"Next in line!" the guy next to me says. I don't know his name. I've never met him before tonight. He was just some guy they hired for this event— this event that I didn't even want to do in the first place. I'm so thankful my publicist convinced me to do it, though. If I hadn't, I would never have seen Tessa.

Tessa... she looks so beautiful and radiant. I don't even know if she's seeing anyone. I don't think I saw a wedding ring... Of course, I was too lost in her beautiful blue-grey eyes to notice.

"Hello?" a girl standing in front of me says as she pushes her book in front of me.

"Uh, name?"

"Eliza," she says in a sing-song voice.

"Thanks for coming," I say as I scribble her name on the book.

"I'm your biggest fan," she boasts.

"Thanks," I say flatly as I finish signing my name on the book.

"Is there any way your biggest fan might be able to get a personal tour of your hotel room?" she asks bluntly.

That's all it takes for me to look up from the book. I stare at her for a moment. I know she heard me tell Tessa that I'll be seeing her tonight. Who does this girl think she is? I know four years ago I would have taken her up on her offer, but Tessa changed everything for me. A girl like her no longer interests me. "Thanks for coming," I repeat as I push her signed book back toward her.

The next girl in line pulls the same shit and I begin to consider ending this signing early. I'd much rather be spending time with Tessa than signing books for a bunch of horny, desperate girls.

It takes everything I have to get through the rest of the line, but after I sign the last book, I bolt toward the door.

My driver picks me up in front of the bookstore. As I climb in, I ignore all the screaming fans. I only have one thing on my mind— Tessa. I pull out my phone, open a text from Tessa and have my driver take me to her apartment.

On the way to Tessa's apartment, I have the driver stop at a flower shop I see on the way. I've never bought Tessa flowers before, but it seems fitting right now. I go inside and pick the biggest bouquet of lilies they have before getting back into the car. If I had known I would have been spending the night with Tessa, I would have come better prepared, but these flowers will have to do.

As my driver pulls up outside Tessa's apartment, I begin to feel butterflies in my stomach. What the fuck? I'm Hardin Scott. Since when do I get butterflies? I shake it off, grab the bouquet of lilies and Tessa's copy of my book that she forgot, tell my driver I'll call when I need him to pick me up, then I get out of the car.

I walk to the front of the building and find Tessa's name, then buzz up. She lets me in and I walk up the flight of stairs to give myself a few extra moments to compose myself. I'm so fucking nervous right now.

When I get to Tessa's floor, I stand in front of her door, but before knocking I fix my hair and take a deep breath to calm myself. Okay, here goes everything. I knock on the door and wait for Tessa to answer.