Page 28

“If I do this, it’s with me going in knowing the risks and planning accordingly. I don’t have feelings for Loomis anymore.”

She gives me adon’t fucking lie to your twinlook to back up her warning.

“What? I don’t. I’m getting over Alden, and the last thing I need is to get attached to yet another man who doesn’t want me. I’m over it and him.”

“You mean that?” The worry in her tone is unmistakable.

“Think of what Loomis and Fenric are going through. What they’re facing. Especially if they stay here. He’s a baby, Kenna.”

She holds my shoulder. “I know, and I understand why you’d want to do this. I’m sure I’d offer the same thing, and he has every reason to say yes to it. I get it from both sides. I do. But I worry about your big, beautiful heart.”

“He seems… I don’t know,scared, I guess. Like scared they’ll take his son from him. It feels personal, and I know he didn’t have the best childhood.”

She frowns. “That’s awful, but I don’t see why they would.”

“Me neither, but maybe we’re missing something.”

“Maybe,” she says pensively.

“Tinsley is going to ask me to take Loomis and Fen with me to Florida. I know she is. If he wants to join me, how can I say no? Truly, tell me how I can and be able to live with myself. It’s the perfect place to hide out. Uncle Kap said it’s on an island, and the only way to get to it is by boat. It’s secluded, and no one will know we’re there. If they do figure it out, they’ll have a hell of a time getting close to the house.”

“It’s perfect for you, and it’s perfect for him. And while I don’t want anything bad to happen to Loomis and certainly not to hispoor son, who’s already been through enough, I’m worried aboutyou.”

“I’m getting over Alden?—”

She coughs the word “rebound” and I roll my eyes at her.

“Loomis isn’t attracted to me, and I’m over him. We’ve more than established that. I’m not looking to get my heart broken again. Plus, I haven’t felt anything when I’ve hung out with him.”

That’s like seventy-two percent true. I mean, obviously I still think he’s hot, because he is. He’s a famous movie star, so it’s not like I’m alone in thinking that. And yes, he’s fun and quick-witted and kind and a good father. But so is our friend Mason, who is a famous NFL quarterback, and I don’t feel anything for him.

Fine, my belly might swoop and flutter a bit, but any feelings I had for him are long since dead, and that’s how they’ll stay. I’m not that Keegan anymore. Iwon’tbe that Keegan.

“You seem settled on this.”

Am I? Didn’t I just say that bringing him along with me would be a disaster? I did, right? Before I called Kaplan, I wasrelievedLoomis wasn’t joining me. Maybe Kenna is right. Maybe I shouldn’t do this.

Then I think about what he said to me. How he could use a friend and offered to be mine. How he stepped in with Alden to protect and help me. How he entrusted me with Fenric when he’s barely told anyone.

I puff out a breath as I run a brush through my hair and give my eyelashes a fresh swipe of mascara. “I’ll wait and see what he says. I won’t just offer it unless it comes up.”

“Just protect yourself. That’s all I’m going to say.”

“He might not even want to come with me.”

She gives me adon’t bullshit a bullshitterlook complete with folded arms and cocked hip. “If his place is half as surrounded as ours, you know he will. What about your writing?”

That’s kind of a sticky issue because I don’t see how I’ll be able to work on it without him finding out. I shrug. It’s all I can do. “I’ll take that as it comes.”

“My love, sometimes your heart is too big.”

“Hey! You encouraged me to take chances and live a little.”

“Not at your own personal risk.” She walks over to me and kisses my forehead. “Protect your heart and don’t give it to the movie star who has too much baggage and a history of never getting serious with any woman.”

“I won’t,” I promise her, already decided on that. No matter what.

9