Chapter 38 Sara/Roc

The next morning came too fast. Gabe had barely finished his cereal before he was grabbing his backpack and running out the door to meet the bus. He yelled “Bye, Mom! Bye, Dad!” over his shoulder, and the sound still made something warm bloom in my chest.

Salvatore was in the bedroom adjusting his cufflinks when I walked in. He looked unfairly good for someone who’d been up before sunrise. He held out a black card between two fingers. “For today,” he said. “Have fun.”

I stared at it. “Salvatore, this is...”

“A credit card,” he said, amused. “Use it. That’s what it’s for.”

Before I could argue, he leaned in and kissed me. Soft. Quick. Familiar in a way that made my breath catch. “I’ll see you tonight,” he murmured, then headed out the door.

I was still staring after him when Roc walked in through the kitchen entrance. “You ready?” he asked, keys in hand.

“Yeah,” I said, grabbing my purse. I sent a quick text to Marco: Meet us at the boutique? Need your fashion expertise. Then slipped my phone away before Roc could see.

He raised a brow. “You look suspicious.”

I smiled. “Just excited to find a dress.”

He didn’t question it, thankfully. “Alright,” he said, opening the door for me. “Let’s go spend Salvatore’s money.”

And with that, we headed out, me with a secret plan, and Roc with no idea what was waiting for him.

**ROC

I should’ve known something was off the second Sara smiled at me like she was hiding a secret. But I let it go. I was focused on work, on keeping Juan in check, on making sure nothing else blew up this week. Dress shopping was supposed to be simple. We pulled into the boutique parking lot, and I opened Sara’s door like always. She stepped out, smoothing her hair, looking way too pleased with herself.

“Roc,” she said lightly, “our friend should already be inside.”

“Friend?” I repeated. “Who?”

She didn’t answer. Which should’ve been my first warning.

The bell above the boutique door chimed as we walked in, and then I heard it, that voice. Smooth. Warm. Too familiar. “Well, well… look who finally crawled out of the shadows.” Marco. My stomach dropped.

He stood near a rack of gowns, hands in his pockets, smirking like he owned the place. His eyes flicked to me, slow and deliberate, and my pulse kicked hard. I hadn’t seen him since that night at the bar, the night things got hot and fast and ended with me waking up tangled in his sheets, his arm around my waist like it belonged there. We’d texted since then. A lot. But seeing him in person again hit different.

“Marco,” I said, keeping my voice flat. Professional. Safe. “Didn’t know you were coming.”

He grinned. “Funny. Sara seemed pretty sure you’d be thrilled.” I shot her a look. She just shrugged, all innocence. Marco stepped closer, eyes dancing. “Relax, Hale. I’m here to help her pick a dress. Unless you need help too.”

I clenched my jaw. “I’m working.”

“You always are.” He bumped my shoulder lightly. “Doesn’t mean you can’t smile.”

I tried not to. I really did. But damn it, he cracked me anyway. A laugh slipped out, low and unwilling. Sara’s eyes lit up like she’d just won the lottery. Marco winked. “There he is.”

I shook my head, trying to pull myself back together. “Let’s just get this done.”

“Sure,” Marco said, brushing past me with a grin. “But you’re not getting out of here without talking to me.”

And the worst part? I already knew he was right.