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While Dad and Adam stood at the front desk, talking to hotel staff, the others left and Remy, Aspen, Mom, Mr. and Mrs. Blackwell, and I stayed seated on the couches, waiting for them to come back.

Aunt Janice was sitting with Remy and catching up to her but after Remy got busy with Aspen, she moved and sat next to me. "Hey, hon. How've you been?" she asked, nudging my shoulder with her own.

"Good," I chuckled, nodding. "You?"

"Good," she replied, smiling. "Oh, it's been so long since I saw you all. How long has it been now? Six years?"

"Well, the last time you came to San Diego was twelve years ago, actually. But we visited you a few times in between at grandma and grandpa's house for the holidays, remember?"

"Oh, that's right, that's right. And? What have you been up to? I heard our little Em is an author now."

I nodded, smiling sheepishly.

"I bought a copy."

I paled, staring at her. "You just bought it, right? You didn't read it?"

She eyed me and then nodded, grinning. "Em," she sang.

"No," I whined, covering my face.

"There's sex in that book!" she whisper-yelled.

"There is, that's why I don't want my family to read it," I groaned.

She laughed, patting my shoulder. "Don't worry. I forgot that my niece wrote it while I was reading it. I liked it. Cute love story."

"Thank you," I mumbled, glancing at my shoes.

"Who's it about?"

I turned to her. "Hmm?"

"It's clearly about someone. The boy."

"The boy," I repeated, dubiously. "Jason Knox?"

"Hmm. He's Jason Knox in Tainted Hearts. Who is he in real life?"

"What do you mean?"

She glanced at the front desk and at Adam, pointedly.

I followed her gaze and then looked back at her. "What?"

"It seemed like him."

"What?" I laughed.

"I remember him, Em. I know who and exactly what he is to you. It seemed like you were writing about him," she whispered softly.

"Why? There's nothing similar about Jason and Adam."

She nodded slowly and then dropped the subject but didn't change it to anything better. "What's wrong with you two? Why so distant?"

I watched her for a moment and to be honest, I was surprised Mom and Dad didn't tell her. I half expected them to since everybody else knew. But everybody else met us during the holidays, unlike aunt Janice who dropped in every few years and then disappeared for a few more. "Aunt Janice..."

"Janice." We both looked ahead at where Dad and Adam stood. Dad gestured for Adam to explain.

He looked from my dad to me to my aunt. "Um, they said that since a couple is already staying in the room that was booked for you, they're sorry but they can't get you that room. The other rooms here are already occupied, so they can't give you those either."

"God, is there something they can do for me?" aunt Janice groaned, leaning back into the couch.

"Yes, actually. They can either book a hotel for you and take care of all the costs..."

"Or?" She lifted a brow. "I mean, what's the point of me coming here if I don't get to stay with you all?"

"Or any two people from here can share a room and then um, you can take one of those. Also free of cost. They're also willing to refund us for the room that somebody has to give up."

She thought it over for a second and then nodded. "That seems like a better idea."

"But who'll give up their room?" Dad asked, lifting a brow.

"Yeah, I think everybody who can share a room with someone already is," Aspen mumbled. "Emma and Ava are in one room. Sebastian and Toby agreed to share a room too."

"Georgia's staying with us too," Ava chimed in.

Remy nodded. "Who else can share a room?"

I felt aunt Janice staring at me and I slowly turned to look at her, shaking my head. "Aunt Janice, wait. I—"

"You two." She pointed between Adam and me.

"What?" we sputtered in sync. I grabbed her arm. "I can't share a room with him," I hissed in her ear.

"Why? Aren't you two friends? It can't be that bad, come on now. When I visited last time, you both fell asleep in the same bed anyway, so it's not like it's never happened before."

I stared at her in disbelief. "I'm not ten years old anymore, aunty!"

"Oh, be mature." She waved a dismissive hand. "Or do you want me gone?" She shot me a pointed look.

"I have a better idea," Adam spoke up. "Why don't you share a room with Emilia, aunt Janice?"

I nodded in agreement. That seemed much safer for my heart. "Yeah, we can share a room, I don't mind."

Aunt Janice looked at Dad. "You didn't tell her?"

"I told Remy, it must have slipped my mind. Em, Janice's boyfriend will be joining us tomorrow, so she'll share a room with him instead."

"What boyfriend?" I asked. "Stephen?"

She nodded.

"You're still together?"

She nodded again. "Still going strong," she grinned. Wow, that probably marks her longest-lasting relationship and boyfriend so far.

"That's um, that's great. But aunt Janice, I don't think it's a good idea for Adam and me to share a room," I persisted.

