But he also knew this was his last chance, so he had to make it work.

“I love her, Megan. I panicked when she said it first. It was a stupid thing to do and I need to make it right. But in order to do that, I have to be able to see her.”

Megan didn’t budge for a few seconds, then she sighed. “Let me talk to the others. We’ll see what we can do.”

“Thanks.”

It took Megan a few days to get back to him. For a while, Bash thought she was going to ignore him, that she’d said whatever she could to get him out of her shop. But she finally called him and told him the plan.

There was going to be a party Saturday night for Emma’s birthday. Everyone was going to be at Emma and Luke’s house for barbecue, drinks, and cake. Megan made sure to mention she made a cake for the event. He smiled at that part.

If he wanted to talk to Chelsea, they all agreed that was the place to do it.

He made sure to ask if it was okay with Emma if he showed up. Megan told him Emma said it was fine.

Which meant he was going to have to face her in front of all of his friends. All of her friends.

He could do this. He had to, because it was the only way he was going to be able to talk to her.

He arranged for Hall to cover the bar Saturday night. Megan told him the party was going to start at seven, so he made sure to wait until about eight before he headed over. He wanted everyone to already be there, especially Chelsea.

He pulled up to Luke and Emma’s house. Seeing all the cars parked outside the house, he was certain he’d never been more nervous in his entire life.

He saw Chelsea’s car parked at the end of their driveway as he walked up and rang the doorbell.

He had no idea what he was going to say, but he knew damn well that he wasn’t going to let her run away from him. And he wasn’t going to walk away this time.

Whatever she had to say to him, he was going to stand and take it, because he deserved her anger.

He just wanted her to actually speak to him.

He wanted her back.

Chelsea held her drink in her hand, trying her best to enjoy the festivities surrounding Emma’s birthday party.

She was surrounded by all of her friends, and the atmosphere was fun and chaotic. She was happy for something to do on a Saturday night. She didn’t know what she would have done without her friends the past couple of weeks. It was bad enough that it was summer vacation from school, so her days were free. Now she wished she were teaching summer school, because the days were endless.

The nights, however, were brutal. She hadn’t been sleeping well, instead tossing and turning, her thoughts filled with Bash and everything they’d done together.

She’d lain there night after night, replaying every moment in her head.

How could she have gotten it so wrong? His sweetness, his humor, the way he’d touched her, looked at her, the things he’d said.

Had it all been an act? For what purpose? So he could dump her as soon as she said, “I love you”? That made no sense. That wasn’t Bash. He wasn’t that kind of guy.

Though right now, she had no idea if she knew anything about men. She’d made a list, and she’d dated men who fit the list. That hadn’t worked out so well.

Then she’d dated Bash, who hadn’t met any of the criteria on her list.

That hadn’t worked out, either. But it had, hadn’t it? They’d gotten along and the chemistry between them had been powerful. They laughed together and had fun together, and the feelings she had were real. She had felt they were reciprocated by Bash.

She’d been so wrong.

She’d been in love before, but never like this. She’d never fallen so hard and so fast. Or so deep.

And she’d never been so hurt.

Over the past couple of weeks she tried to convince herself that she should have stuck to her list, but she’d come to the realization that her list had been complete and utter …

Crap.

She’d never find a man based upon a list.

She leaned against the kitchen counter, watching her friends talking and laughing. Emma with Luke. Carter with Molly. Will with Jane. So damn happy. They’d had no list. For them, it had just … happened.

She and Bash had just happened, too.

So what had gone wrong?

The doorbell rang and she saw Emma go to the door. She couldn’t see who was on the other side, but Emma stood there for a few seconds talking to whomever was there.

Then Emma stepped aside and turned and made eye contact with her, almost as if in apology.

And then Bash walked in.

Her legs started shaking. Everything on her started shaking as her pulse went haywire. She laid her wineglass down on the kitchen counter, her hand trembling.

Everything inside of her screamed no. She shook her head.

“No,” she heard herself whisper as she backed away, toward the back door. Bash advanced into the room, smiling and saying hello to everyone.

He hadn’t seen her yet. Maybe he didn’t know she was here.

But he had to know. Emma knew. She’d given her a look.

Did Emma invite Bash? Why would she do that?

Her body heated, and a sudden need to escape overwhelmed her.

Until a cool hand circled her wrist. She turned to see Megan next to her.

“You need to talk to him, Chelsea.”

She shook her head. “No, I don’t.”

“Yes, you do. If for no other reason than to get some answers and closure.”

“Closure is overrated.”

Megan smiled, then pulled her close and hugged her, though Chelsea wasn’t sure if that was actual affection or Megan trying to keep her from running like hell out the back door.