“Have you done anything with him?” she asks.

“No, we just talked.”

“Then you’re not a shitty person. Although I will say, Whitney, you’re going down a slippery slope because for you and Jacob? Talking sounds a lot like foreplay.” We are walking out of the bathroom and immediately my eyes find him. I wasn’t even looking for him and yet my gaze lands on him instantly from across the room. He’s staring at me like if he blinks, I’ll disappear and a part of me wants to. I want to run so far away from this bar. Run away from Jacob and my feelings and nineteen-year-old Whitney who’s begging me to give him another chance because this is Jacob.

JP My JP

“He’s still in love with me,” I say as I guide her toward the bar nestled in the corner of the lounge.

Chloe leans against the bar and pushes my hair behind my back so she can see my face better. “That much is obvious. The question is are you still in love with him?”

“I’m trying to do the right thing, Chlo. I’m engaged to another man.”

“One doesn’t have anything to do with the other. Doing the right thing means admitting the truth to yourself. It means walking away tonight, breaking up with Parker so you can be free to be with the man you love. You’re twenty-two years old, marrying Parker when you’re still in love with someone else out of some weird sense of obligation because you said ‘yes’ to his proposal, isn’t doing the right thing, Whitney. You haven’t done anything wrong, yet.” She winces. “But I see the look he’s giving you and the one you’re giving him and I think you’re one drink or brush against him away from falling into bed with him and then that isn’t doing the right thing.”

“Weren’t you drunk like ten minutes ago? Where is this voice of reason coming from? And where is all this logic when it comes to you and Trey?” I ask her as I drink the glass of water that the bartender placed in front of me that Chloe had motioned for.

She shrugs. “The logic comes and goes.” She chuckles. “And it’s easier when it’s not your own life you know that.”

I nod in agreement, because I know that’s the truth. It’s easy to cast opinions when your heart isn’t the one invested. We begin walking toward our seats and my skin begins to prickle in anticipation at being close to him again. “I… I don’t know what to do.” He scratches his beard and runs his thumb over his bottom lip before darting his tongue out to lick the skin. God, he’s fucking hot.

“Then I suggest you put a pin in this and go home until at the very least, you’re sober,” Chloe advises.

I let out a breath, trying to ignore the blood heating in my veins and the tingling in my sex. “You’re right.” I nod, and as if the universe is in complete agreement my phone begins to vibrate in my purse that’s currently resting against my hip. I open my bag and see Parker’s name on my phone. Perfect timing. Amazing timing. “Let me take this, I’ll meet you at the table.” Chloe heads back toward them and I swipe my finger across the screen.