As she marched up the steps to the balcony, Julia reminded herself this was not real and she was not living in a romantic comedy and she would not—under any circumstances—be falling for another scripted scenario. She reached the top of the stairs and Luke lowered the speaker, the sweet, awkward half smile curving his lips almost her undoing.

Julia couldn’t deny that she was completely charmed by the ridiculousness of the moment, even as she recognized it was too much. It was over the top and she was done with the fantasy. She couldn’t trust his adorable smile and hopeful gray eyes—she wasn’t sure she could trust herself.

He turned off the music and set the speaker down. “Can we talk?”

“I’m listening.”

He moved toward her, and she backed up a step. It was instinctive. Self-preservation. A need to protect herself, protect her heart.

Luke halted midstep, stricken, gaze darkening with a wounded look that gutted her. He licked his lips, throat working.

“Don’t,” she said, shaking her head. “Don’t say anything.”

“But—”

“I changed my mind.” She held up her hand, while inside her chest a fist tightened around her heart. “I don’t want you to say anything.”

“Julia—”

“Please, don’t.” She closed her eyes. “I don’t want to hear what you have to say, because I just realized it wouldn’t matter what you said right now.” She opened her eyes and met his gaze. “I’m not going to believe you. I can’t.”

She could see the struggle on his face, the need to defy her request and spill whatever promises, excuses, explanations he’d planned to accompany this elaborate gesture. She sucked in a breath. That’s what this was. A grand gesture. The last move in the game.

A game she was done playing.

He’d lied to her, but she’d lied, too.

“You didn’t have to do that,” she said, gesturing toward the speaker. “What we had—the funny first meeting on the beach, that amazing kiss in the rain…” She paused, reaching out to touch Luke’s cheek. “Our night together.” Julia could hear the pain in her own voice. That pain was real, and it scared her. “It was perfect.” She smiled softly. “Imperfectly perfect.”

He reached up to press his hand over hers, but she pulled away.

“Goodbye, Luke.”

Julia turned and hurried down the stairs. And no matter how much she wanted to, she didn’t look back. More than anything, she wanted to believe that what they had shared had been more than a game, was more than being swept up in the fantasy. But at the same time, she was scared to believe. Because that would mean that, by choosing to walk away from him, she was walking away from their chance at having something real.

CHAPTER 29

JULIA