Dedicating this chapter to LittleWildReviews for featuring a wonderful review of my other book Virtue and Vice in their website. You guys do a great job of giving us writers a good, hard pat on the back that keep us going.

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“It’s over. I’ve given him everything he could ever ask of me and that hasn’t been enough. If he doesn’t love me enough to be with me, then I wash my hands of him.”

Tessa and I glanced at each other as we waited to see whether there were more dramatic declarations coming from Anna.

She lifted the small espresso cup to her lips and took a sip, her blue eyes narrowing as she stared into the distance.

Guess that was it.

“Well,” I slowly said, hoping I had the appropriate words to say. “I, for one, am glad to know that you finally realized you deserve more, and that you won’t settle for less this time. If you’re what Jason wants, he’s going to have to make some big decisions and fight for you.”

A look of desolation flickered across Anna’s determined face as her composure crumbled for a moment but she shook her head firmly and took a deep breath. “A divorce is going to be an all-around mess for him but I won’t be the dirty secret he hides away anymore. I don’t want to live with that plus my guilt, which is already bad enough.”

Tessa and I shared discreet and relieved glances again.

Anna definitely had a better grip on her resolve this time around.

Since the incident during my bridal shower, things have been rocky between her and Jason. She’d turned him away for a while but apparently, she’d taken him back, which we hadn’t really known about until she called me and Tessa up this morning for a ‘post-super-final-break-up-ever therapy session with her sisters’, as she’d referred to it.

We met up late in the morning, went shopping (well, Anna shopped and Tessa and I convinced her to only buy half the mall, not the whole mall), got our hair and nails done, and finally refueled with some late lunch at the outdoor patio of a new hip cafe.

While I wasn’t personally prone to curing my heartaches with retail therapy and an hour-long prettification at the salon (because I didn’t really have the luxury of having them growing up), I went along without complaint because Anna needed it, and because it felt good to have sisters, and I would indulge them in this if it made them happy.

Besides, it distracted me from my own troubles.

It had been a day since my last conversation with Brandon over breakfast about Nicole and Zach.

I’d promised him I’d let him deal with it and I’ve struggled with that promise.

It was hard to keep still when there were a thousand questions running through my head every waking minute of the day. But I had to endure it because I promised.

Brandon came home on time later that day and spent the evening with me. There was a fragility to that time we spent together—needing, craving the company and comfort of each other, but also carefully avoiding the fissure that currently divided us so we didn’t fall into it.

This morning though, after getting off the phone as he was getting dressed, he told me he was going to be on an out-of-town trip for two days. I’d looked at him, saying nothing, and he reassured me that this was legitimately work-related. The pulp mill in Virginia had a large fire and he needed to assess any employee injuries, the damages and the repair needed. I didn’t even really know we had a pulp mill in Virginia, let alone that they had some sort of emergency there.

I tried not to show it but I was uneasy. Brandon could usually read me like a book so when he asked why, I sighed and bluntly told him that he lied to me about staying out late for work when he actually went to see Nicole and Zach.

His expression had creased with remorse as he apologized to me.

“I thought the lie would be a less harmful sin than dragging you into the mess I’m trying to fix and let you get hurt,” he said with a sigh. “It’s not easy for me be less protective of you but I know I have to remember that you’d probably appreciate it better that I tell you the truth and let you be brave about it, than to withhold it from you and hurt you with white lies instead.”

I smiled at that. “Maybe I should come with you. I could help. I could talk to the employees, or their worried families. I could—”

“It’s not safe for you to be around the site, babe,” Brandon had interjected gently, cupping my chin. “And we already have people there who are looking after the comfort of the affected employees and their families. I’d rather you stay here where I know you’re safe and comfortable.”

“Can I go visit them? Nicole and Zach, I mean,” I asked on impulse.

Something in his expression softened but he shook his head. “Not right now. I don’t want attention drawn to them at all.”

Since that was about all that I was ever going to get out of him, I pouted, but Brandon just gave me a pleading look, a long, passionate kiss, and a tight yet tender embrace before he left.

