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Jack’s hand trails down my thigh as I stand up.

“First door on the left,” he instructs.

Twenty seconds later, I’m standing in front of a Hollywood-style mirror, my postgame and unstyled hair looking as confused as I feel.

What are you doing, Kendra?

A few weeks ago, you ended it with a guy you’d thought you’d spend the rest of your life with, and now you’re playing house with his rival’s family.

A part of me feels like I shouldn’t be here. Like I have no right to accept this incredible gift from these incredible people. All I’ve done is take since the day I saw Jack in Rise Up. In my determination not to lean on my family for money, I’ve done exactly that with the Morgans.

And I feel shitty for it.

So, why does this feel like this is the best birthday I’ve ever had? And why can I only think about the soft duvet on Jack’s bed and being back beneath it tonight?

“Kendra?” a small voice calls from the other side of the door.

I reach across and open the door to find Darcy standing on the other side.

At the sight of me, she cocks her head and immediately steps into the room, closing the door behind her.

“I just wanted to check on you.”

“I’m good. Just taking a second,” I say, summoning my best smile.

She lifts an unsure brow. “Was the gift too much? I know we can all be a bit over the top.” She chuckles. “Mum is probably the most chill of us all.”

Gathering my hair in my hands, I let it fall down my back. “No, it was beautiful. I’m just …” My words trail off because what else am I supposed to say? All that I was feeling a second ago? Hard pass.

“Can I say something?” Her usually light demeanor turns more serious as she lifts herself to sit on the countertop. “I mean, I know we’ve only just met, but I feel like it might be helpful, girl to girl.”

I nod my head once and wait for her to continue.

She inspects her bright pink nails before setting her eyes on me. “My brother loves you.”

I practically choke on my own breath. “What?” I spurt.

She winces and drops her hand down beside her. “Ugh, I’m always like this. Brain in first, mouth in fifth gear. But there is no subtle way to say it since it’s so damn obvious. My big brother is head over heels for you.”

“I-I’m not so sure he?—”

“He is. I’m sure of it.” She pushes herself off the counter and comes to stand in front of me, our height not too different. “Is it freaking you out? He kind of told me on text that you’d not long ago come out of a relationship, so I did some googling, and it didn’t take me long to find out you were with Tyler Bennett, his current teammate and college rival. I remember Jack saying he was an asshole back then. Sorry,” she tags on.

I laugh a single laugh and drop my eyes down to her fluffy pink socks. “You’re really direct, aren’t you?”

“Ugh, I know. It gets me into trouble sometimes. My boyfriend kind of hates how outspoken I am,” she grumbles.

Something about that statement resonates with me, lighting a fire deep in my gut. I don’t like that he does that.

Without a second thought, I take her hand in mine. “You aren’t too much, Darcy. I appreciate you coming to check on me. Also that you gave me your honest opinion about Jack. Things are… complicated right now for the both of us. I know that sounds like a cop-out, but we definitely make each other happy.”

Grinning, she keeps our hands joined. “I’m going to the gameagainst the Scorpions tomorrow. Are you free to come watch too?”

Jack and I haven’t spoken about me coming to watch his games, but something tells me he wouldn’t mind if I did. And an even bigger part of me wants to, not just for him, but for the girl standing in front of me, waiting eagerly for my answer.

Darcy was right when she asked me if I was freaking out. I am. When Jack carried me to his bed last night, I felt things I’d never expected to. Emotions I’d never experienced, not even with Tyler. The more I think about the connection between Jack and me, the harder it is to chalk this all up to fun and making each other happy.

Fun doesn’t look at me the way Jack did this morning, and fun doesn’t send shock waves to my toes every time I set eyes on him.