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Of course. It probably makes him more attractive to the fans and camera. “What song is it?”

He exhales slowly. “It’s the last song on my new album. I wanted to commemorate finishing it.”

“Oh.”

I ignore the burning questions sitting on my tongue and throw a thumb over my shoulder. “I’m guessing you have calls to make and fires to put out with your team?”

“Nope.” He tightens the towel around his waist. “They’ve got it handled. I’m all yours today.”

“I’m working.”

“It’s Sunday.” He calls my bluff, but I keep going, spinning a web of lies and trapping myself.

“I’m still catching up after my trip to California.”

“And tomorrow is Monday. Let me guess, you’re working in the city?” He pops a brow.

My avoidance isn’t very subtle, it seems. “It’s a busy time of the year. They need me in the office.”

“Of course they do.” He drifts past me, stopping until our shoulders brush. “But you can’t avoid me forever, Tally Girl.”

SEVENTEEN

TATE

THREE YEARS AGO

“Talia Vanessa Brooks.”

“Yes! Woo-hoo! That’s my wife!” I cheer, phone in hand as I take photos.

Red as a fire truck, Talia collects her diploma before fanning her embarrassed cheeks. She hates the attention. I ignore the wry expressions from parents and faculty; it isn’t my fault this ceremony is boring. Seeing my girl walk across the stage is the only highlight.

Right before she joins her classmates, she finds me in the sea of people. She tries to hold back her grin as she flips the tassel from the right to the left.

Fuck, she’s so smart and beautiful. How’d I get so lucky?

I capture one last photo, looking like an overbearing dance mom.

I’m forced to sit through letters C–Z before the ceremony ends, then I’m up and on my feet in a flash, searching the crowd for my redheaded genius. In the corner of my eye, I catch movement before I’m almost tackled to the ground by a pint-sized graduate—law graduate. Talia clings to my shoulders, and I can feel her smile against my neck as I spin us in a circle.

I pull back, one arm under her ass while the other brushes away her errant curls. “You did it, baby.”

Talia bites her bottom lip. “I did it.”

“I told you. God, baby, I’m so damn proud of you.” She squeals when I twirl her again before setting her on her feet and adjusting her cap. “How does it feel?”

“Like I still have the bar to take in July.” She makes a face, scrunching her nose and crossing her eyes.

“If anyone can do it, it’s you. Mark my words, in ten years’ time, you’re going to be the state’s top attorney.”

“You have too much faith in me.” A couple of her classmates walk by, congratulating one another and swapping phone numbers. When her attention returns to me, she blinks in surprise at my serious expression. “What?”

“Don’t do that.” I frown. “Don’t dismiss your accomplishments or doubt yourself. I don’t like it when you do that.”

She sighs. “Tate, I’m just being realistic. Not everyone passes the bar the first time.”

I slide my hand through her hair, tilting her head until her cap nearly falls off. “If you can’t see what a brilliant, beautiful woman you are, I guess I’ll have to believe it for the both of us.”