Maybe Erma did make her first mistake. Because there’s nothing between Gavin and me, not even the smallest spark. The only thing Gavin and I have common is…Will.

I look at Will and give him a small smile. “You don’t have to keep hanging around, sticking to me like glue. Your brother is safe. Your business merger is safe.”

Will stares at me, then his expression shifts from confused to stunned to determined.

“I believe in soul mates,” he says.

“What?” I shake my head. What is he talking about?

“I believe in soul mates,” he says more firmly. He gestures at the book, "I believe in them.”

“What? Why?” I push away from the table so I can see him better. Why is he admitting this now?

“Because the first time I saw you I knew I wanted to be yours for the rest of my life.”

I think about him pushing me into the mud puddle. “You didn’t.”

“I did,” he says firmly. “And every time I saw you after that, the feeling only grew stronger. If that isn’t a belief in soul mates, I don’t know what is.”

A warmth flows through me and I realize something. “You’ve been the one constant in my life. You’ve been with me for the last twenty years. I know more about you than I do about anyone else.”

It’s true. And I’m no longer surprised that it’s true. Every time Will came to town, I vibrated at his presence like a tuning fork freshly struck. All those years I “disliked” him, I was aware of him, fighting my desire, fighting that he was the one. My one.

“Can I be honest?”

His eyes warm and he nods.

I clasp my hands together and drop them in my lap. Then I whisper, “I’m terrified that if I tell you I want you—”

He lets out a harsh breath. I pause but he doesn’t say anything, so I continue.

“If I tell you that I want you, I’m terrified you’ll stand up, smiled coldly, and walk away. But not before you let me know that I should’ve realized you’d do anything to keep me from ruining your business and your brother’s life. I’m terrified the second I admit how I feel, you’ll let me know this was all a game. And you’ll leave me.” I look down at my clasped hands. I’m afraid to look in his face. “I’m scared because I don’t care about being in this book anymore. I don’t care about soul mate predictions or fate. I just care about you.”

He pushes back from the table and my stomach drops. I hold my breath, waiting for him to say something, anything.