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CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

KENDRA

R ise Up—better known as Kendra’s meeting room.

The place is way quieter than I’ve seen it before though, and it doesn’t take me a second to spot all black with a mass of pink hair sitting on a stool in the window.

“All right, Kendra?” Ed—the café owner who Jack has introduced me to a few times when we’ve snuck in here for a post-sex treat—waves his hand at me.

“Hi,” I reply and make my way to him as he motions for me to approach.

I prop my hands on my hips when a scone comes into view. “Let me guess who put you up to this.”

Ed chuckles and hands me the plate. “He said you’d be here this afternoon and asked me to have your favorite ready. Cream on top, right?”

“Yes. Yes, that’s right,” I say on a defeated breath, pretending I’m not fucking swooning the entire time.

“Oh, and tea for one.” He sets a tray with a ceramic pot, cup, and saucer down in front of me.

I frown. “Wait, you don’t even sell this kind.” I pick up the tea bag and look at the paper tag hanging from the string. “Yorkshire? I’ve never had this brand.”

Ed shrugs and smiles. “Jack asked me to get it in especially, so I did. Selling like crazy, to be honest.”

Yeah, I’m in love with him.

Flutters shimmer throughout my body as the memory of him telling me how he feels comes racing back . He’s falling for me too. The guy who said he didn’t do serious when it came to girls is falling for me.

I set the scone on the tray and take the whole thing from Ed. “How much do I owe you?”

He drops his shoulders, and he knits his brows, giving me a look that needs no further interpretation.

“Was he in here this morning?” I ask.

He nods and takes a sip of his own Yorkshire tea, and I fight back a laugh.

Jack Morgan—slowly turning New York British.

“Stopped by when we opened. Said he needed to stock up for his week away series.”

My heart sinks as I remember him leaving me in bed this morning. One whole week. Seven long days. He spent the entire time inside me last night, determined to make up for how much he’d miss me. Still wasn’t enough. It’s not like I can distract myself with soccer since we have four rest days after a stacked playing schedule and ahead of a crazy run of matches before the holidays.

It looks like I’ll be busying myself with TV repeats and waiting on an email confirming what I’m praying for—a place in the national squad this February.

“Question.”

I look up at Ed as he sets his cup down and smiles.

“When you two tie the knot, you’ll be coming to me for the cake, right?”

I stare back at him, not speaking since I’m unsure how to answer that question. I’m only just getting my head around how fast I’m falling.

“Are you coming over or what?”

I spin around to find Collins drumming her fingers on the bar in front of her.

She smiles as I make my way over and set the tray down in front of me. “What is this? Alice’s tea party?”

I snort and pick up my scone, taking a bite and humming with appreciation. “Want to try it?” I offer her the other half.

She scrunches up her nose and picks at her brownie. “I’m good, thanks.”

“Did you ever hear from Mr. I’m Not Married?” I ask, getting straight into it since I get the impression Collins doesn’t stand on ceremony. She’s the kind of girl who doesn’t do small talk either.

She shakes her head. “No. I did send him an invoice for the parts he kept coming back for though.”

“Obviously,” I say, bringing the cup to my lips and hating the fact that this is the best tea I’ve ever tried.

Damn him.

Collins winces. “Didn’t go over too well with the boss though.”

“Why? You did nothing wrong.”

She winces harder. “I added Asshole Tax.”

I choke on my tea, a few splashes hitting the window in front of us, and I quickly wipe it away with a napkin.

“And, yeah, that was the end of that job.”

“Wait, so you’re unemployed?”

She shrugs like it’s no big deal. Maybe it isn’t. I know very little about her.

“Are you some kind of millionairess and jobs are just for fun?”

She stirs a spoon of sugar into her coffee and laughs. “No. Not all of us are pro soccer players.”

When we spoke over the phone, Collins told me she assumed I was a hockey player and that’s how I’d met Jack. I quickly corrected her with soccer, still, it’s obvious she thinks I’m rolling in cash.

Dream on, Kendra.

“Yeah, the big bucks are reserved for the men,” I reply.

“Ah, yes, it’s a man’s world. I forgot that part. Silly me.”

I love her.

Still stirring her coffee, she sits back in her stool and brushes some brownie crumbs from her jet-black jeans. “I live my life how I want. I don’t spend much time in one particular area, and therefore, I don’t place any particular importance on a job. It’s a means to an end.”

As much as I respect her and kind of envy her attitude, I can’t help my heart from sinking a little. “So, you won’t be staying in New York?”

She shrugs and then laughs. “Depends if I can find a new job.”

