CHASE:Still zero DMs from women wanting to marry me this week! Our fake dating worked!!!
SERENA:Good! I was getting sick of hanging out with you, Sullivan!
CHASE:Yeah right! You loved every minute. You know you’re gonna miss kissing me after tonight.
SERENA:About as much as I miss the time you thought golf pants were trendy!
CHASE:I’m taking that as a hard yes. I might even let you squeeze my ass tonight too.
SERENA:Careful, Sullivan, or we’re gonna break the rules.
CHASE:Rules were meant to be broken, princess!
The Denver Fall Fair pulses with life. Noises wrap around us like a soundtrack to my childhood and teens. Laughter and chatterrise above the mechanical whir of the rides and the screams of those on them. Sirens blare from game booths, bells ring out with each win, and competing music from ride speakers spills into a night air that smells like corn dogs and cotton candy. It’s chaos and joy and memories of all the years I’ve come here with my family and with Chase.
It’s nearly 7 p.m., the air is crisp cold but not bitter, and I’m cradling four-year-old Grace in my arms. Her head is slumped against my shoulder, her witch’s hat askew. She’s warm, like a soft koala clinging to me. Six-year-old Ruby is trailing behind me in a matching witch costume, blue cotton candy residue still sticking to her chin. Somewhere behind us, the carousel plays a slow, tinkling tune. The sky overhead is tinted with dusty pink and deepening blue, the perfect canvas for string lights and laughter and the fun I’m about to have when I say goodbye to my sister and meet with Chase and the other Sullivans.
Elle’s husband, John—a tall slim man with an open face and an easy smile—takes Grace from my arms and shoots a look at Elle. She covers a yawn and leans into him. Love doesn’t look flashy on them. It looks quiet and easy. Like knowing someone so well you don’t have to speak to be heard.
“You know these monsters are gonna sleep in the car but be wide awake all night, right?” Elle says with a resigned smile.
John groans. “Sounds about right.”
“Worth it, though,” I say. “They’ve had the best afternoon.”
We’re quiet for a moment before John winks at Elle. “Hey, Serena,” he says. “You sure you don’t want to come back with us? You can keep your title as best aunt in the universe while we crash.”
I laugh but shake my head. “Tempting, but I’m busy.”
Elle’s smile widens. “Ah yes. Your fake dating scheme. I’ve got to say, I was worried when I saw some of the photos of you looking at Chase like he hung the moon, but to be honest,fake dating suits you more than the real thing. You seem happy, Serena.”
“It’s been fun, but it ends tonight,” I say, sidestepping a group of excited teens making their way into the fair. The smell of caramel and fried dough hits me again, and suddenly I can’t wait to see Chase. I know exactly what mood he’ll be in tonight. Amped up and mischievous. Daring us all onto the biggest rides. Goading his brothers into a high striker competition like he does every year, seeing which of them can ring the bell first. It’s usually always Dylan. Then Chase will challenge me to ring toss, and we’ll end up dragging an oversized stuffed toy around with us.
“The Chasing Love stuff has all died down now,” I continue.
Elle makes a face. “Won’t it all spark back up again the minute you break up tomorrow?”
I shake my head. “We thought about that. We’re not going to announce a breakup. We’re going to just go back to being friends and stop the PDA and photo ops. Neither Chase nor I are in a hurry to date anyone else.” I shrug. “The fans will catch on eventually, but we think people will have moved on by then.”
“And how do you feel about that?” Elle asks. “Things ending with Chase, I mean.” Her eyes watch me in that way only an older sister can. Like she sees everything. Even the things I don’t want to admit.Like Mama, I think. Seeing through all my walls to my deepest secrets.
“Fine.” My voice comes out too high. “Totally fine,” I say again, sounding more normal this time.
But even as I say it, I can feel the box I shoved all my feelings for Chase in rattling inside me, the cracks widening no matter how hard I try to keep the lid on. Yesterday, when I was fuming about Ryan, Chase had been so protective, so steady. And that moment between us when I’d thought—just for a heartbeat—that he might pull me close.
Of course, he didn’t. We weren’t in public. We didn’t need PDA. Of course, he stepped back. Chase was being a good friend, like he’s always been. Not a man looking for a relationship, and certainly not with me. Not with the girl whose vision board has had wedding dresses and kids plastered all over it for as long as she can remember.
And then suddenly, we’re back at the entrance to the fairground and there’s the Sullivan family: Dylan and Izzy, Jake and Harper, Flic with her platinum braid, and Mama, holding Madison’s tiny hand. And right there with them is Chase, in dark jeans and a white henley, sleeves pushed up his forearms, eyes dancing.
My eyes meet his, and his smile widens like he’s already won the biggest prize at the fair. I can feel my lips moving to match his smile and I know, by the fireworks and sparklers going off inside me like it’s the Fourth of July, that I’m not fine at all. Nowhere close.
Chase strides toward us. We haven’t planned this greeting, but his brows rise in question like he’s asking for permission. I smile and he sweeps me into his arms and spins me once, making me laugh as I clutch his shoulders, and then he kisses me. Soft and warm. And considering how my heart is pounding in my chest—dangerous.
“Ready for our last date?” he murmurs into my hair.
Never, I think as I nod. “Let’s do it.”
His fingers lace through mine, and he turns to greet Elle.