That’s where the blog posts about Guy were born. It didn’t matter what stage of life she’d been in; it was always nice to go back to that day and live in that perfect feeling. A feeling that had been easier to chase when she typed it out.

Why hadn’t she told Marcus how she’d felt?

Well, why mess with perfection?

And now? Now he was engaged to Felicity Fairchild, and Sloane had been out of his orbit for almost a decade. She could no more tell him the truth than she could stop blushing at him staring at her now.

Suddenly, Sloane’s heart made a decision before her brain could really think it through. This time it wasn’t about first love.

It was about self-preservation.

She placed her hand on Brady’s chest and patted it.

“Why do you think I came back to town?” she asked. “I thought it was finally time to come clean about how I felt. Like you said, it’s no fun when it’s one-sided.”

Brady squeezed her into his side even tighter. His body didn’t give an inch. Despite her world getting rowdy around her, Sloane couldn’t help but wonder at what was beneath his button-up.

“That’s right,” he said. “There I was, working, and she just jumps up on the barstool and lays it all out. This one’s surprisingly fierce.”

Sloane shared a look with the man.

“And this one is…” Her words stalled out. She didn’t know a thing about Brady, other than that he worked at a bar.

“Is now ready to get out of here,” he picked up. His smile was customer-service polite as he swung it out to Carol and her gang. “Sloanie and I were supposed to go out tonight, but I had to come in to do a few things first.”

Carol didn’t look convinced. She shared a look with Ruby, who, surprisingly, was still quiet.

“So why don’t you join us now?” she offered. “We’d love to be the first to get the scoop.”

“Sorry, but we’ll have to rain check,” Brady answered with ease. “We have a previous engagement.”

Carol opened her mouth to respond, but Brady was already turning them around.

“Thanks for the drink,” Sloane added over her shoulder.

Queen Bee’s eyes narrowed, but she didn’t call after them.

Sloane let herself be led to the bar, where two more curious faces met them. Her smile felt too tight as Dixon and the waitress, Santana, looked between them. Brady dropped his hold on Sloane and took his nametag off. He put it on the bar top and lowered his voice.

“I’m leaving for the night. I’ll explain later and make it up to you. Cool?” The question was directed to Dixon, but both nodded. “I’ll also clear out her tab tomorrow.”