I laugh along with her. “But seriously, I’ve spent half of this year worrying about money. What will you do?”

Her brown eyes find my own. Her carefree expression is kind of refreshing. “I don’t know how much of my life you’re interested in knowing.”

I’m taken aback by that. Why would she think I wouldn’t want to know more about her? Sure, I haven’t known her for long, but I can’t deny the instant connection between us. Some people you speak to like you’ve known them for years, and Collins definitely falls into that category.

“I’m all ears,” I reassure her.

She rests her elbow on the table, supporting her cheek in her palm as she looks at me from the side. “I guess I have been fortunate in some ways and not in others. Life’s been a bit of a mixing pot.”

I take another sip of tea and let her speak, already relating to that statement on a visceral level.

“I won’t bore you with too many details, but my grandparents effectively raised me in Ohio. ”

I set my cup down quickly. “No kidding. I’m from Ohio! Where are you from?”

Her eyes light up at that. “Just outside of Cleveland. You?”

“Cincinnati,” I reply.

“So, we didn’t attend the same kindergarten and then forget about each other’s existence?”

I snort. “No. Anyway, you were saying about your grandparents.”

“Yeah, so they raised me and then died.”

I look around as she falls silent. “Is that … is that the end of the story?”

She lifts a shoulder. “Pretty much. Died when I was eighteen and left me a stack of cash. I was an only child, so I didn’t need to share it. Since then, I’ve used it to travel. Both around the US and to countries a lot of people haven’t visited. Didn’t bother with college since it’s a load of bullshit. Then got into bikes. Bought my first one after my grandparents died and nearly killed myself on the freeway one night. Finally put some of their money to good use and qualified as a mechanic. Rest is history.” She takes another sip of coffee. “But, yeah, the money’s running out now, so jobs are becoming more necessary.”

My mind whirls at the influx of information. I don’t want to ask what happened to her parents since that feels a bit invasive.

“So, yeah,” she continues, “I guess I see myself as a bit of a free agent. I don’t have any family, and people generally let you down, so I keep to myself. Seems like the easiest way to go.”

Arguably, there’s a lot of sadness packed into what she just said. But I don’t really see it reflected in her demeanor. I think Collins is the type of person who has genuinely found peace with who she is and the life she leads.

A bit like Jack in that way.

Reaching across, she picks up the half scone she previously refused and takes a bite.

“What do you think?” I ask .

She moves her head from side to side. “ Comme ci, comme ca . It’s alright, I guess.”

“Well, whatever you do, tell my boyfriend they’re the best thing you’ve ever tasted, okay?”

“Here’s the first confession in our friendship.” She sets the scone back down and wipes her hands together. “Remember how I told you I have zero interest in sports?”

I nod once.

“Well … that’s not strictly true, not in the appreciative sense anyway.” She winks at me. “Pro athletes do have fine butts.”

“Yep, I can definitely confirm they do.”

She frowns at a thought she’s having. “I couldn’t enter into a relationship with one though. I think I’d be happy just to palm it every now and then.”

I burst out laughing. “Like a firm-butt-with-benefits kind of arrangement?”

“Yeah.” She smiles and then throws her head back. “Ugh, it’s been way too long.”

“You kind of only have yourself to blame for that, you know?”

Her head whips to me. “What do you mean?”

“You remember turning down a ride offer from the Blades captain. Let’s just say, I’ve kind of known the guy for a while, and I’m not sure he’s ever made an invitation like that.”

Collins fluffs out her hair. “Oh, no, I remember the offer and interpreted it as a potential booty call. That’s why I turned it down.”

“But you just said it’s been a while?” I counter.

“He’s not my type,” she immediately responds. “He must be ten years older than me, and—I dunno—he sealed the deal when he reminded me of how famous he was. Like I wasn’t already aware. Hockey fan or not, Sawyer Bryce is known.”

“You called him a stranger?”

“Did I?” She smiles, clearly remembering that she did. “Did it dent his ego?”

I roll my lips together to prevent the evil giggle I want to release. “I’m not sure what it did to his ego, but I do know he’s been asking about you. Wanted to make sure you got home all right.”

She downs the last of her coffee. “I go for younger guys. Generally, there’s less baggage. Generally .”

I rest my chin in my palm and study her. “So, what’s your plan? Find another job and stick around so we can meet for more random coffees and bitch like two old women? Or will you be loving and leaving me?”

She picks up her phone from beside her and checks the screen. “Can I answer that question in a couple of hours? I have an interview at another bike shop. If I don’t fuck it up and they aren’t bothered with previous employer references, then my tiny apartment and I should be golden for another few months.”

