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Chapters (85)
  1. BOOKS BY LOUISE BAY
  2. ONE
  3. Rosey
  4. TWO
  5. Byron
  6. THREE
  7. Rosey
  8. FOUR
  9. Byron
  10. FIVE
  11. Rosey
  12. SIX
  13. Byron
  14. SEVEN
  15. Rosey
  16. EIGHT
  17. Rosey
  18. NINE
  19. Byron
  20. TEN
  21. Rosey
  22. ELEVEN
  23. Byron
  24. TWELVE
  25. Rosey
  26. THIRTEEN
  27. Byron
  28. FOURTEEN
  29. Rosey
  30. FIFTEEN
  31. Rosey
  32. SIXTEEN
  33. Byron
  34. SEVENTEEN
  35. Rosey
  36. EIGHTEEN
  37. Byron
  38. NINETEEN
  39. Rosey
  40. TWENTY
  41. Rosey
  42. TWENTY-ONE
  43. Byron
  44. TWENTY-TWO
  45. Byron
  46. TWENTY-THREE
  47. Rosey
  48. TWENTY-FOUR
  49. Rosey
  50. TWENTY-FIVE
  51. Byron
  52. TWENTY-SIX
  53. Rosey
  54. TWENTY-SEVEN
  55. Byron
  56. TWENTY-EIGHT
  57. Rosey
  58. TWENTY-NINE
  59. Byron
  60. THIRTY
  61. Rosey
  62. THIRTY-ONE
  63. Rosey
  64. THIRTY-TWO
  65. Byron
  66. THIRTY-THREE
  67. Rosey
  68. THIRTY-FOUR
  69. Rosey
  70. THIRTY-FIVE
  71. Byron
  72. THIRTY-SIX
  73. Rosey
  74. THIRTY-SEVEN
  75. Byron
  76. THIRTY-EIGHT
  77. Byron
  78. EPILOGUE
  79. A month later – New York City
  80. 14 months later - Star Falls
  81. MR. MAYFAIR
  82. Beck
  83. Beck
  84. Stella
  85. BOOKS BY LOUISE BAY

“You’re kind, Byron. And caring. And you seem to want me to want things for myself. You sent me that card. Why? It wasn’t going to do anything for you. You took in Athena. You let me move into staff housing. You didn’t insist I delay my move-in date. You didn’t even suggest it. And I know we haven’t known each other very long, and they might seem like little things to you. But to me, they’re everything. You let me be me. You like me for me.”

“I told you, Rosey—I don’t want you to be anyone but you.”

I pull in a breath. Being this close to him is comforting, reassuring. And I miss it. I need to pull the trigger now. I need to ask for what I want. It feels so jarring to be so selfish, and there’s a real possibility that we don’t want the same things. But I’m so clear that Byron is who I want. I’m not sure I’ll ever have this clarity again. So if I don’t start here, asking him for what I want, I never will.

“Like I said, I know we haven’t known each other very long, and I know you have the Colorado Club and it’s stressful and all-consuming. I know you’re not based in Star Falls forever, and I’m just some girl who got on an airplane for the first time less than a month ago, and you probably normally date sophisticated New Yorkers who were born in Paris and vacation in Sorrento—” I groan. Why would Byron pick me? Any woman would be a fool not to want him. He could take his pick.

I tell myself it doesn’t matter—the important thing is I tell him I want him, not that he wants me back. The power is all in the asking.

“What I’m saying is that I know it might not be mutual, but I don’t want to give this up.” I glance at his chest, unable to look him in the eye. “I really like you. Like, really more than like you. I don’t want to only see you for a second or two in the hallways of the Club or once in a while at Grizzly’s. I want to curl up with you at night. I want to hang out at the diner with you on a Sunday. I want you all the time.” My voice has dropped to a mumble. But I got it all out.

I clasp my fingers together, my eyes on my hands, waiting for the letdown. Waiting for him to tell me I’m a nice girl and everything but⁠—

He reaches under my face and lifts my chin.