“Of course,” I said, probably too quickly. I did love Trey. He was a kind guy, a likable man, a charmer with very few enemies, if any. “Everyone loves Trey.”

Drea let out a breath, not of relief but more like exasperation. “Everyone’s not marrying him, sweetie.”

I couldn’t hide from my BFF since seventh grade, but I could reassure her. “I’m not sure if I’m in love with him yet, but how would I know? When have I ever been in love? Maybe I am—”

“You would know, Ev.”

“Would I though?”

With an exhale that was half amusement and half contentment, leaving no question whether she was madly in love with her husband, she smiled and said, “You would.”

I wasn’t sure I believed her. I cared deeply about Trey. If something bad ever happened to him, I’d be heartbroken. If he cheated on me, I’d be upset. If we one day had kids, I knew we would become a team in raising them with similar beliefs and values.

We were a good team. We had been since our first date. Actually, from the first time we’d met, at an industry party about a year ago.

I’d known of Trey Gilbert since I was a teenager—he’d been a household name in country music for the past ten-plus years—but I hadn’t met him prior to that party. I had to admit to being a little star-struck when he’d sought me out, poured on the charm, and pulled me aside. He was seven years older than my twenty-nine, and we’d clicked on a professional level, relating to each other as hardworking singers in country music. We’d talked music for over an hour.

Apparently, an hour was all the press and paparazzi needed. They’d taken it from there, and before I went to sleep that night, rumors were flying. While there’d been nothing but business talk between us at that party, entertainment sites had had us halfway to eloping. Fans had grasped on to the speculation, both his followers and mine. My team, of which my world-famous producer dad was a key part, had been smiley and sparkly-eyed over the publicity boon.

It turned out my publicist was close friends with Trey’s, and the two had cooked up an idea to continue the buzz. They’d suggested Trey and I go out on a proper date. It hadn’t taken much to convince me—Trey was handsome and easy enough to like—and our first official date had been designed to include plenty of “random” opps for the press to perpetuate the rumors.