Page 7 (1/2)

The pants alone cost two grand How could Imy thirty dollar H&M blouse, even if it's worth about the sarand is to him?

I didn't care about the blouse I cared about the te wet and cool andhim

He's difficult and bossy and obnoxious and extremely handsome

I undress, run the shower, move into the small space

It's too soes Liam here with me, his hands on my skin, his lips on my neck, his voice in my ears

How can I actually touch him and kiss him and hold him and survive?

How can I lie to someone like Preston?

How can I say no?

This is the best opportunity I'll ever have Liam is a difficult boss And this job isn't what I want to do

I'lish degree, and ness to ask lad I have a job with a reasonable salary

New York is expensive

I don't mind the minutiae of work—the e—but it's not what I want to do with my life

I want to reach people Help the With normal stress and sadness Or the riptide of depression

That horrible feeling of being pulled out to sea, helpless, and floundering the le

It's not as simple as a riptide There isn't a clear path to shore—swim parallel, out of the riptide, then to the beach—but there's help

People need it

Mom needed it

I've needed it

Maybe this coe the entire world Maybe, even with Lia to fail

In theto help people

I can't turn that down

Even if it kills me

Blue sky

White sand

A soft breeze against my skin

A tall, tan rin on his face His hands on his hips

His swiround

And he's knocking

Again

Louder and louder

Shit

My eyes open My gaze goes to the clean white ceiling It's not a tropical paradise, but at least I' about Liam naked

"Briar—" Like he was conjured by ain "I have coffee"

I roll over Check the watch on my left wrist "It's early Go away"

"It's ten"

"On a Saturday" I pull my comforter over my head Close my eyes Will my dream island to return, sans Liam, but it doesn't "You said I could sleep on it"