Maysie groaned. “Do you ever give it a rest?”

“Nope,” I responded, grinning devilishly.

“Okay, I’m just going to put this out there, because I don’t know when I’ll ever have a chance to again,” she began.

“Now I’m intrigued. Do tell.” I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees.

“If you f**k over Viv, I’ll cut you like a bitch,” she warned, her eyes flashing.

Shit, I hadn’t expected her to say that.

“Excuse me?” I asked.

“You heard me, Cole. I’ve watched you treat her like a damn yo-yo for years. I know Viv comes off tough but she’s not. She’s sensitive and vulnerable and you can’t use her like a freaking toy you want to play with when it suits you. She cares about you. A lot. Though I’m not entirely sure why.”

“Gee thanks, Maysie,” I muttered.

“I’m serious. We’re going out tonight on the town. And you’ll do what you always do. Pick up a random girl, not thinking about the person back in Bakersville who hasn’t hooked up with anyone in over two years because she’s hung up on you!” Maysie was pissed. She looked ready to take my head off. But what she said shocked me.

“Viv hasn’t been with anyone in two years but me?” I couldn’t believe it. I had convinced myself that she had messed around. I hadn’t been able to fathom a woman like her not being with someone who would treat her right. The way she deserved. The way I had never been able to treat her.

“No, ass**le, she hasn’t. So please remember her when you’re out tonight. Think about her feelings before you take some random back to your hotel room.” Maysie got to her feet and was ready to leave.

“Hold on a sec,” I called out, stopping her.

“I haven’t been with anyone but Vivian in a long time, Mays.”

Maysie gave me the yeah right look.

“I’m serious. I haven’t wanted to. I know I haven’t been the best guy. I know I’m arrogant and full of myself. I know what you think of me. But you need to know that I don’t want to hurt Vivian ever again.”

I took a deep breath.

“I love her, Mays,” I admitted quietly.

Maysie’s eyes widened. Why was everyone so shocked when I said that? It was almost annoying.

“Well shit,” she said.

“Yeah, shit indeed,” I agreed.

“Then why are you here and not back there with her?” Maysie asked.

“Because I’m not sure she’ll have me,” I told her, admitting my biggest fear.

Maysie snorted. “Oh she’ll have you. No need to worry about that.”

I shook my head. “You don’t understand. I told her I loved her. I laid it all out there but she doesn’t believe me. She doesn’t think I have it in me to commit to her.”

“Do you blame her?” Maysie asked.

“Fuck no, I don’t blame her! I just don’t know what to do to convince her.”

Maysie sat down beside me on the bed and patted my back. “You poor, lovesick idiot. Girls aren’t that hard to figure out, you know,” she tsked.

“Then do tell, oh wise lady!” I begged.

“You need a grand gesture. Something that will surprise her. Something Vivian won’t expect. Get romantic with it. Be cliché. We love that stuff.” Maysie smiled.

“Be cliché. I don’t get it,” I mused.

Maysie rolled her eyes. “Guys are so useless.”

She pulled her wallet out of her purse and opened it up. She handed me a ticket.

“Kimble Foundation’s Third Annual Fundraising Gala presents Our Fading Blue.” I looked up at Maysie in confusion. “I don’t get it.”

Maysie pointed to the ticket. “That’s the gala Vivian has coordinated. It’s fancy and a big deal. And what’s more important is that Vivian will be there all dressed up and looking fabulous. You need to rent yourself a tux, get your ass to that gala and sweep her off her feet. That, Cole, is your grand gesture.”

I grinned. “You are one smart cookie. Jordan is a lucky man.”

Maysie grinned back. “And so are you.”

I looked down at the ticket, thinking of Vivian, my smile threatening to split my face in half. “Yes I am, Maysie.”

I stood just inside the large room feeling stiff and uncomfortable. Maybe Maysie was wrong. Because this had the makings of a really bad idea.

I had no idea where Vivian even was. And I had to go to the bathroom. But hell if I was going to try to get these pants down. They looked as though they were spray painted on.

I was anxious and ready to get the romance part over with. I didn’t know what the hell I was going to say. Something told me tapping Viv on the shoulder and saying “Tada!” wasn’t going to cut it.

“You’re looking lost,” a tiny woman said from beside me. I fidgeted in my tight pants and shiny shoes.

“You could say that,” I mumbled, swatting away some glittery shit that was falling from the ceiling.

The lady chuckled. “Do you work for the Kimble Foundation?” she asked.

“What? Uh, no,” I said, distracted by the monstrous ice sculpture thing that looked as though it wanted to eat me. Whose idea was it to put that scary shit in the corner?

“I didn’t think so. Are you here with someone?” Why was this lady bothering me? Couldn’t she tell I wasn’t in the mood for chitchat?