“We’ll be careful,” I promise. I turn to go, and then reconsider. “Do you two want to come?” I offer hesitantly.

My parents both look floored by the invitation. We rarely spend any time together during the day unless it’s for an official engagement.

“We would love to.” My father is the one who responds. “It’s been too long since I was out on the water.”

My mother looks more hesitant, but she doesn’t refute my father’s words.

“Okay, let me go grab Jace. We’ll meet you in the front foyer in fifteen minutes.”

I turn to head toward the library. My parents whisper behind me, but I’m too buoyant to worry about what they might be saying. Jace will be gone by tomorrow afternoon, and I’m determined to make the most of our time together.

I enter the library to find him fast asleep, his tall frame splayed across the length of one of the leather couches. He stirs when the door creaks shut behind me.

“Viv?” he mutters sleepily.

I grab the book that’s resting on his chest and climb on top of his relaxed body. “Yeah, it’s me,” I whisper.

“I didn’t think anyone else here would be this presumptuous,” he mumbles with his eyes still closed, wrapping his arms around me.

I laugh. “Wake up. We’re going sailing.”

Jace opens his eyes. “What? I thought we have another session with Anne.”

“She wants to have individual meetings instead. She decided we shouldn’t do an interview together, after all.”

“We’re not going to be interviewed together?”

“Nope. Just answering questions separately.” I study his face. “Are you mad?”

“Mad?”

“After you came all this way.”

“Why would I be mad? I came here to help. If they don’t want us to appear together, that’s fine with me. Honestly, I was a little worried about it.”

“Worried?” I ask. “Why?”

“That I might do or say something to make things worse.”

“That’s why they decided against it.” Seeing his dismayed expression, I quickly add. “I mean both of us. Anne said our chemistry is too obvious.” I run my fingers through his hair. “Our body language is too familiar,” I whisper, kissing him once.

I pull away to see he’s watching me dubiously.

“Seriously?” he asks. “Or are you messing with me?”

“‘You can’t fake chemistry like that, and you can’t hide it either,’ is a direct quote,” I tell him. “We’ve got to get going. My parents are waiting.”

“Your parents are coming sailing with us?”

“Yeah, I invited them. Is that okay?”

“Of course. I’m just surprised they’d want to come. I don’t think your mom likes me very much.”

“I think she actually likes you more than she wants to,” I reply. Seeing Jace’s confused expression, I add, “She’s wanted me to marry Charles since I was a toddler. She sees you as a threat to that.”

Jace scoffs. “Not according to you.”

It’s the first reference he’s made to last night’s conversation, and I still in response. I’m not sure what emotions are displayed across my face, but Jace studies my expression for a long moment before rolling over and pulling us both upright.