Tom's stomach was in so many knots that he huddled over the wastebasket, inhaling the floral scent from the liner. He didn't want to consider what else had occupied this bin before his arrival. But it might be a pleasant distraction from wondering how profoundly he'd messed up tonight.

Maria had texted him they were having drinks and asked if he wanted to join them.

His heart weighed heavily. Had he ruined what he'd planned as a romantic weekend? She was fine sharing a room, but he got cold feet. He was relieved when she went on about the separate rooms. What would she and the others think of him now? Why did he go this big instead of keeping it simple? The French restaurant he'd wanted to visit would have been better even if the reservation wasn't for a few weeks. His impatience would be the end of them.

Tom dry heaved over the basket, but nothing came out. He almost wished it would in order to purge him of this nausea.

They should discuss it more, but he didn't want Maria to see him in this state, nor could he determine the right thing to text her. He sent Prae a message. Maybe everything was only this bad in his head, and she could talk some sense into his body. He couldn't.

A knock came on his door. Tension flowed out of his chest with his exhalation. He set the trash can down and took a few deep breaths. He tried to smooth his stubborn hairs in the mirror before approaching the door with trembling hands.

"Good evening," Prae's melodious voice sang as soon as he'd cracked the door open. It slowed his racing heart.

"Come in," his voice cracked.

Her forehead wrinkled, and she stepped closer as she gazed at him. "Are you okay?"

"I'm feeling better already just hearing your voice."

Her lips upturned as she laughed. "You always have a reserve of flattery for me."

He grinned. "It's how I entice you to put up with me."

"I do not need an incentive. I enjoy spending time with you."

She stood close enough to him for the resin-coloured flecks in her eyes to catch the light. Focusing on that made the tornado of worries in his stomach and mind settle.

"I need to record those words so I can play it back to myself on days like today."

Prae stepped away. "Did something happen with Maria?"

"Maria's great, if anything, too okay with this. I'm scared she's putting on a show."

Prae raised an eyebrow. "A show?"

"Pretending everything's alright, but resenting me for this."

"She didn't seem resentful. Only a little worried. She was hoping to hear from you."

His stomach nose-dived again, and he pressed his palm to his forehead. Was Maria doubting his feelings for her or reconsidering their involvement? He hadn't even had the chance to ask her to be his girlfriend, though at this rate he'd hyperventilate while working up the nerve to ask. He sat on the bed to ease his light-headedness.

"Don't put too much pressure on yourself. If it's the wrong time, that's okay."

Unfortunately, he had little time before his teaching contract was up, and if someone special was keeping him in Bangkok, he'd need a job for the next school year urgently. He longed to stay in the city for romance, but not if this would crash and burn like his relationship with Mackenzie. If that happened, he'd rather not be bound to another year of working together.

The bed shifted as Prae sat beside him. "You're worrying, aren't you?"

Tom chuckled. "If I knew how to stop, I would."

"Try this." She took his hands in her soft, small ones. "Picture yourself in a calm and peaceful place. Imagine your surroundings, the sounds, sights, and sensations."

Tom closed his eyes and pictured the tall tamarind tree in Prae's family's backyard and the sweeping view of mountains as the morning mist rose.

"Tell me what you see."

"The swaying branches of a tamarind tree, an empty terrace, a warm coffee cup in my hand."

"That sounds lovely." Her voice was as soothing as the imagery.

"You're there too, sitting next to me, watching the sun rise over the mountains. You're smiling at me in that way that makes me feel settled."

Her hands squeezed his in her gentle way. "Imagine what you hear."

As her soft fingers traced circles on his palms, he envisioned branches rustling and birds chirping. Prae's grandmother humming as she swept the terrace. The ghost of Maria's body heat from their shared sleep on the patio warming him.

They had already fallen asleep together, and it had been alright. Maria had flirted with the prospect of more but slept contently in his arms after a kiss.

But that was their first kiss. She'd likely grown bored with that now if her actions last weekend were a sign.

"Tom, is this helping?"

"It was. But..." If only he could turn off his brain.

Prae stroked his hand again. "Forgive me if I'm overstepping, but do you enjoy being in a relationship that causes you this much stress?"

He tried to ignore the pressure building in his skull. "Important steps are stressful."

"It's more than today. We've had long conversations about the restaurants you've chosen for casual dates." Her voice held that soft comforting tone it always did, never judging but always supportive.

"Food's important to Maria. I didn't want to screw it up, considering how Mitch got it right effortlessly. I couldn't let him have the upper hand." For a while, Tom thought he had it, but Mitch seemed to now.

"Relationships aren't competitions."

"That thinking sent my ex into another man's bed. If I'd tried harder..." He sighed at the memory of their excursions into the Rockies: skiing together, finding cozy restaurants, cuddling in rooftop hot tubs.

"You'd have an ungrateful partner who communicates their unhappiness by hurting you? Imagine you had had a family with her, and she threw it away so callously. It was a blessing in disguise. It brought you here." Prae smiled.

Here, almost vomiting at the thought of sharing a room with a woman with whom he wanted a serious relationship. "It made me a neurotic mess."

"It made you sensitive, reflective, and considerate."

"Now who's buttering who up with compliments?"

"I'm serious. Aside from your fear of failure—which is worse for you than anyone else—they're wonderful traits. You're an incredible man." Her glossy black hair framed her face with a gentle curve, a perfect fit.

"I'm not sure what I did in a past life to deserve you."

Prae giggled and leaned in closer, setting her head on his shoulder. "Nor do I."

His hand rose to her back, rubbing gentle circles on her shoulder blade. Her amber eyes stared up at him. "Tom," she whispered, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear a second later. She looked away then met his gaze again.

His stomach danced with anticipation, but a much friendlier kind than he got around Maria.

"I'm so grateful you're in my life," her crackling voice sent waves through his heart.

"So am I." He could take on anything with her support, like his terrifying situation with Maria. "My relationship would be doomed without you."

Prae stiffened beneath his touch. Her voice was a meek whisper. "I should go."

"That wasn't what I was—"

She turned away and headed for the door. "It's for the best."

The room was overwhelmingly empty when she left.