is more than like.

My heart instantly bangs. Tell him how you feel. Tell him you love him.

For so many years, my feelings have been tangled in one giant knot.

Me.

Juliet.

And Vinny right in the middle of it all.

But these last few days have untangled everything.

But still, I feel like I can’t take that last leap.

Not because I’m scared.

But out of respect for Juliet.

It’s only been two weeks.

I can’t tell Vinny I love him yet.

That would be crazy.

Instead, I lean in and kiss his cheek. “I really like you too. And I’m still going to go home.”

“Okay.” His hands lift from my door. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

But on the entire drive home, I hate that I still didn’t tell him how I really feel.

When I walk into my apartment, I stand there and look at Chili.

“This is stupid, right?” I say to the rodent. “I can’t worry about Juliet anymore. It stops now.”

I run back down the stairs and to my car and head straight back to Vinny’s house.

Excitement rushes through me.

Me and Vinny.

With nothing holding us back.

I knock.

The door opens less than ten seconds later.

He’s changed into his gray sweats and a T-shirt, his hair still slightly damp, like he just got out of the shower.

The moment he sees me, he smiles and pulls me in for a hug. “You came back.”

Wrapped in his arms, I finally feel like everything will be okay.

He tugs me inside and leads me to the couch. “Is everything alright? Did something happen with Juliet?”

“No,” I say as I drop down onto his couch. “Vinny, I love Juliet. She’s my best friend.”