Chapter 2

Sloane

I stared at the words for a long moment, my lips pressing into a thin line. A bitter smile tugged at the corner of my mouth small, tired.

Same flowers. Same message. Different day.

“Ms. Sloane?” a soft voice asked behind me. It was Charles, our butler.

I turned slightly, still holding the note between my fingers.

“Please move them to the garden,” I said gently. “They’ll look better out there.”

Charles gave a small bow and stepped forward.

I didn’t wait to see him carry them out. I turned and walked away, the edge of my robe brushing against the hardwood floor.

Some things were too pretty to be hated.

Even when they came from someone who broke your heart.

***

“He did what?!” Zara exploded, slamming her hands on the glass table so hard that my coffee rippled in the cup.

I winced. “Zara…”

“Oh hell no! We are not gonna overlook this one.” She shot me a sharp glare. “Come on, Sloane. We are not doing that thing where you make excuses for him. The man forgot your anniversary and it’s not even been twenty-five years yet!”

I sighed, dragging my fingers through my hair and looking anywhere but at her. “It’s not really his fault, Zara. He’s been busy… especially trying to get Matthew Langford on board. It’s a big deal.”

Zara threw her arms up. “Yeah, yeah, I get it. He’s a busy bee buzz, buzz, making deals but what, he couldn’t give you what? Eight hours? Nine? It was your anniversary, Sloane. He should’ve been there. That’s the bare minimum.”

She leaned back in her chair with a scoff. “Kaden and I are over, but guess what? He still sends me flowers on every damn special day in my life. And we’re not even together.”

“Evie, say something,” Zara snapped, turning to Evelyn, who had been glued to her phone like always.

Evelyn glanced up from her screen, her soft brown curls falling over one shoulder. “Zara’s right,” she said, offering a small shrug. “It was your special day. He should have shown up.”

I bit my bottom lip, feeling the pressure build behind my eyes. A quiet sigh slipped from my lips as I looked down at the untouched croissant on my plate.

Zara reached across the table and gently placed her hand over mine, giving it a small squeeze. Her voice softened. “I know it’s hard, Sloane. But you have to talk to him. Let him know how you feel. You can’t keep taking these sorry flowers like they’re bandages.”

Evelyn gave me a kind smile, and for a moment, I felt a little less alone. These two had been in my life since middle school. We became friends the day Zara punched Susie White for trying to bully Evelyn and me during lunch. That was the start of everything. Zara became a badass lawyer, and Evelyn turned into a stunning model. And I a brand strategist at Harrisonton Equity Group, Reed’s company.

If there was anyone I trusted, it was them.

I gave a small nod. “You’re right. I’ll talk to Reed tonight. I’m sure he had a good reason... we’ll talk and everything will go back to normal.”

Zara tilted her head, lips twitching into a grin. “Speaking of Reed…” She turned to glance at the doorway where Rio stood, straight and quiet as always.

Her grin widened.

“Is he single? Cause I need a man.”

Evelyn let out a soft laugh, shaking her head. “Please. Don’t act like you don’t have an NFL heartthrob still sending you roses.”

Zara waved her off. “Kaden and I were last season. We’ve been off.”

I raised a brow. “That’s what you said last month… right before you got back together again.”

Zara placed a hand dramatically over her chest. “Well, now I’m serious.”

“Again, what you said last time,” Evelyn teased, sipping her matcha.

“I’m seriously serious this time,” Zara said with a wink. “So tell me Mr. Sexy Bodyguard… is he single?”

All eyes turned to Rio, who stood as still and silent as ever. His arms were crossed over his chest, jaw sharp, eyes unreadable. Two years and I’d never seen him with a woman. He never spoke about his personal life. Reed was the one who hired him to watch over me, since he was always out of town.

I gave a small shrug. “I honestly don’t know. He’s really private.”

Zara let out a low whistle. “With a face like that and a body that could make a nun blush, I refuse to believe he’s single. If he is, the world’s broken.”

We all laughed.

Zara leaned forward with a sly grin, resting her chin on her hand. “So… Evie. Are you seeing anyone?”

Evelyn blinked, caught off guard. Her cheeks turned the faintest pink as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Me? Uh… no. I mean, I’ve been really busy. Modeling gigs have been nonstop. I barely have time to sleep, let alone date.”

