Twenty minutes later, Bill finally grants Lilla and me permission to leave.

“What, no one to hook up with tonight?” I tease her.

“Shut up, Jase.” She knocks me with her shoulder as we head toward the elevators.

“I’m just surprised. With all those cute guys in there, I thought I’d be the last person you’d want to leave the bar with.”

“I’m still working my magic,” she says to me with a grin. “Still scoping out the scene. I don’t want to make a misstep.”

“Oh, I see.” I smile as we step into the elevator, and I press fifteen.

“Now the running back, Wilkens, is hot, don’t you think? And he’s single. Colton Wild’s taken, which is really too bad. But the kicker’s also pretty cute. Although I think he might be engaged."

“Well, get out your gossip rags and make sure before tomorrow.”

“I should do that!” Lilla says, not hearing the sarcasm in my voice. “I’ll bring them into the bath with me.”

“You take baths?” I ask incredulously.

“Don’t you?”

“Never. I don’t sit in water, especially stagnant water that gets dirty around me the longer I sit there. I thought baths were just for babies.”

“Baths can be for adults, too. Especially if you want to have a romantic evening in a hotel with the hottest athlete in the world. God, Dylan’s mouth is so fucking kissable. And his body—did you see his chest nearly popping out of his shirt? Not to mention how he filled out his pants.”

“He’s certainly easy on the eyes.” I slide the keycard into my door and let us both inside.

Lilla heads for the mini-bar, gets out two little vodka bottles, and tosses me one before throwing herself onto the bed. Every time we travel, Lilla insists that we enjoy the corporate “privileges” of having everything expensed to Apex Marketing & Promotions. But I’ve had enough alcohol tonight. I return the vodka bottle to the fridge and grab a water instead. I take a seat next to Lilla on the bed and turn on the TV. As I flip through the stations, the first channel is showing a commercial with Dylan advertising a deodorant.

“Ha, maybe that one works better than the crap-ass one the hotel gave us,” I joke as I turn the station.

“That deodorant worked great for me.” Lilla gives me a knowing look. “Did Dylan make you sweat profusely, Jasalie? Imagine what he could make you do in bed.”

I stick my tongue out at her and keep flipping. Commercial after commercial until I find a sports channel showing a highlight film of the top quarterbacks. Of course, Dylan’s front and center on the screen. I immediately flick off the television and lean my head back against the pillows.

“This is too much.” I sigh. “I wish he didn’t know I was born here.”

“It slipped out when he asked where we were from. I didn’t mean to tell him, honestly.”

“I don’t blame you. He’s a jerk for using it to his advantage. Did you see how happy Bill was when he overheard me telling you about our plans tomorrow?”

“Try to relax.” Lilla takes a swig of vodka. “Tomorrow will be all in public and super casual. You’ll be fine. Plus, Bill actually considers this work, so he won’t be on your case.”

“Spending time with Dylan Wild one-on-one is just so…” I want to say, “so intimate,” but I refrain.

“Spending time with a celebrity will be cool,” Lilla says. “They’re almost like real people. Sort of.”

I rip the label off my water bottle, feeling sad for Dylan for some reason. “The world treats Dylan Wild like a magazine cover…like he’s an MVP trophy. I’m not going to do that. No matter how rich or famous he is, he’s still a real person.”

“Think of it this way, Jase.” Lilla scoots up until she’s sitting next to me. “If you two have kids, they’ll be so beautiful.”

I roll my eyes. “Dylan may be beautiful like that, but I’m certainly not.”

“Yeah, right. You must not see what the rest of us do when we look at you then. You’re gorgeous! And this whole thing with Dylan serves you right. You work so hard to never let anybody in, and wouldn’t you know it; you meet the most perfect guy in existence. We should all be so lucky.”

“We’ll see just how perfect he is. I’m not holding my breath. Nobody’s that flawless.”

After Lilla leaves, I remember my promise to my therapist.

“Fine, Mindy.” I grab my notebook. “I’ll try this.”

Dear Mom,

I’m sitting in Tucson at a nice hotel, and I’m writing to you. To the woman I lost all those years ago, and you’d think I’d be over it by now.

Do you think that? Do you think I forgot about you, forgot about your face, your clothes, your hair? I don’t remember much of the details, but I still remember how you smelled. The perfume you wore. When I was a teenager, I went to the department store. I stood at the cosmetics counter for nearly an hour, testing every single fragrance behind the locked glass shelves. I drove the saleswoman crazy, but I sprayed one bottle after another on my wrists and arms until I found your scent.

Ruby XO. That was the perfume you always wore wasn’t it? I knew when I smelled it, as soon as I sprayed it on my right bicep. It was the only part of me that didn’t already smell like something else. Somebody else’s mother’s smell. But not mine.

I bought a bottle right then, and I’ve been using it ever since. Every morning. I haven’t missed once.

Jasalie

I put my journal down and turn off my light.

But I can’t sleep. I toss and turn for over half an hour, unable to even relax. Finally, I sit up and reach for my phone. I reread the saved address on my map, the one I typed in from the lawyer’s note card and that I’ve long since memorized. Then, before I can change my mind, I pull up Dylan’s number.

My text is short and to the point.

I’m in.

It’s late, and I don’t expect him to text me back. I’m about to lie back down when my phone dings with a message. Not sure how he’s going to respond, I touch the screen with a shaking finger.

No trial date needed then? What changed your mind?

I glance over at my journal.

I think you were right. We can help each other.

His answer comes almost immediately. Let’s spend the day together before you commit. See you tomorrow.

Tomorrow. I blow out a breath, finally releasing my tension. And I go to sleep.