27

ROME

It wasn’t the dinner that made me anxious. It was after the dinner—the possibility of not seeing Carly again. It was what I wanted for her—to live out there, doing the job she loved. I couldn’t hold that against her.

I knew she missed her family and seeing them might change her perspective. Her feelings for me might change, too. There was no guarantee what we had would pan out, considering what kind of people they were and my family business was here.

I would never blame Carly if she decided to be with her family and picked up what she had left off. It was who she was, and I would always support her all the way from a thousand miles away.

“What’s on your mind?” She squeezed my hand as we rode toward the address of the house her brother had rented.

“That I might punch your ex again,” I cracked a joke.

She smiled. “You don’t have to waste your strength for him.”

“Oh, that was for you,” I proudly said as I arched a brow.

“I think I can defend my honor, Langston.”

“I have no