“I didn’t know I needed your approval for whoever I choose to date.”

“Seeing as though you were only supposed to be dating me, I’m sure you can see why I would be upset with your poor decision-making skills. You can do a lot better than him.”

“Taking dating advice from an ex-boyfriend? How appropriate.”

“I never did get a chance to buy you that thesaurus...” He tugged at the bow on the back of my gown. “Does your new boyfriend know that I bought you this dress?”

“He doesn’t know about you at all.”

He twirled me around. “Does he make you happy?

I didn’t say anything. I continued dancing with him, trying to read his eyes and force the words I wanted to say out of my mouth. “I’m...I’m sorry that I left you, Jonathan.”

He stopped moving. “Excuse me?”

“I’m sorry that I left you...”

He sighed and twirled me again, not saying anything in response. He kept swaying me to the beat, acting as if I hadn’t said anything important.

I felt tears welling in my eyes and jerked out of his arms. “You don’t believe me? I really am sorry...I didn’t mean to hurt—”

“You did. You left me for a bullshit reason and you never even tried to explain what had been going on between you and my mother.” His eyes turned to slits. “And the next time I happen to see you, you’re wrapped up in my competitor’s arms and his tongue is ten feet down your throat. You saying ‘I’m sorry’ is supposed to fix that? I haven’t been able to think about another woman, let alone date one since you left me. Yet, here you are with Damien Edwards, damn near having sex on the beach.”

“It’s not what you think...” I tried not to cry. “I was wishing he was you the entire time.”

“So you did fuck him?” He hissed. “Because if he were me, that’s exactly what you would be doing.”

“No...”

He rolled his eyes. “It took everything I had not to drag you out of that room at the opening ball, Claire. You’re lucky some of my investors are here because if they weren’t, I swear to God I would’ve grabbed you by your—”

“Jonathan—”

“Your nerve is un-fucking-believable. If I wasn’t so angry with you, I’d fuck you right here so you could feel exactly how—”

“I love you, Jonathan.” I leaned forward and pressed my finger against his lips. “I don’t have any feelings for Damien and I don’t want to be with him. I’m only using him to get over you, and I am sorry for leaving...I really am...I don’t expect me saying that to magically erase what I did, but it’s the truth.”

He was silent for a while. “Why did you come here with him at all? You knew there was a chance that I would be here.”

“I didn’t...”

“What’s your excuse for kissing him in front of me then? You knew damn well that I was watching you...”

“I was mad at you for letting Stacy get that close to you. I wanted to make you jealous...”

“I was already jealous...” He clasped my hands and started to dance with me again, staring into my eyes. As we moved across the floor, he rubbed the small of my back and sighed. “How are Ashley and Caroline?”

“They’re doing okay...Caroline has a boyfriend now, and Ashley’s currently grounded for taking my car without permission. I actually enjoyed having her home this past weekend. She helped keep my mind off—”

“Me?”

I nodded. “I’ve missed you so much...I don’t know what I have to do to make you believe me but—”

“Prove it...”

“Fine,” I whispered. “Kiss me.”

“In public?” His eyes lit up. He looked like he couldn’t believe the words I’d just said. “Just because I’m about to kiss you doesn’t change how angry I am.” He smiled as he pulled me closer. “You’ve pushed me to a limit that I didn’t even know I had.”

“I didn’t realize how much you meant to me, Jonathan.” My lips were inches away from his now. “Can we leave right now? We can disappear before Damien gets back and before the lights go up so people won’t know what’s going on. I just want to be with you and—”

“Three. Fucking. Months.” He dropped his arms from around me and stepped back.

What? “I—”

“You haven’t said a word to me in three months and you’re still worried about being seen with me? Are you fucking serious? All that stuff you just said about missing me and wanting me back and you’re still stuck on this we-can’t-be-seen-together-in-public shit?”

“I’m sorry...I just thought that—”

“That I would come running after you like I always do? That I would force myself to be in your life when you made it perfectly clear that that’s not what you wanted? What the fuck were you thinking?” He looked hurt.

“Jonathan, I’m—”

“Did you consider my feelings at all? Did you think I wouldn’t believe you if you told me about my mother? I would have. And I would’ve put a stop to it the second you told me about it.”

“I—”

“I’m done playing games with you, Claire. There are a lot of things that I can get over rather quickly, but this bullshit isn’t one of them. I want you to choose.”

“What? What are you saying?”

“If you want to be with me like you say you do, and you really are in love with me like I’m in love with you, I need you to choose me over Damien.”

“I do. I just did. Can’t you—”

“In front of him, with the lights on.” He narrowed his eyes at me. “I think you’re still scared about us being seen together publicly, like you’ve been from the beginning. In the past, I was fine with that because I’m sensitive to things you’re sensitive about, but...I’ve told you that I don’t half-ass anything and I’m not going to put up with it anymore. I’ve done everything to show you that I want you and that I love you. It’s your turn. Choose.”

As if on cue, the lights in the room brightened to white and Damien wrapped his arms around me from behind.

“I’m sorry again, sweetheart.” He kissed the back of my neck. “You weren’t alone for too long were you?”

I shook my head. “No...”

“Oh, I see you’ve found my favorite person. Again.” Damien shrugged. “Did you come to the conference alone, Jonathan? Where’s your date?”

“I’m not sure.” Jonathan looked directly at me. “Miss Gracen, have you seen the woman I’m supposed to be with?”

Everything suddenly fell silent. It felt like the only people in the room were me, Jonathan, and Damien.

“Did you say something, Miss Gracen?” Jonathan raised his eyebrow. “Have you seen who I belong with? The woman who wants to be with me and only me?”

My heart was racing and my palms were beginning to sweat. I swallowed, looking all around the room. “Yes...” I panicked. “She’s over by the bar...”

He nodded his head slowly, saying “I’m done,” with his eyes. “Thank you very much...I guess I didn’t notice her walk by us...All differences aside,” he said as he reached out for Damien’s hand, “that was one hell of a demonstration you put on this afternoon. I wish I had thought of that wireless addition first.”

Damien shook his hand. “Thank you very much. That actually means a lot coming from you. Wait, you’re not going to try and steal it from me are you?”

“No. I already tried to steal what I wanted.” He reached out for my hand and shook it. “It was very nice seeing you again, Miss Gracen. I wish you both well.” And with that, he walked away.

“Hmmm. Maybe he is becoming classier.” Damien laughed. “Would you like to continue our dance now?”

“Yes...” My voice cracked.

As he pulled me close and swayed me to the music, I buried my head in his chest and held back tears.

Why didn’t I just say “She’s right here? I’m sorry Damien, but I’m in love with Jonathan...I want to be with him.” Why couldn’t I just say that?

I’d been playing that scene in my mind all night, wishing I could rewind time and take what I said back. I even went looking for Jonathan after the ball ended, attempting to get a do over, but his security guards wouldn’t let me get close enough.