Page 214 of Terms of Exposure

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"And you'll call me if—" He hesitated. "If anything happens. Anythingat all."

"I will."

He reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, his fingers lingering on my cheek.

"Goodnight, Candace."

"Goodnight, Sebastian."

I turned and walked to my car before I could do something stupid like cry again. Or kiss him. Or both.

I climbed behind the wheel, started the engine, and tucked Lavender into the passenger side.

My phone buzzed in my purse.

Then again.

I pulled it out. The screen glowed in the dark.

Garrett: You'll regret this.

Rosie.

The bag by the door.

Don't be me.

I pressed the button.

Block this caller?

Yes.

The screen went quiet.

Just silence.

I sat there, staring at the phone in my hand, waiting for the panic to set in. Waiting for the regret.

But it didn't come.

I set the phone in the cupholder, put the car in drive, and pulled away from the curb.

Lavender smiled at me from the passenger seat, lopsided and imperfect.

For the first time in months, I truly smiled back.

Chapter forty-six

Emma

"They're adorable."

Damien's attention was on the road, but I caught the twitch of his lips in the dashboard glow. "They're something."

"Don't pretend you weren't watching." I twisted in my seat to face him, tucking one leg beneath me. "I saw you. At the ring toss. You had that look."

"What look?"

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