“Okay.” I want to ask her where she and Parker stand right now, but she sounds exhausted and like she’s on the verge of a breakdown and I don’t want to be the reason for it. “I haven’t told him. I just… I wanted to get away and get to you and maybe that makes me a terrible person. But I just told him I needed to get back for my exam tomorrow and he seemed to understand. I’m going to tell him, JP. I just didn’t know how to do it.”

“I know, baby, it’s okay.” I can hear the anxiety in her voice and the fact that she’s getting even more worked up makes me want to do anything I can to calm her. “I know you will. Otherwise, it’ll be pretty awkward when you start preparing for our wedding,” I say in an attempt to lighten the mood.

She gives me a weak laugh before she continues, “so I’ll see you at seven?”

“I can’t wait to see you, baby. I hope you’re ready to get fucked hard,” I add, hoping that might help her attitude.

“I am,” she responds without missing a beat before she hangs up the phone.

“I’m sorry, did I hear you use the phrase ‘our wedding?’” Chloe asks as I sit back down and nod toward the bartender to bring me the check.

I give her a pointed look. “I walked away for a reason, Chloe.”

She waves me off as if to say so what? “She says you asked her to move in.” Trey’s eyes move from Chloe to me in an instant.

His eyes are wide with intrigue but I can see a hint of happiness in them too. “Seriously?”

“Yes.” I nod. “This is real. It was never not real. I’ve loved her for so long and I let fear of so many things get in the way of what I wanted. I’m not doing that to us again.”

Chloe squeals and claps her hands together. “Okay, so if you’re talking about a wedding then there’s a ring? Tell me there’s a ring.”

“Not yet. But there will be. Soon.”

My thoughts drift back to the first time I had the very real thought that I could marry Whitney Monroe.

Four Years Ago:

Whitney and I have been together for about a year when she asks me that question that I’ve come to dread in the past.