Minutes after he was gone, I had been strongly tempted to hop into the car and get Gilles to drive me again to Nicole and Zach’s address but I resisted, reminding myself of my promise.

I’d been watching TV when I saw a small news feature about the fire. My anxiety switched sources—from Nicole and Zach to Brandon’s welfare as he dealt with this crisis.

Getting Anna’s call had been a welcomed respite from my restlessness.

I didn’t mind other people’s drama over mine.

It hadn’t been all drama actually.

Anna had managed to hold off pouring her heart out until we sat down for lunch. During our shopping and salon trips, we mostly talked about the Championettes, Martin’s birthday which was going to be in few weeks time, and mine which was only around the corner.

The two sisters had actually pestered me to let them throw me a smashing birthday party and invite the whole town. I had to insist, strongly and many times, that I’d be happy having a small dinner with my closest family and friends.

I had no real plans yet. I haven’t even thought about my birthday.

With all the things happening to my life lately, turning twenty seemed pretty minor.

Somewhere between another argument from Anna about why I should throw a party no one will forget and a big bite of her panini, she crumbled into sobs, saying something about how she met Jason during her birthday last year.

“While I don’t exclude you from the guilt of this sordid affair, I think that if he had some semblance of being a gentleman, he should’ve well left you alone when he’s already got his ring on some other woman’s finger,” Tessa said with a snort, drawing surprised reactions from both me and her sister. “In my opinion, he’s not worth your time, your tears and most of all, your heart. I’m glad he’s gone. Good riddance to him!”

Anna’s big blue eyes sought mine in some kind of appeal. Obviously, despite their ‘super-final break-up’, she wasn’t prepared yet for some sharply-worded criticisms about her ex.

I opened my mouth to say something but the surprisingly stubborn look on Tessa’s face kept me from disagreeing.

I shared her sentiment.

Fickle hearts are only certain about one thing—uncertainty.

I have never been comfortable with the idea of extra-marital affairs. It was one of the ugly scars I wore from my family’s past but I kept that opinion to myself, knowing that Anna was suffering for it enough already without having us stoke the fires of her hell.

I reached out and touched Anna’s hand, tempering my words with as encouraging a smile as I could manage. “All we want is for you to be happy—whether that’s with Jason and all your complications together, or without him where you might be free to find a love that is all yours. The decision isn’t ours to make—” Tessa rolled her eyes at that. “—but we’re here to support you whichever way you want to go.”

Anna put her other hand on top of mine which was already resting over hers, and nodded, tears shining in her eyes. “Sometimes, I look at you and Brandon, and I tell myself that I deserve the same kind of love and happiness the two of you have—one I could show off proudly to the world. One where we could wear our hearts on our sleeves and not have to look over our shoulders every time. One where there are no secrets, no shame, no subterfuge.”

I swallowed uncomfortably at Anna’s words.

It’s not all roses and rainbows. Sometimes, thorns will prick you. Sometimes, a storm will catch you off guard. Yup. Love can leave you a bleeding, wet mess with nothing to show for your injuries.

“And you can have all of that, Anna,” Tessa said, softly this time. “You’re young and beautiful and no one will be surprised if you were a little reckless with your heart. So you got way in over your head with a man you weren’t supposed to be involved with, so what? When that’s over, move on. You might still find the love of your life. There’s no point in pining for someone you already know you can’t have.”

I looked at Tessa for a moment, weighing her words in my mind and all the ones she didn’t say but I knew were there, between the lines.

Somehow, it occurred to me that Tessa’s reserved personality had very little to do with being shy or soft-spoken—because in the time I’ve gotten to know her better, I would be the first to say that she was neither. Her distant attitude toward others was most likely because she was terrified of trusting her heart to anyone.

“What if the person you’re walking away from is the love of your life?” I asked her. “How can you tell whether it was just a casual game or the love you will never find again?”

