VANESSA
I stared at my reflection in the mirror, smoothing down the front of my navy-blue dress for the tenth time. The silky fabric clung to my curves in a way that was tasteful yet alluring, dipping slightly lower in the back than I usually wore.
"You can do this," I whispered to myself. "It's just dinner."
But it wasn't just dinner. It was my first real date with Roman since my memories had returned—since everything had finally been laid bare between us.
After the foundation launch last week, I'd been surprised when Roman called to ask me to dinner. His voice had been hesitant, almost vulnerable. The foundation event hadn't gone as I'd hoped. I'd meant it as an olive branch, a way to show him I was ready to include him in all aspects of my life. But between my father's speech that awkwardly excluded him and Liam's constant hovering, the night had been a mess.
Roman had left early without really speaking to me. I thought I'd ruined everything—again.
