Page 178 of The Romance Adventure

“Yeah, that’s smart,” I say, but it’s almost like in that moment we switched roles. Whereas before I was worried, my confidence returns and his fades.

“We’ll have a tactical dinner, movie, tactical cuddle...”

My head falls back with laughter. “Seriously, how is this going to work?”

“Texas Hold ‘Em, butter pecan, Top Gun. I always ask for directions if I’m lost, admit when I’m wrong, and put the toilet seat down. I don’t do small talk. There. Now we know what we need to know. We’ll pass any test.”

My laughter continues. “And I’m a romance-a-holic trapped in a tomboy’s body.”

“Have you looked in the mirror lately, Lally? Your body is beautiful.”

I blush and once more, we swap confidence and doubt. “But still. Romy. Ross.”

“You never told me what happened—the video that went viral.”

With a defeated sigh, I pull out my phone. I do a quick search for Woman, break up, revenge, window and pass Magnus my device.

Instead of watching it, I gaze at the ocean and the diamonds rippling on the surface. In the distance, a ship darkens the horizon.

Magnus winces when the video ends.

I wrinkle my nose. “Proudest. Moment. Not.”

“That’s a warning not to cross a woman scorned if there ever was one.”

“It was less about Ross specifically, and more like latent anger that Ethan was gone, leaving me with the dregs.”

Magnus presses his hand to his chest, mock-insulted.

“I don’t mean you. I thought I’d had my shot at love, it was lost, and⁠—”

“And?” he asks.

I bite my lip as romanticipation builds inside. “And according to the official romance manual, when I bare my soul, you’re supposed to do something grand like spin me around, stare wistfully into my eyes, then kiss me, Captain.” I poke him in the chest.

“Technically, it’s Lieutenant Colonel.”

I lift onto my toes so we’re about eye to eye. “Sounds very official.”

“Is the spinning and gazing and kissing an official order?”

“I’m not ranked like you, Lieutenant Colonel McGregor, so you tell me.”

“First, I want to know everything that preceded the video. I ought to know what I’m dealing with,” Magnus says with a smile on his face.

“You sure about that?”

“It might help to get it off your chest.”

I’ve never really talked about that day or processed it, except for the shame every time I think about it and when I had to talk to the police and pay a hefty sum to the building owner for defacing their property.

“Here goes. When I found out about Ross cheating on me with Romy, my so-called best friend, he was in a business meeting, but I had an urgency to discuss things. Blinded by rage… or something, I tried to get ahold of him via cell.”

“That’s not wholly unreasonable.”

“When he didn’t answer, I repeatedly called the office secretary, requesting to speak with him. Ross wouldn’t excuse himself from the meeting and eventually, she let my calls go to voicemail.”

“Also, not unreasonable.”