"Are you uncomfortable with that?" she questioned.

I sighed, "No, that's not it. I just don't think it's a good idea. I don't want to," I said softly.

Her eyes narrowed. "Am I missing something? Have you both been fighting?" But nobody said a word. "Whatever it is, work it out." She stood up.

I stood up with her, still trying. "This isn't fair. I shouldn't be fighting to keep my room." I turned to Dad.

He looked from his sister to me. He glanced at Adam and then gave me a small shrug. I gawked at him in shock. He gestured for me to step aside with him and I did.

"Dad... Adam and me—"

"I know, I know, sweetie. But think about it."

"There's nothing to think about. We can't share a room, that's it. End of discussion."

"Em, look, we hardly get to see Janice. She's here, we all want to make the most of it. Can't you and Adam just compromise this once? Plus, it might be good for you, you know."

"Oh, really? How so?" I folded my arms across my chest.

"Maybe this will finally be an excuse for you both to really talk and work things out."

I exhaled softly. "Dad, things between us can never go back to how they used to be."

"I know that and that's not what I'm saying. But at least you'll both stop hating each other so much for no real reason. You used to be friends, Emilia. I'm sure you both, at least parts of you, miss that."

I paused, looking for any other argument. "You'd trust us to share a room?"

"I trust that you know what you want. And I trust Adam to not cross a line that you don't want him to cross." He waited for me to reply but I was too busy panicking and almost losing my mind.

I felt a headache starting to pinch behind my eyes, right between and behind my brows. I winced, pressing on the bridge of my nose.

"You were friends, Emilia. Just remember that. And I know you two had your differences at the end but I hope you realize that when people fight, no matter what their relationship is, they can be friends or more, whatever it is. It's always the two of them against the problem, not against each other. And when they fail to understand that, they fail their relationship, they fail their bond. Like you both did."

I pulled my hand down and stared at him.

"It's only a few days. It's your sister's wedding. It's for your aunt. Nobody's going to force you, just know that if you don't agree, that's okay. Nobody will be angry or hold it against you. But if you agree, we would all really appreciate it. Especially Janice and me."

"Dad, I get all of that. We were friends, I know. But now we're not."

"Why? And do you want that to stay as it is? Or do you want to at least try changing it and saving whatever is left of your relationship?"

I glanced at Adam where he was leaning his hip against a couch. His hat was off now as he ruffled his hair. "What if he says no? I'll look like an idiot."

"He won't say no, trust me. I know the boy."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"You'll see. Is that a yes?"

I hesitated but mumbled, "Yeah, whatever."

"Thank you," he chuckled, throwing an arm over my shoulder and giving me a side hug, walking me back with an arm still around my shoulders. "All right. Emilia has agreed."

I felt Adam's eyes on the side of my face as Dad stopped, making me stand between them.

"So now, let's all go up to our rooms. Freshen up, rest for the one hour we have left until dinner, and then let's meet at the restaurant, hmm? Let's go. Janice, Emilia, and Adam will take you."

As everybody stood up and began heading to the elevators, Adam and I didn't move. "Why did you agree?" he finally asked.

"For the sake of this wedding," I mumbled, turning around and walking to the others, catching up with them. We all filed into the elevator and then headed up. Adam, aunt Janice, and I all got off on the fifth floor and we let Adam lead the way. I stopped in front of my door, unlocking it and leading aunt Janice inside. Before I closed it, I dug my nails into my fist and called out, "Adam."

He stopped at his door, turning to me. "Yeah?"

"I'll be there in like... ten minutes. Can you give me a key or will you open the door?" I tapped my foot against the floor behind the door nervously.

"I'll let you in."

I nodded softly. "Okay. Thanks."

"No problem."

I shut the door and walked inside while aunt Janice toured the room.

As I started packing up my stuff, she asked me, "Why were you so unwilling to share a room with him? Did something happen?"

I folded up my pajama set I would wear tonight and put it in the suitcase, zipping it up. "No. Nothing."

"Just a little argument then?"

"Something like that, yeah."

"Em."

I stopped, facing her. "Yeah?"

"Thanks for giving me your room, sweets. I really appreciate it."

"Of course, aunt Janice." I paused, thinking I should lighten up my own mood because nobody else would do it for me. "But I am very," I scoffed dramatically, "offended that you picked Stephen over me."

"Oh, you know how it is," she sang. "He's been the photographer for the magazine I work with ever since we met all those years ago. This is our first real trip together. One that isn't for work, you know. We're not even allowed to share hotel rooms for those trips." She puckered her lips and blew me a kiss. "Thanks."

I chuckled, nodding. "Yeah, yeah, whatever."

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