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“No.” My answer came quickly. “Never.”

He smiled. “Good.” Then he pulled me back against him. I laid back on his chest because what else was I supposed to do? Tell him? Right then? Naked curled against him after he’d just become the first man I’d trusted with my body in more than two years?

Hey, funny story. You know that woman you were just describing? I’ve been her.

No, actually worse because she betrayed Nash. I had helped Caleb betray Ravenna for three years. Three fucking years, I’d convinced myself she knew enough. That their marriage was already over. That Caleb was staying because she was fragile. That waiting made me compassionate instead of complicit.

But listening to Nash… I wasn’t seeing the affair through my eyes. I was seeing it through the eyes of the person who didn’t know.

Had she questioned herself? Had she wondered if she wasn’t enough? Had she replayed years of her marriage searching for signs she’d missed? Had she wondered which memories were real? Which nights? Which kisses? Which I love yous?

My stomach twisted, so I closed my eyes.

Nash kissed the top of my head. “You sure you’re okay?”

“Mhm.”

His arms tightened around me.

I liked him. I really fucking liked him. But eventually, I knew that I had to tell him. He deserved to decide who he was holding. The whole woman. Not the edited version. Not Blair after the scandal. Not Blair after therapy, consequences, lost friendships, and rebuilding. All of me, including the woman I wasn’t proud of.

I looked up at him and his eyes were closed. He looked peaceful and I could’ve told him. Instead, I laid my head back against his chest.

I wasn’t ready for the night to become something else. I’d gotten something back that I’d thought was gone. And selfishly, I wanted a few more hours with it.

Tomorrow, I told myself. I’d figure out how to tell him tomorrow. There was no way I could keep falling for Nash while hiding something I knew could completely change the way he saw me.

I’d spent three years helping one man keep a woman in the dark, but I refused to build another relationship that required someone not knowing the truth. Even if that time… the truth might cost me the man.

22

Blair

BEFORE

The email came through at 10:00 on a Tuesday morning. By 10:01, I had screamed. By 10:03, Janelle was screaming. By 10:30, we had accomplished absolutely nothing except scaring the shit out of everybody else in the office.

“BITCH!”

“I KNOW!”

“Designer of the fucking year!”

“Nominee,” I corrected, although my cheeks hurt from smiling.

“Same shit. Well, it will be when you win.”

She grabbed my hands and started jumping. I laughed, jumping with her.

The Antionette Black Business Awards were a big fucking deal. Every year, Black-owned businesses across the state gathered for one night to celebrate us, our businesses, our growth, and our impact. It was beautiful and also one of those events where everyone came dressed like the Met Gala. I’d attended twice, but never as a nominee.

I grabbed my phone. “I’m calling Caleb.”

He answered on the second ring. “Hey, beautiful.”

“I got nominated.”

His excitement made mine double. “I fucking knew it!”