“How much groveling do you make Dylan do?”

I stood in front of the full-length mirror putting on blush. I held up an aqua dress in one hand.

“And is it, like, sexual groveling? Wait—don’t tell me that part.”

“A?” Lex’s disembodied voice floated from the living room. “I don’t know what that means. But it’s weird you’re planning the groveling, sexual or otherwise.”

After deleting both messages Nate had left me without listening to them, I’d finally picked up when he called this morning and asked to take me out for dinner as an apology for bailing last night. I knew something was up when he’d suggested one of the hottest new restaurants.

Of course I’d said yes. I’d already decided to let him make it up to me. Though I’d forced myself to have as good a time as I could with my friends, I’d missed him. I’d thought about it last night lying in bed, buzzed and alone. It wasn’t worth fighting.

“The thing is,” I said, holding up a pink dress for comparison, “if I don’t decide first that he needs to grovel, I’ll take one look at him in that damned suit and horny Ava will take over. I’ll probably just drag him into a public washroom and jump him.”

Lex’s flushed face appeared in the mirror behind me. “Well, I think you’ll be able to tell if he’s sincere.”

I settled on the aqua dress and pulled it over my head. “You like us together, don’t you?”

Lex had warmed to Nate over the past weeks, but I wasn’t sure she trusted him.

“I’m getting there. And,” she reasoned, “there’s always a bright side. If you guys get married someday, maybe we’ll get free legal representation.”

I snorted. “Now you’re pimping me out. Tell you what. I’ll forgive you if you let me borrow your Prada bag.”

“Sure.”

The thing was, I needed Nate to see he’d hurt me. He’d feel bad and realize the error of his ways—that was the kind of guy Nate was. But I sensed tonight was about more than just an apology. The restaurant, the secrecy.

What if it was something big?

Excitement bubbled up. I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t thought about the future with him. Like, a future.

The Hamptons wasn’t my style, but maybe we’d get a great loft in Brooklyn. A giant table for my sewing and another for his case work. We’d host parties and drink wine on the balcony and probably break the bed once or twice.

What if he does want to talk about moving in together?

I smiled as I put on earrings.

It’d be fast but in a good way. Jordan was spending so much time at our place, she could totally move in with Lex. I could move in with him, for now. At least until Travesty built enough steam that I could help pay for a seriously awesome place. It would be perfect, living right across the hall from my friends with my own dream guy. As a matter of fact, I’d seen some end tables that would be gorgeous in Nate’s bedroom. And an area rug that would pull together the living room …

My brain ran wild on decor ideas until I left an hour later. “Bye Lex!” I called.

“Have fun. Don’t make him grovel too much.”

Nate had asked if we could meet there because he had some “arrangements” to make first. When I stepped out of the cab and walked into the small, chic bistro, my eyes found him instantly.

He glanced up from his phone.

Damn. I’d never get used to the sight of Nate Townsend.

I was so glad I’d waited to fall for Nate. Someone real, with substance. He was everything I’d never known I wanted.

Nate stood when I approached the table, taking my time in my best heels. I felt his gaze run over me, appreciation on his face. The effort was worth it.

“You look beautiful,” he said solemnly.

He held my chair while I sat. He’d already ordered a bottle of wine, and the waiter glided over to pour me some before disappearing again.

As gorgeous as the restaurant and its patrons were, I couldn’t stand the suspense. He seemed agitated too, tapping his fingers on the table.

“Ava, I need to say something. A few things. First, I’m sorry about last night.”

Don’t give in too easily, I reminded myself.

“The thing is, I lost my job.”

My irritation at his half-hearted apology melted away.

“What?! That’s impossible, Nate. You’re the best associate they have!”

“Probably,” he agreed. “But someone got a picture of us at the Yankees game. It was leaked, with some … unflattering comments.” His face was stony. “Even though we weren’t doing anything wrong at the time, it made the firm look bad.”

I thought for a second, my brain scrambling to make sense of it. “But—I’m sure your dad can reverse the decision. He’s managing partner.”

Nate’s face didn’t change.

“Oh my God. Nate. He’s the one who fired you.”

“His hands were tied,” he said tightly. “For anyone else it would’ve been grounds for dismissal. He couldn’t make an exception. Even the most powerful men have no power at all when they’re in the spotlight.”

“That’s bullshit,” I bit out. There was no way Alistair Townsend, the man I’d met, couldn’t keep his own son employed if he wanted to.

“Ava, he’s trying to keep it contained, but keeping me there will hurt his credibility within the firm. I can’t ask this of him.” Nate straightened. “But there is an alternative. I have a new job offer. With a good firm.”

“Already?” Relief surged through my veins. “What’s the firm?”

“Tyson Parker.”

It didn’t ring a bell. Not that it should. “Is it in midtown?”

Nate scratched the back of his neck. “Not exactly.”

His coolness set off alarm bells. “Where’s the job, Nate?” I asked.

“Minneapolis.”

