His arm squeezes me as he says all the things I want to hear. “It’s never gone, sweetheart. I just don’t want to hurt you. If I push you away, it’s because I’m protectin’ you. I’m not going to do that anymore, though.”

I love dreamy Trent. He’s sweet and is currently batting a thousand on the perfect scale.

I sigh and sink deeper. “I’m gonna hate opening my eyes.”

“Why’s that?” I feel his mirth flow through me.

“Because.”

“That’s not an answer, sweetheart.”

Trent hates one-word answers. Apparently, even dreamy Trent has the same issues. I don’t know how to answer him, though. Because when I wake, this will all be gone. I’ll be alone and even more confused. My heart will be torn between this possibility that my mind allows me to have and the reality of the man who doesn’t actually love me. He doesn’t push me away because he’s protecting me, he pushes me away to protect himself.

Even knowing this isn’t real, I don’t want to say it. The words are only thoughts, and they’re mine. Admitting them aloud makes them impossible to take back. And if dreamy Trent leaves because I say something that hurts him, I’ll lose all that I have.

God, I sound pathetic.

“Because I want you to stay, baby. I want to have this every day, but when I open my eyes, you’ll be gone, and I’ll be without you again. I don’t want to be without you.”

Trent’s fingers make patterns on my back as he stays quiet.

I let the silence settle around us and debate opening my sleepy eyes. Minutes pass, and I move my head against his chest.

“Open your eyes, Gracie.” Trent commands as his hands stop.

“No,” I refuse. I’m going to stay in this freaking hallucination forever if I can.

The arm that’s around me pulls me up and he rolls me on my back. Oh, sexy time with dreamy Trent. This is good. I can work with this. His body is braced over me as his lips touch mine.

Jesus this feels so real.

“Grace.” The heat of his skin warms me. “Do you want me to kiss you, sweetheart?”

“Yes,” I plead.

He doesn’t hesitate. His mouth is against mine, and my legs and arms wrap around him. I press against him, eliminating any space between us. Passion explodes between us as his hard body covers mine, and my skin tingles where we touch. Still refusing to open my eyes, I kiss him as if I’ve never kissed him before.

I don’t know if it’s because of all that’s happening. The confusion and change that has me desperate for him, but I don’t care. Trent is mine for this minute. I’m going to take full advantage.

You don’t love a man for this long and not yearn for him.

His tongue moves against mine as his hands roam my body. He pulls back, and I whimper. “Open your eyes.”

“Please don’t make me. I don’t want to wake up.” I move my head, trying to find him again.

“You’re not dreamin’, sweetheart.”

My eyes flash open and panic floods me. I let out a loud scream as I yank the blanket over my body. This is real? No, no, no. He can’t be here. We broke up. I was dreaming, which was why . . .

Oh, God. My heart races and he cups my face.

“Grace.”

I clench my eyes tighter. “This is a dream! You can’t be here! This isn’t real!”

His thumb rubs my cheek. “You know it’s real.”

This is what I get for drinking my weight in wine. I note that I have a bra and underwear on, so that’s a good sign. The other thing I observe is he most definitely isn’t wearing a shirt or pants. Shit. I try to retrace any memories of last night. I know I was singing, dancing around, I’m pretty sure I texted Emily. No, I called her. I told her about the date or, more accurately, that there was no date, and how Trent was the one who came to get us.

She told me to tell Trent to get lost.

And then it hits me.

I freaking called him. My foolish, drunk ass called him.

I slowly open my eyes, and sure enough, his blue eyes and unshaven face are all I see.

“This never should’ve happened,” I tell him.

“Oh, but it did.” His eyes gleam.

“Did we? I mean, we didn’t, right? Because . . .”

He moves his hand lower and cups my neck. “You’d remember. Drunk or not, you’d remember.”

I push him off and groan. “You had to know I didn’t actually want you to come over!”

Trent flops back on the bed with his arm behind his head. I sit, taking the sheet with me to cover myself. It isn’t as if he hasn’t seen it before, but still. His bare chest is now on display, and I fight myself to look away. He lies there as if he belongs here. I don’t know when he arrived or how he found his way into my bed. Honestly, I don’t remember much about last night.

I think I sat on the couch and then . . .

His knowing grin surges my anger and I snap.

“Trent, this ain’t funny!” My head starts to pound as I press my palm to my temple. “How did we end up in bed?”

He gets on his elbows and inches closer. “When you didn’t answer the door, I used my key. Then—”

“I’m going to need that back.” I cut him off.

“Whatever. You were passed out on the couch. I carried you in here.”

“And that was your invitation to stay?”

He shakes his head and releases a heavy sigh. “You seriously don’t remember?”

If I did, I wouldn’t be asking him. “Clearly not.”

Trent takes my hand in his. “You woke up when I laid you in bed. I didn’t want to stay, Gracie. I didn’t want to do this.” His eyes hold mine captive for a beat. “I wanted to leave because being here fucks me up more than you know.”

My breath hitches. “I don’t . . .”

“No, you don’t understand. You don’t care that I’m goin’ crazy without you, but I am. Then, to see you out with another man ’bout killed me.”

“Trent.” I squeeze his hand, but he doesn’t stop.

“You called, and I came with no questions. Because I’ll always be here for you. I’ll come anytime you need me. I was tuckin’ you in and your blue eyes opened. You begged me to stay. Your voice was sad, and I couldn’t leave you. You told me you needed me here, that you wanted me to hold you, so I did. I’ll do it over and over if you ask because I can’t walk away from you. It’s why we always find our way back here. No matter how much you think we don’t work, we do. We’re right for each other, and you fucking know it. Instead of seein’ what we are and what we have, you’re dating another man in my damn face!”