Trent threw me a look, turning to face me. “I don’t get why you’re mad. You came to Chicago to talk to Reese. I figure instead of waiting an entire night where you’re going to feel nervous—and I know you, you’d be trying to talk yourself out of seeing him—what does it hurt to catch him when he’s not guarded?”

Because he didn’t know Reese.

But really, did I?

I did.

The realization flared strong in me, growing firm. I did know Reese. I might not know all his idiosyncrasies, but I knew his favorite color. I knew what his brother was like. I knew he slept on the left side of the bed.

I knew he was kind, and loving, and sensual, and could fuck amazingly.

I knew he had never yelled at me, not once. He’d growled once or twice, but that was in the beginning and at the end. The latter had been deserved.

I knew he took the time to answer my questions, no matter how many I sent him.

I knew he answered my call after he was already in bed, in a hotel with a roommate, and when he probably needed his sleep. He took the time to leave the room, go down an elevator with strangers, and seek out a place to talk to me because I was tipsy and wanted to chat.

I knew he cared enough to tell me to have fun, but then worried whether I was going to be alone or not.

I knew he cared enough to be nice to my camp friends, to speak on my behalf to the board, to help get my nemesis fired.

I knew he didn’t want me to take a job just because I was up against a wall. He wanted to help so I only took a job if I truly wanted it.

He’d asked me not only to come to Seattle for him, but also to New York.

I knew I wasn’t a one-use girl to him. Or I hadn’t been.

And I knew even though he hated what his brother did, he actually did care, and he’d help his brother if the circumstances were right.

But one thing I didn’t know was his stance on second chances. Would he give me one?

“But why would he come here tonight? He has a game tomorrow.”

Lauren handed me a glass of champagne. “It’s a birthday party. One of the trainers, Aaron or something?”

“Aiden?”

“Yeah. Aiden. It’s his birthday, and the reservation came through that they’re only using the private suite above for a little bit tonight. They should be arriving soon, and we have another party holding it at midnight. They’ll be gone by then. It’s like a quick dip, in and out.”

It was almost nine. That made sense.