Alex practically drops his fork. “The Ultimatum? Are you kidding me? That sounds like an Arnold Schwarzenegger film. Jesus, Rachel, these girls are supposed to be your sisters and they’re asking you to choose between the two things you love most?”

Well, three things I love most, I want to interject, but I don’t.

“Well, yeah, when you say it like that, it does sound kinda bad.”

He stares me right in the eye and gets serious. “Look. If you want to quit the line because it’s too hard, or it’s not making you happy, then fine. But if you’re just afraid of taking the risk—or worse, afraid of what your group thinks, let me just say we never get where we want in life if we follow our fear. It’s one thing my mom always taught me.”

“I think your mom and my mom would like each other,” I say with a smile.

“Let me ask you one thing.” He sits back. “Does fashion make you happy?”

“You know the answer to that,” I tell him. “Completely. It’s just…”

“I know, I know. You’re used to playing by the rules everyone else has set for you.”

Nailed it. “Playing by the rules has gotten me where I am today, Alex. I can’t just dismiss that.”

“I would never ask you to, Rachel. Only to follow your happiness. Stop listening to other people and listen to yourself. What’s your heart saying?”

Jeez. First my mom and now Alex. Did everyone get some How to Listen to Your Heart handbook except me?

My heart is saying I want to make out with his entire face.

My heart is saying I love him.

My heart is saying why limit myself when I can have it all.

“I want to play by my own rules too,” I tell him. “I should get to do what makes me happy. I am going to do what makes me happy.”

“Whoo!” He pumps his fist like he’s watching a ball game and his team scored. It would be slightly embarrassing… if there were anyone else at this restaurant to notice. Instead, I just laugh, relief flooding through me.

“I want to toast to us,” he says, grinning as he pulls himself together. “Because I believe we can get through anything together. Paparazzi. Online trolls. Hotel ghosts. Life-threatening incidents on the subway and the slopes. All of it. It’s you and me, Rachel Kim. Against the world.”

I laugh. “You’re a dork.”

“Don’t make me stand up and start clinking my glass,” he warns. “I wouldn’t want to embarrass you in front of…” He looks out over the empty patio. “Marta,” he finishes, nodding to our waitress.