Chapter 8

As I walked down the hall, frustration and exhaustion weighed heavily on me. I had just finished talking to Ana, Scarlett’s secretary, who would be assisting me on this stupid trip to England for the conference.

Something was definitely off. I could sense it. Maybe Scarlett and her husband had an argument, and now I was caught in the middle of their mess. This was supposed to be my day off, and instead, I was being dragged into their problems.

Lost in thought, I accidentally bumped into someone.

"I'm really sorry," I muttered, barely paying attention.

When I looked up, my breath caught—Camila.

"Ivy!" she said excitedly, pulling me into a hug. I hugged her back, comforted by her presence.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, surprised to see her.

"I came to see my boyfriend," she replied with a smile.

Then, her expression shifted as she studied my face. "Oh no, you look so stressed out," she said, cupping my cheeks in her hands.

"Mrs. Cross wants me to fill in for her at the damn conference," I groaned, running a hand through my hair.

"Can you believe it? Seven million dollars is in my hands, and I really shouldn’t mess this up," I added, feeling the pressure sink in.

Camila let out a small laugh. "That sounds intense."

"How the hell am I supposed to find time for myself? For us?" I sighed. "I miss our outings, and—"

Before I could finish, Camila gently took my hands in hers, giving me a reassuring smile.

"I'm just stressed out," I mumbled.

"I know," she said softly. "I know."

"I know Mr. Cross—he’ll probably pay you a bonus or something, trust me," Camila said with a smirk.

I wouldn't mind that, I thought.

"Well, I hope so," I replied, letting out a small sigh.

"Hopefully, this trip will be fun," I added, trying to look on the bright side.

"Yes! Maybe you'll even find yourself a cute man," she teased, winking at me.

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, right."

Camila grinned. "Oh! I almost forgot. I was going to tell you after you got back from England, but... Max and I are traveling to Paris for a week!"

"Really? That’s amazing!" I said, genuinely happy for her.

"You guys are really getting serious, huh?" I added with a knowing smile.

She nodded, a dreamy look in her eyes. "I really love him a lot, Ivy," she admitted. "I think he might be the one."

I couldn't help but giggle. Seeing my best friend so happy warmed my heart.

She was lucky. Lucky to have found the man of her dreams—someone who would do anything for her, who loved her madly and completely.

And yet, no matter how much I told myself I was happy for them, a small part of me felt… jealous.

Not in a bitter way, but in a quiet, aching way. Because deep down, I wished for that kind of love too. The kind that consumed you. The kind that made you feel like you were the most cherished person in the world.

But that was just a fantasy.

Feelings like that could only exist in my shallow thoughts because, truthfully, I didn’t know what it was like to be loved with that kind of passion.

I didn’t know what it felt like to have someone look at me and say, "I love you."

I had never known the warmth of a tender touch, the security of being held.

There had never been anybody to teach me, to guide me, to love me the way I longed to be loved.

And maybe, just maybe.

****Ten years ago****

"My mouth was wide open when I saw him walk into the class. It was like a fairytale," Britney said, her cheeks glowing red, completely lost in excitement.

I chuckled at her dazed expression. "You and Justin are definitely a goal," I teased, shaking my head.

She let out a dreamy sigh. "I know, being in love is such a thrill." Then, her gaze sharpened, locking onto me. "You're missing out, girl."

I rolled my eyes, already knowing where this was going. "I'm not looking for a boyfriend right now," I said firmly, but Britney wasn’t having it.

She crossed her arms, tilting her head. "Mhm, sure," she said, giving me a pointed look.

I sighed, trying to defend myself. "I don't like anybody at school."

Her eyes sparkled mischievously. "What about Jace?" she asked, wiggling her brows.

I felt my face heat up.

"You were literally crazy about him," she added, grinning.

I groaned, rubbing my neck awkwardly. "That was a stupid crush I had on him in ninth grade," I admitted, forcing a small smile.

Britney wasn’t convinced. "Plus, I’m not even his type."

Her expression turned unimpressed. "And how would you know that?"

I hesitated before glancing at Jace, who sat effortlessly cool at the far end of the room, surrounded by friends. "I mean… just look at him, and look at me," I gestured between us. "Totally opposite."

Marine huffed, rolling her eyes. "You know you're so much prettier and smarter than his ex last year, right?"

I scoffed lightly. "That’s not saying much."

She leaned in, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Just talk to him. Ask him out to the Spring Carnival this Friday."

I exhaled sharply, biting my lip. "Britney…" I hesitated, unsure if this was a good idea or a disaster waiting to happen.

****Present****

The truth was, I did want a boyfriend. I wanted to experience a connection as deep as the ocean, something real, something lasting.

And I didn’t lie when I said my crush on Jace started in eighth grade.

But by the time I became a freshman in high school, that crush had evolved into something more. It was no longer just fleeting admiration or innocent daydreams—it was a passionate and sincere infatuation.

Every glance he threw my way sent my heart racing. Every time he laughed, it felt like the world around me paused just for a moment. I memorized the way his eyes crinkled when he smiled, the way he absentmindedly tapped his pencil during class.

It wasn’t just a silly crush anymore.

It was something deeper, something I wasn’t sure I even had the courage to admit—to him, or even to myself.