Tessa’s light brown eyes widened at that, so much that I could see the little flecks of gold and green in them. She really was more hazel than brown-eyed.

That made me think of Zach. There were several different ways to have a hazel-eyed baby. I believed Brandon’s claim that the boy wasn’t his son but he was somehow related to him. How, that I still didn’t know.

“God, you two just confused me all over again just as things were starting to make sense,” Anna wailed, burying half of her face in one hand. “I’m so done with overanalyzing this. I need a stiff drink.”

I wrinkled my nose at her as I shook my head. “Sorry, can’t oblige you. Not one of us can buy booze. But we can do ice cream!”

Anna’s face brightened as she clapped her hands together. “I know! Stacey Watson’s party tonight! Her parents got her a new waterfront condo at Battery Wharf and she’s been throwing a party almost every night this summer.”

“At least until she gets kicked out anyway, when her neighbors get fed up enough,” Tessa muttered as she sipped her fruit smoothie. “I don’t know about tonight, Anna. Stacey Watson isn’t the brightest pea in your pod of friends.”

“She’s a stunning girl but I agree with Tessa,” I said with a sigh, remembering the short, busty brunette who was nearly as bad as Bessy was in high school. “The last time I saw her back in high school, she was telling a bunch of people that her doctor put anti-gravity material in her implants to keep her breasts perky.”

Tessa burst out laughing, spraying a little bit of her fruit juice on the table, while Anna just groaned out loud and smacked her forehead.

“Hey, not everyone’s got both beauty and brains and some make do with what they have, okay?” Anna said in a weak attempt at reproach. “Come on, you two. You’re supposed to cheer me up. I’m prescribing myself a party.”

“I’m in.”

We all looked up at the familiar voice and saw Jake come up, giving a quirky salute before plopping down on the only other empty seat at our table.

He was dressed in light gray dress pants and a pale blue button-up shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. He'd texted me earlier asking where I was with the sisters because he might grab lunch with us.

“Jake, that’s an awesome idea!” Anna said cheerfully. “The girls there are going to be so thrilled to have you over!”

Jake grimaced as he reached for the remaining half of a dill pickle that lay uneaten on Tessa’s plate. He popped it into his mouth and furrowed his brows at the sourness—or the idea of being hounded after by a gaggle of females—it was hard to decide which one it was. “On the other hand, maybe I shouldn’t.”

“Well, that’s news,” Tessa snickered as she touched the back of her hand on Jake’s forehead. “Hmm, it’s a fever, I’m sure. It must be. You’ve never turned down a chance to toss up as many skirts as you can before.”

I choked on my own drink, surprised once again by what came out of Tessa’s mouth.

Good Lord, this must be what it feels like for other people to listen to me sometimes.

Jake rolled his eyes at her as he caught her hand and lowered it from his forehead. “For your information, I’m not some salivating, lust-fevered animal who goes from one hump to another, and when I do indulge in the occasional pleasure, I certainly don’t go tossing up skirts. I’m a lot more skillful than that.”

I opened my mouth to say something placating before these two started bickering but whatever I had to say quickly lodged back in my throat when Tessa let out a dry, sarcastic laugh.

“A lot more practiced, you mean?” she retorted. “How else would you get your practice if not to go from one hump to another?”

“You can learn a lot of skills without having to practice all day and night,” Jake countered.

Tessa gave him a well, duh-look. “I’m sure it doesn’t take all that much time to hump that you can probably fit in a dozen a day with no problem.”

“As we further argue this point, can we at least call it something else other than hump?” Jake asked.

Tessa raised a brow. “You’re the one who referred to it as a hump.”

“I know, but that was before I knew you were going to throw the word back at my face so much,” he shot back.

As the two of them glared at each other, I felt Anna’s hand squeeze my arm under the table.

We glanced at each other and knew exactly what the other was thinking.

If sparks could fly, these two would be combusting right now.

I hid a smile because neither Jake nor Tessa seemed to have any clue at the sight they presented.

