“I’m fine. They don’t even hurt.” Her voice trembled. I reluctantly released her. “I should be able to get a lot of the segments I shot today edited down pretty quick. Get you guys some money before I head to Texas. Especially if some aspects of the park get worked on before I go and I can get footage of it. Though, um…” She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Maybe I’ll ask Alexis to take pictures of the finished product, whenever it’s done, so I can update my followers on your progress.”

I worked on rolling my shoulders back. “I might not be here either when it’s finally done. I could be in Vegas.”

Her eyes widened as she drank her beer. “That’s wild to think about.”

Wild was one way to describe it.

“Have you told anyone else yet?” she asked.

Anxiety beat like wings inside my gut. “Rowan’s swinging by in a sec. We’re heading to family dinner tonight. I’m gonna tell them while we’re eating. Not that it’s definite or anything. They should still know that I’m considering it.”

A beat of silence followed. Tabitha’s hand landed on my back, but gently. Her fingers pulsed, just once. “When I told Dad and Alexis I got into UCLA, it was really hard. They were both very excited for me, excited I was following a dream. But you and I don’t come from families that leave Philly. Ever. My house growing up was two blocks over from my grandparents’ house. Until I moved, the farthest my family had been was up to the Poconos or down the shore.”

I huffed out a short laugh. “And I bought a house on the same side of the street as my parents.”

She dropped her hand. “If you need a friend—tonight. After.” She hooked her thumb over her shoulder. “You can knock on my door. If I’m still awake, I can ply you with food and/or drink until you feel better.”

My eyes closed briefly. Sleep-deprived, low on restraint and about to have a tough conversation. I couldn’t knock on her door tonight. Not if I wanted to keep avoiding those right hooks.

“Thanks,” I said. “I appreciate it. I appreciate—” I waved my hand at the scene in front of us. “All of it.” You.

She turned, running a hand through her hair. “Please, you’d do the same for me, Mr. Machine. And I’m technically your lady so…” Her lips curved into a sexy smile. “It’s my pleasure.”

She was every dream come true—standing in the middle of the street, bottle dangling from one hand. Shirt falling off her right shoulder, exposing the line of her collarbone.

I was ready to break wide open and knew Tabitha would do the job for me.