Zara rolled her eyes playfully. “Work, work, work. That’s always your excuse.” She pointed a manicured finger at her. “That’s it. I’m setting you up.”

Evelyn laughed nervously. “Zzaraa…”

“Nope. No backing out. He’s one of my colleagues. Cute, smart, and single. He even reads poetry, if you’re into that kind of thing.”

“Oh God,” Evelyn groaned, hiding her face behind her hands with a laugh. “You’re not even going to show me a picture first?”

Zara wiggled her brows. “Where’s the fun in that?”

I watched the two of them banter, a soft smile tugging at my lips. Being with them always made me feel better…lighter, even when my heart felt heavy. Three strangers who had become lifelong family.

I turned slightly in my seat, the smile still lingering… and caught Rio’s eyes from across the room.

He was standing where he always did… calm, unreadable… But his gaze was on her.

Our eyes met.

I gave him a small, grateful smile.

He held my gaze for a second, then gave a barely-there nod before looking away, his face returning to its usual unreadable calm.

****

The car was quiet, the soft hum of the engine the only sound filling the space between us. I sat with my hands folded on my lap, my fingers toying with the hem of my top.

Zara’s words kept circling in my mind like a loop I couldn’t escape.

You can’t keep taking his sorry flowers.

Was she right?

I mean, it was just one night. One important night, yes but Reed had been busy. He was doing it for the company… for both of us. Wasn’t that something I should understand? Support?

Still… it hurt.

My chest tightened, and I let out a slow sigh, not even realizing I was staring until Rio spoke.

“I can feel you staring.”

I blinked, caught.

“Sorry,” I muttered, quickly looking away with a small embarrassed smile. “I’m just… curious.”

He didn’t respond, but I could see the slight raise of his brow in the rearview mirror.

“You’re so quiet,” I continued, resting my cheek against the cool glass window. “I always wonder if your mind is quiet too… now that would be awesome. If only I could silence mine.”

“Can I ask you a question?” I said softly, still staring at the passing streetlights.

Rio didn’t say anything, but I caught the subtle nod from the corner of my eye.

My fingers fidgeted in my lap. I hesitated for a moment before speaking again.

“What would you do,” I murmured, “when someone you love lets you down…even if they were doing it for something important?

I paused, chewing on my bottom lip.

“I mean…not me, obviously.” I gave a half-hearted laugh. “Just asking for a friend.”

Rio was quiet. His eyes stayed on the road, his hands steady on the wheel. But I saw the way his jaw shifted slightly, tightening.

He didn’t answer right away, and I almost regretted saying anything at all.

But then his voice came…low, calm, and firm.

“I’d tell your friend,” he said, “that silence is the fastest way to regret. Say how you feel. Otherwise, you’ll carry it alone… until it’s too late to fix it.”

His words sank into me deeper than I expected.

I knew what to do.

***

This is fine, I told myself. We’ll talk. Maybe have some wine. Watch a movie. Laugh again. Maybe… start a family.

I grinned quietly at that last thought as I stepped into the building and made my way to the elevator.

I punched in the code to the penthouse and walked in slowly.

“Bab—” The word caught in my throat and died.

My eyes landed on something soft on the floor.

A bra.

Not mine.

My heart clenched.

No. No. Maybe someone was here earlier? Maybe it wasn’t what it looked like. Maybe—

I couldn’t even finish the excuse in my head. None of it made sense.

I took a slow, shaky step forward. Then another. My fingers tightened around the neck of the wine bag as I approached the bedroom door.

I reached for the knob with trembling hands.

And I heard it.

“Fuck, yes. More, baby,” Reed groaned.

The words stabbed into me like knives.

My knees nearly gave way, but I pushed the door open.

And froze.

Blonde curls.

A tangle of sheets.

Naked bodies.

Her.

The bottle slipped from my hands and hit the floor with a dull thud.

They froze.

She turned slowly, panic in her wide blue eyes.

“Sloane,” she whispered, scrambling off him, her arms flying up to cover her body.

Reed didn’t even look surprised. Just annoyed.

But all I could do was stare.

Of all people.

Of all people in the world…

Why her?

Why did it have to be Evelyn?

My best friend.