They were challenging each other with a look but their heads were drawn toward each other that they practically touched. There was a rosy flush on Tessa’s cheeks and a glint of emotions in her usually serene eyes. Jake kept glancing at her parted lips and seemed unaware that he was still holding the hand she touched his forehead with earlier, pressing it against his chest. Tessa didn’t seem interested in pulling it back and out of his grasp, and Jake didn’t look like it occurred to him to let it go.

Huh. Who would’ve guessed. Jake and Tessa. Huh.

It was hard to hide my excitement. Anna’s own eyes twinkled as she watched her sister but we both said nothing because if either of them realized that they were actually flirting instead of sparring, they might spring apart and run into opposite directions.

“If you really lack that much self-control, then yes, I agree it’s best that you don’t come to the party,” Tessa was saying, tilting her chin up daringly. “I would hate to have to spend all evening rescuing you.”

“I can take care of myself just fine,” Jake replied, picking up the gauntlet. “And my self-control is in perfect working condition. If I have to endure this party with you, I will, just to prove my point.”

Tessa arched a brow at him. “So you’re going to attend a party and not hook up with any girls there? You’re going to be completely immune?”

“Once again, I’m not a salivating dog, you know?” he said irritably. “I can go to a party, have fun and not end up in bed with a woman.”

“I say,” Anna interjected slyly. “Put your money where your mouth is, Jake.”

“Unless he’s all bluff,” Tessa said, tossing her hair back airily.

“If I win, I get a favor from you that I can ask for anytime,” he told Tessa with a smirk. “If you win, what would you like?”

“The same,” she answered with a smile. “It doesn’t hurt to have a powerful and influential man on your books. This is going to be so easy.”

He rolled his eyes then turned to me and Anna, his expression determined. “I’m going. I’m driving too. Other than to disprove Tessa’s esteemed summation of my character and easily win this bet, someone needs to look after you three to make sure you don’t run into any trouble.”

“Trouble?” I asked with an innocent glance at Anna. “Who, us? We’re absolute angels.”

Anna grinned. “Oh, yeah. Completely cherubic.”

Tessa smirked. “Well, not for very long if he’s coming with us. Keep the company of the devil and you’ll be tempted to sin.”

Jake glowered at her. “So I’m not a total saint like you are, Tessa Marie Maxfield, but I’m not a total villain either.”

“We’ll see,” she said noncommittally, giving him a small, smug smile.

“Party tonight, then?” Anna prompted, her eyes lit up happily. “We can hit it up around eight or eight-thirty.”

“I’ll come pick you up at seven-thirty then,” Jake said as he took out his cellphone and started typing on it. “I’ll round everyone up.”

“Oh, don’t worry, we’re all going to be at my apartment,” Anna said, and both Tessa and I turned to her and asked, “We are?”

She nodded eagerly. “Yup. We still have to shop for outfits for tonight but we can do each other’s hair and make up.”

I groaned, glancing up to heaven for some intervention. “More shopping? I’m sure we can find something to wear from all the purchases we’ve already made. We've bought enough clothes to start a boutique of our own.”

“We didn’t buy anything appropriate for tonight’s party though,” Anna argued.

I raised a brow. “Nothing appropriate? I doubt that there’s a strict dress code for the party. It’s going to be a bunch of college kids, getting drunk, getting laid and getting marred for life by the experience. I could be wearing palm leaves and no one would probably be sober enough to notice.”

"I would be," Jake said emphatically, running a hand down his face. "So no one is wearing any palm leaves. God help me if I have to fend off the entire male population in the party for the three of you."

"Don't sound so put out about it," Tessa said. "I bet more girls would worship at your feet if they know you're so strong and brave that you defeated every man in the party. Females evolved with the same ancient instinct to mate with the strongest warrior or hunter to ensure the quality of their offsprings and their survival."

Jake took a deep breath and gave her a pointed look before turning to me and Anna. "What's going on with your sister? Her head is full of humping and mating today."

Tessa smacked him on the arm. "This sister was taking some anthropology classes this spring, if you don't remember."