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He gives me a mournful look. “I know. It’s the word he used, though. I just wanted you to know what he said to me and how he told me he felt. He cares about you and misses you and wants you back. That’s what I know.”

“When you fell in love with Wren, did you have tothinkabout it?”

He chuckles. “No. I just fought it like hell because she hated me so much.”

That makes Wren smile. “It’s true. I did. And from where I’m standing, you deserve certainty. We all do. Think is for pussies.”

“Truth. So you know exactly what I’m saying here.”

Jack’s expression sobers, and he nods. “I do. And I agree you deserve certainty.”

I turn back to Loomis. “Yes. I’m sure.”

Stunned silence falls over everyone except for the kids, who don’t care about our adult drama. Rory is busy leading them around in a game the little ones don’t understand how to play.

Loomis opens his mouth to respond, but suddenly my good arm is being jerked toward the door.

“We have to go finish packing for you,” Kenna demands. “Loomis, best of luck with everything, but if you hurt my sister, you’ll wake up to find your spleen removed from your body.” And just like that, we’re out the door and on the elevator. “You are one crazy girl,” my sister lambastes. “Keegan, I fucking love you, but if you let this man break your heart, I’m going to have to kill him. You understand that, right? I mean, I said I’d just remove his spleen, but I’ll have to kill him and he’s a single dad.”

I snort. It’s sort of my thing, I guess. “You won’t have to kill him. Nothing will happen there, same as before.”

We slip into the back of the car—a Fritz security transport—and let it take us home. “Don’t fall for him.”

“I won’t.”

“Good. Because he’s the definition of emotionally unavailable with more baggage than he can carry, and you have a way of falling fast and hard.”

“I’m not going to fall for him. I’m not even going to like him more than I should.”

“How are you so calm?” Her hands fly everywhere. “I’m sweating through my cashmere, and you’re all Zen and shit. It’s unnerving.”

I shift to face her. “I don’t know,” I tell her truthfully. “I just am. In my gut this feels like the right decision. I’ll still get my mental clarity. I’ll still write my words if I can. I’ll still make a decision about my future. And I’ll still keep my heart on lockdown. But while I do all that, I can help a guy and his little boy who are struggling. And what difference does it make to me if the world thinks he’s my boyfriend? I mean, truly? The only thing it’ll do is get rid of Alden. The press will be all hot to go, but unless they try to follow us to the Key we’re staying on—if they are able to find us there in the first place since it belongs to Uncle Kap and we’ve told no one other than the people in the room tonight where I’m going—there won’t be much negative for me with this.”

“Let’s hope not, babe. Let’s fucking hope not.”

An hour later,I’m zipping up my suitcases, feeling pretty good all things considered, when my phone vibrates from my nightstand. It’s been doing that a lot tonight, and after talking to my parents for half an hour, I think I’m phoned out. While they didn’t encourage me to get back together with Alden, they felt it deserved more thought before I cast him out of my life for good.

That and they don’t like that I’m going to Uncle Kaplan’s place with a man whose face is on every news, entertainment, and social media platform out there. I get that. That part of this is certainly no one’s favorite. I know they think I’m making a mistake, and maybe I am. Maybe this will turn into that. Especially since we don’t know who tipped off the press. But right now, the decision to bring Loomis and Fenric along was surprisingly easy.

My phone buzzes again, and I sigh. I should have put it on Do Not Disturb.

I get up to do just that when I discover it’s Loomis texting.

Loomis: I can’t stop thinking about our conversation tonight and if you were serious or not. You ran out so quickly, and I want to make sure this is what you want.

Loomis: Please tell me to fuck off before I figure out how to get my hands on baby swim costumes, sun cream, and hats.

Me: But think of how cute you’ll look in them.

Loomis: Ha! You’re a laugh riot. So you are serious? As in you’re of sound mind and body when you agree to take Loomis Powell and his son Fenric Powell to some random home and be my fake girlfriend until such a time as you decide you’ve had it and officially break up with me? Again, because I believe you’ve already done that once.

I can’t help but laugh. I get the impression he rambles a bit when he’s excessively nervous.

Me: Yes. Do you need me to sign a contract?

Loomis: I’ll take your word. And thank you, Keegan. As always, I’m blown away by how incredible you are.

Loomis: Forgetting contracts, should we still make some rules? Things you want or don’t want from me?