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I’ve got the girl of my dreams sitting next to me on her teenage bed, her palms over her face and her head full of every thought possible.

I’m tempted to repeat the words I’ve never said to anyone before. I always thought they would be hard to say out loud, and when I finally uttered them, some kind of fireworks display would go off around us.

Instead, it was as easy as ordering a scone from Ed. It rolled from my tongue like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Loving Kendra Hart is as easy as breathing.

“Penny for your thoughts?” I ask on a whisper as her mum knocks on the door and steps back in with two sandwiches and bottles of water.

She sets them down, and I offer her a smile.

“Do you want me to put this in the fridge?” She points to the bag on the floor.

Kendra pulls her hands away from her face, and my heart bleeds out when I see the pain in her eyes. She’s been through somuch this past twenty-four hours, and some of that is on me. Though I’d take it all on and away from her in a second.

“What’s in the bag?” Kendra asks.

I reach over and pull it toward me so she can see inside too.

“Wait.” Her hand dips into the bag and pulls out potatoes, carrots, onions, and ground lamb. Her eyes flick up to mine. “You brought the ingredients for shepherd’s pie?”

I know my dimple is popping when I pull out three more ingredients for a trifle. “I did promise you.” I look between Kendra and her mum. “I have enough to make it for everyone.” I put my focus on the girl beside me. “If you want me to stay, that is.”

Kendra passes the items to her mum, and she puts them back in the bag, clearly sensing it’s her time to leave when she picks it up and makes a sharp exit.

A few beats of silence stretch between us, but I’m determined for her to be the next one to speak.

Her mobile buzzes on her nightstand, making us both jump, and she tentatively reaches for it.

I can’t see the screen, but I’m not looking at it anyway. Only the way her lips roll together and the tear as it hits her cheek.

I want to reach out and swipe it away.

“Oh my God,” she finally breathes. Another tear falls from her eye as she looks at me. “How did he get my number?”

My brows draw together in confusion, and Kendra passes me her phone.

Unknown

Kendra, I know we haven’t spoken all that much in the past year, although I’m not sure that really matters. I wanted you to see something too. Something that counters the bullshit Tyler sent.

I once told your boy that I don’t much believe in love. I don’t, and Ihave my reasons. But I do believe in friendship and good people, and my boy Jack is both of those things to me.

You might be making out right now, and if so, discard and go ahead. But if seeing a copy of this thread, which I know Jack won’t mind me forwarding to you, helps, then I’ll gladly do what I can. I’m a good judge of character, and let me tell you, Morgan is golden.

*Attachment from Unknown*

Me

Kendra and me—well, we’re fake dating. I offered to take her to the gala to help keep Tyler off her back and so she wouldn’t feel so uncomfortable if he turned up with a random date. That kiss you saw earlier—it wasn’t exactly real.

It’s real. Trust me when I say, you can’t fake that. I don’t care if you’ve won a hundred Golden Globes and Oscars line your trophy cabinets. That shit was real.

Jack

I won’t deny that it was for me. I felt everything between us. I’m in deep with her. But how can you tell with Kendra?

Because that’s the way my wife used to look at me.