a

leaning against his car as he waits

It isn't fair that he continues to get more handsome the older we get. Each time I see him, he feels a little more o

and I smile back at him. There's a good chance I'll regret giving i

he gets in beside me, his hands w

sounding petulant. I can't help the way my heart races when he says my name like that

h he really has missed me, and that fire

hority. "I'm working really insane hours. I've got so many modeling contracts, and I'm trying to

"Don't overwork yourself, Rave. Remember to take care of yourself, okay? You can't always b

e world revolves around Hannah, and I hate going where I'm not welcome. I shouldn't feel excluded in my

as though he can see straight through my l

uying this year?" I ask him

mile on his face. "What do you

statement pi

t out laughing, and that just makes him smile in return.

old friend and his future sister-in-law, but when he tells me he missed me, it becomes hard to remember that. I tighten

. "How about I j

ook his way. "Like

ing out of the car to rush around it so he can open the door for me. He o

azzo that has been trailing me lately smirking at me. I grit my teeth and t

d've known taking you to such a public place would've resulted in this. I'm

iving my life just because I know I could be photographed at any time. It used to scare me, y

Maybe I should get you some bodyguards." His tone

y don't have as much privacy as I wish I had. The last t

h me, but thankfully he remains quiet as we wa

de the kind of elegance that suits this store. "Mr. Windsor," he says, before turning toward me with wide eyes. "Raven." His eyes roam over my body the way men's eyes always do. It used to disgust m

ise, only to find him looking at the store manager with barely concealed annoy

unters, his body tense. "What's wrong?"

al. The way he looked at you just now? What was that? First, we

ow anymore. I was named this year's highest paid model, and I'm a brand ambassador for many of the products sold in this mall. It's not surpris

"Mild? He practica

ah? I might be well known, but I'm pretty sure Hannah is even more famous. Models generally aren

popularity. Besides, your sister has bodyguards around at all times, so I d

thought of me ever getting engaged seems so inconceivable. I can't imagine ever wanting to marry anyone other than Are

ecklaces are displayed, my gaze settling on a diamo

hind me. I hold the choker up against my neck, wanting to check what it'll look like,

on," he

This is for Hannah. I can tell s

lace on me. The way his fingers graze over my skin sends a s

for you, Raven. We can find

through the mirror. "Your birthday

around the clasp at the back. "But thank you. Sh

like you've been avoiding me lately, you know? Is it the pressure Hannah has put on you with the wedding? I know you've been doing

mile at him. "We're fine, Ares. I'v

him marrying Hannah makes everything feel so final? I'm truly losing him now, every last bit of hope going up in smoke. Ho