The noises from the restaurant blended together into a dull cacophony of music, tinkling laughter, and conversation. The steady pounding of my heart.

Nate said something else—I saw his mouth move—but I didn’t hear him. I sat back in my chair, bracing my hands on the edge of the table.

“Minnesota, Nate? Is this a joke?”

The visions of end tables and area rugs that had been forming in my mind popped like bubbles. I crashed down to earth with them.

I’d been so stupid, coming tonight expecting apologies, grand gestures. The last thing I’d considered was this.

“So what—are we breaking up?” The words came out in someone else’s voice. From someone else’s lungs, throat, lips, tongue.

Nate shook his head, brows knitting together. “Of course not. God, Ava. That’s not what this is.”

“Then tell me what this is, Nate. Because it sounds like you’ve decided to take a job halfway across the country.” I pushed back from the table, rising unsteadily to my feet. I started moving sightlessly toward the door.

I couldn’t have this conversation right now. I needed to breathe. Needed to get outside, away from all the smiling people and soft lighting.

“Wait. Ava, wait.” He caught up to me in the hallway and grabbed my arms, tugging me into a corner by the coat rack. “It doesn’t have to be like that. It won’t be.” His voice was reassuring as he turned me to face him. “Minneapolis isn’t that far away. You’re the one who said yourself you want to live all over the world. What did you think would happen when you moved to London, or Paris?”

I didn’t know. I hadn’t thought about it. All I could do was feel like my chest was tearing apart at the thought of this man I’d just found, who was my neighbor and my friend and who I was supposed to have a loft and broken beds with, leaving me in the rearview mirror.

“This is crazy. Why can’t you stay?” I demanded. “Yesterday you had a job. Tomorrow you could have another.”

Nate shook his head. “It’s not that simple.” His voice was firm. Like he’d already decided. “I need to work, Ava.”

“So get a job at a café.” I knew it was stupid but couldn’t help it.

“Ava … I’m sure you have questions. I’ll answer any of them.”

I swallowed the tears that threatened to spill. “When do you leave?”

“That’s what you want to know.” He sounded frustrated.

“Yes,” I said stubbornly, “right now it’s what I want to know.”

“Saturday.”

Saturday. The word sunk in through my pores.

It used to be my favorite day of the week. But I channeled my hate into that one word.

“Ava, long distance isn’t the end of the world.” His voice was soothing, his thumbs stroking down my arms. “Your brother and your roommate do it and they’re way farther apart.”

“I’ve seen what it does to them. And they’re totally head over heels for each other. Unshakeable.”

My forever involved waking up to him reading the New York Times with his glasses on. Going to sleep under his kisses.

It didn’t involve out-of-state phone calls and sitting in airports.

Nate and I stepped out of the way as a couple came to claim their coats. I stood stiffly, staring at the ground until they’d pushed through the front doors.

Deep breaths.

I turned my face back up to his. “I just don’t get it. Why Minneapolis, Nate?”

“Tyson Parker is run by a family friend. Mark Tyson has committed to supporting my father’s campaign. His son, Jack Tyson, has just started a new firm in Minneapolis.”

New frustration burned hot in my chest.

“So your father, who fired you, is sending you halfway across the country as what—a gift? That’s convenient.”

His brows drew together. “None of this is convenient. You don’t understand how these things work, Ava.”

“It’s convenient for him! Your parents want me out of your life, and if that means sending you away at the first excuse, so be it. Don’t you get it?”

Nate’s face darkened. “The world isn’t black and white. Nothing’s that clear.”

I was near laughing if I wasn’t on the verge of crying. “Nate, since the moment they found out we were together they’ve been trying to get rid of me.”

It terrified me that I finally was starting to understand. To understand that when Alistair lifted a finger, Nate would drop anything—everything. No matter what it cost him, or us. First it was the fundraiser for the party, then this job. We’d never escape it, never be out from under Alistair’s thumb.

“Ava,” he said firmly, “sometimes we all have to play by the rules.”

“I get that,” I insisted, “but you’re playing by his rules, not yours. And you always do.”

He shook his head like he needed to clear it. When he opened his eyes, they were confused and hurt. “It sounds like you’re saying we should take a break.”

No. My breath stuck in my chest.

“I want to be with you, Nate. But you’re about to pack your bags for a job you never knew about until yesterday without even talking to me about it. So maybe you’re saying we take a break,” I whispered.

His lips parted. I waited for him to say That’s crazy. Forget the job. I won’t leave.

Instead he said, “OK.”

I couldn’t speak. Just nodded, my throat burning.

We watched each other for a minute.

“OK,” I repeated back. Even though it wasn’t. None of this was OK.

I took a step toward the coat rack, fumbling for my jacket before remembering I hadn’t worn one.

“Will I see you before I go?” Nate’s voice was rough behind me.

The idea of being without Nate was agonizing, but drawing it out would be worse. I shook my head, mute.

Part of me wished he’d follow me out the door when I left to catch a cab, but he didn’t. I managed to get inside one and choke out my address before I broke down.