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He pulls out my chair for me, and I sit.

Then a glass of water appears in front of me, along with some garlic bread.

Oh hell, is this from B’s Bakery? My bestie's sourdough garlic bread with cheese and jalapeños is like crack to me.

I grab a slice and practically moan once I’ve taken a bite like a total heathen.

Preston chuckles, and my eyes spring open.

Right, he’s still here.

“I was thinking we should make some ground rules.”

He’s smiling like what he just said is the most brilliant thing in the entire world.

As if this isn’t the worst thing for him, and if it’s not, what is? I hate that I even want to know what that might be.

I don’t want to know things about Preston. If it ever turns out that he’s not this person I’ve created in my head, then I’ll be … hurt? I’ll feel guilty? I don’t know.

The last twenty-four hours have been a lot, and since I have so much to worry about as it is, I hate that part of me is angry for him. Angry that he’s being doubted when all he wanted was to continue his father’s business. That he hustled to get where he is with it. Like me. Our families built something that we want to grow, but no one believes in us.

I stare at my bowl.

It’s good, and I want to eat, but I just can’t focus right now, and I⁠—

“You know what?” Preston cuts into my rambling thoughts.

“What?” I ask, but I don’t look at him.

“I think that …” he scratches the back of his neck. “What would you be doing if I weren’t here?”

“Does it matter?” I ask and set my fork down.

He nods. “Completely.”

“Why?”

He’s up to something. I know he is.

“Because everything about our situation is going to be work for us. I don’t want coming home at the end of the day to find me in your space to be more work for you. Tell me what you would be doing if I weren’t here, so I can make it happen.”

Well, that’s suspiciously sweet.

“But you are here,” I tell him.

“And you look two minutes away from either crying or falling asleep in your noodles. Come on, Sunny. Tell me.”

I let out a breath. He’s not wrong. I’m exhausted. I want a hot bath, my pajamas, and then to maybe veg out and watch a movie before I fall asleep.

But I can’t do all that if he’s here.

“Come on, Grace. This plan is supposed to help us, not make things worse. I know my being here, in your home, isn’t something we thought of, but I am. So let me at least try to make it easier for you.”

He grabs another slice of garlic bread and slowly pushes it toward me like a peace offering to a wild animal.

My lips twitch to smile, but I stop them and take the bread.

“I’d have a hot bath running, where I’d probably soak for so long that I might fall asleep. Then I’d get out and fall asleep in front of the TV.”