It felt good to hold this woman in my skin was pressed against mine, her body fitting perfectly into me. When we kissed it was all I had ever dreamed of and more. We were the perfect match. Just lying in bed with her was all I needed. „What are you thinking about?" she asked me. „Us." I could feel her beaming with joy. „This couldn't be more perfect." Hearing his voice made me jump and I turned around. Liam and Karma were lying, his arm around her, in my bed and looked at me confused. „What are you doing?" „I could ask you the same thing!" I said, pointing at Liam. Karma put her hands soothingly on my thigh. „Amy, calm down. You said this was ok." „Oh, this is so not ok." I hastily grabbed my things and ran out the door. I fell into a black hole.

I sat up straight in my bed. My heart was racing and I didn't know where I was. I tried to catch my breath. The images of the dream crept under my skin. The tears came rushing in. Then I remembered.

It had been four months. Four months since the day I turned my back on Karma. Four months since I packed up my things and moved to L.A to start over. It clearly hadn't worked the way I planned it.

At least one thing worked out: I had started working in the design department at Top Bee's. Lauren was thrilled that this way she was still able to ask me about important decisions but also for me to do something that I actually enjoyed. And I did. I had done a lot of the designs when we had first started Top Bee's. So this was a great way to connect back to the roots.

But this didn't help me with my other issue. Whenever I had a second to breathe between all this workload, her face popped up in my head. And the dreams had started again.

My phone buzzed. Of course my mind started to wander to the possibility that it might be Karma on the other end. Obviously, it wasn't.

„Lauren." I sighed, not even trying to hide my dissapointment.

„Gee, Amy, I'm not gonna call again."

„I'm sorry. It's good to hear your voice."

„The dreams again?"

I didn't need to say anything.

„What does your therapist say?"

„That guy was a dick."

Lauren let out a frustrated sigh. „Amy, you need to talk to someone about this!"

„I'm talking to you about it."

„You know what I mean! And sleeping around isn't gonna help you, either, so stop picking up random girls every other night!"

„Who says I'm sleeping around?"

„I know you! Also, word travels fast."

I rolled my eyes. „So Shane talked to you."

When I had moved out here Shane had come with me. Mostly, because Lauren ordered him to do so. But since we were here I had noticed him checking out a lot of the surfer boys so it couldn't be half bad for him.

„At least somebody talks to me."

I was a little annoyed. „Lauren, I miss you, too, believe me! But had I stayed in Austin, you could've sent me to a nuthouse by now."

„Yeah, I know. We just haven't talked in a while."

„So take a break annd come out here. You're still CEO, you can do whatever you want."

„What you need to do right now is get better. Spencer is starting to freak out about the new designs. They're way too dark and this time he's right about that."

„What do you want? They're selling out like crazy."

„Still! This is not the message we want to bring across."

„Oh come on, get over yourselves! The numbers are right."

„Amy! Please just do as I tell you and go back to therapy. I hate to be this straight forward but Karma isn't coming back."

That shut me up. „I know."

When I arrived at work I went to Shane's office. „Shane, please, sometimes you need to shut your mouth and not tell Lauren everything."

He turned around in his chair. „May I remind you that she is the only reason I have this job? I owe her!"

„Yeah, but not to my misery."

„You know she is only worried about you. Rightfully so! By the way, so am I. This whole feeling sorry for yourself has to stop now! Tonight at the release party I want you back in the game."

„Or what?"

„Or I'll steal the spring line from you!"

I gasped. „You're playing dirty, Harvey!"

„You should know me better by now."

I grinned at Shane. „Whatever!"

„Seriously, Amy. We've got press coming to that event. You better look stunningly beautiful."

„Don't I always." I smiled sheepishly and raised my eyebrows at him.

Later that day Shane and I met to go shopping and get ready. Usually, at these events we would make an appearance together. I had never been so close to him like I was now and especially in the last couple of months I had needed it.

I was nervous about tonight because it was the first event I would be the representative of the company at in a while. Most of the times Lauren would do it but this time she wasn't able to fly out. A couple of celebrities were expected, too.

„Amy, you've got this. If you would've gone to that therapist he would've told you this: the key to getting better is talking about it. And that is just what you are going to do tonight!"

„Thanks Shane, I feel so much better." I said, sarcasm dripping from my tone.

„If this career at Top Bee's doesn't work out I should become a therapist."

„That would be so great! Maybe I would even go to one, then."

„Hallelujah!"

After getting ready we were picked up by a limo that brought us to SKYstudio where the release party took place. We walked the red carpet and posed for pictures. Inside the venue Shane introduced me to a couple of his colleagues he had met at workshops.

The official part of the evening only started an hour after that. I was on stage for 45 minutes to present the line to the guests and gave a speech about how I had come up with all the ideas. Right then and there I didn't tell the whole truth. Lauren had warned me about not getting too nostalgic and keeping it on-point. So I didn't tell them about Karma or any of that. I had been pretty good about making up this story of my childhood that I was reminded of when looking at this line. And as usual, press bought it pretty easily.

After I had finally gotten off that stage (I was still nervous about giving speeches and standing in front of such a large crowd and talking freely) Shane came up to me, frowning.

„There is this reporter who desperately wants to talk to you in person."

I rolled my eyes. „Couldn't they have just listened to that speech I just gave for what felt like two hours?"

Shane shrugged.

„What station are they from?"

„NY1 News."

I felt my heart rate speed up. That name definitely sounded familiar. So I went over to where Shane pointed.

From afar I could already make out the auburn hair and I had to force myself to keep going and not just turn around and run away again. She had her back turned to me so when I got to her I spoke up. „What are you doing here?"

She turned to me, startled. „Amy."

We looked at eachother and didn't say anything. Everyone around had disappeared suddenly and it was just us now. I wanted to pull her towards me and hold her. But I knew I couldn't do that. I knew I had to let go.

„How are you?" Karma had a worried look on her face, scanning me like she was looking for any obvious sign of my state of mind right now.

I ignored her question. „Why did you come here?"

„Because that's my job."

I looked to the side, annoyed. „Karma, you know what I mean. Couldn't you have sent someone else?"

She hesitated before saying the next thing. „I needed to see you. See how you're doing."

I laughed sarcastically. „I'm grand, thanks!"

Karma finally turned to the camera guy to send him away. Then she turned towards me, anger flashing in her eyes. „Amy, stop giving me this attitude! I can't change the fact that I'm not in love with you. I only came here to get an interview for the station. I thought it would be a great way to catch up and talk."

I laughed. „Karma, are you really this naive? I thought I had made it clear when I walked away from you that I didn't want to see you again. Not now, not in the next couple of months, not ever!"

„Amy, I'm sorry I had to come here. But unlike you pointed out earlier it isn't that easy to ask someone else to come here. This is my job and I'd like to keep it that way."

„Fine!I still don't get why you couldn't have just gotten your footage when I was up on that stage and then left."

Karma was really mad, I could see it in her eyes and her movement. „Well, I'm not a psychic who's able to feel your thoughts. I genuinely thought you would be happy to see me after all this time. But obviously it was a mistake to come here."

Now it was her turn to spin around and hurry out the door. She left the camera man confused and overwhelmed.

I only realized later that I should've gone after her...

That's it for now, guys. Thank you so much for reading and stay tuned! ;)