Prologue Gemma “You really think it’s that easy?” I ask with my head tipped back and the sunlight shimmering across my skin. I’m standing in a field filled with blooming, violet flowers. The air is stifling, but in a beautiful way because it’s real, which makes it perfect. Alex struts up to the side of me with his arms crossed over his chest and an amused smirk playing at his lips. His muscles are flexed beneath his black t-shirt, his brown hair is tousled, and his green eyes glint with mischievousness. “Of course. Why wouldn’t it be?” I start to spin in a circle, keeping my arms to my sides. My long, flowing, brown hair blows in the gentle breeze and the back of my purple tank top sticks to my damp skin. “Because…” I spin and spin and spin, so free and everything is so wonderful. Alex chuckles under his breath, watching me with fascination. “Because why?” I stop spinning, facing him, and blink through the dizziness. “Don’t you ever get the feeling that things are supposed to be harder than they are—that life is supposed to be harder?” He cocks his head to the side with an amused expression. “You don’t think life’s hard?” He stretches his long legs, walking through the grass towards me, reducing the distance between us. “Because the other day you