She slides off the stool and grabs her leather jacket. “I like you, Kendra. I think you’re in danger of becoming the first friend I’ve made in a while.”

I tip my head to the side and smile. “Better make sure you’re offered the position then, right?”

She gives me a little salute. “Doing it for you and me and our blooming love story. See ya!”

When she pushes out of the café and passes by the window in front of me, she blows a kiss before disappearing out of sight.

I sit there in a daze for a few seconds. She’s like a whirlwind but in the best way. The kind of person you meet and then wonder if that actually happened.

I’m still staring out the window when my phone buzzes on the bar, and I swipe it up, knowing all too well it’s too soon for a Collins-related job update.

Jack

So, our flight got delayed. It’s going to be tight between landing and the game tonight. I’ll call you when I can, Kitten.

P.S. Away series suck.

P.P.S. You looked beautiful this morning.

Me

*picture of teapot*

When are you taking me to the UK so we can stock up on Yorkshire tea bags?

I thought you’d never ask.

I’m typing out a response when the text chat disappears, and my happy mood instantly shifts to kind of pissed.

“Aren’t you boarding a plane soon?” I answer, not bothering to say hello.

“Don’t hang up on me,” Tyler says quickly. His surroundings sound quiet, and he’s whispering.

Feeling uncomfortable, I push off my stool and grab my bag, waving to Ed on my way out. “Well, that depends on why you’re calling. If it’s to ask if we can be friends, then no, we can’t. You set any chances of that alight when you acted like a prick the other day. Jack told me what you said to him in the gym. No one is preying on anyone.”

There’s a short pause as I step out onto the busy sidewalk and head back to Jack’s apartment.

“Believe it or not, Kendra, and despite the fact that you hate my guts, I still care about you.”

I blow out a disbelieving breath. “Word of advice: I’d up your caring game for the next girl you meet.”

He doesn’t say anything as I reach a quieter part of town and root around in my pocket for my key.

“Is that all you called to say?”

“I need you to see something. I get that it’s coming from me, and you don’t exactly see me as a credible source, but like I said, I care about you, and I can’t let you make a mistake without letting you see it. I don’t think I could live with myself.” Tyler sounds kind of pained as he delivers a sentence that makes my stomach roll with nausea.

“Tyler, what are you talking about?” I’m agitated—a product of how vague he’s being and how anxious it’s making me feel.

“Look, I might be a lot of things, and I genuinely accept there’s no way back for us.” He exhales deeply when my phone buzzes in my hand, and a message with an attachment comes through from him. “But I’ve known about this for a long time. An old college buddy of mine showed it to me back then because he thought I should see it. I did nothing about it, but kept it close to me since …” He trails off. “Since I always knew there was something I didn’t trust about him. The last thing I want to do is hurt you, Kendra. But whether you think of me as a friend or not, I do you. And friends wouldn’t let you make a fool of yourself like this.”

I bristle at the last sentence. “I’m not making a fool of myself. I’m happy.”

“Just … look at what I sent you and then ask yourself again if you really believe this whole thing is real to him. I was always about you, Kendra. Not sure if he can say the same thing.”

Dread crawls through my bones as I stand motionless and a few hundred yards from Jack’s apartment.

“Open the message, Kendra. I gotta go.”

When the line goes dead, I keep the phone to my ear.

I don’t trust a word that left his mouth, but that isn’t going to stop me from reading whatever he sent. I know it isn’t.

In slow motion, I open the thread with him and then click on a compressed file of messages.

The first thing I notice is the date stamp from over three years ago. We were just finishing up on our second year of college.

The next thing I see is Jack’s name, along with a couple of other guys from his former team. I knew he hung out with them at the time, and one of them was also friendly with Tyler.

My heart beats wildly in my chest as I scroll through the first few. There’s nothing here but typical nineteen-year-old boy banter about girls.

Until there isn’t, and my back thuds against the wall behind me as I slide down and sit on the cold, damp ground, drawing my knees up in front of me.

I’ve read this all wrong. There’s no way it says that.

I look up and blow out a calming breath, trying to steady my shaking hand before I center myself and read it again.

Ben

So, to be clear, you want to fuck Kendra Hart?

Kurt

Don’t deny it. It’s obvious.

Jack

Yeah, I do.

Ben

Called it!

Kurt

She’s with Tyler.

Jack

So? It would be as easy as taking candy from a baby. Flash her my smile, promise her a good time, and she’d be in my bed in seconds.

Kurt

Wait. You’re serious?

Jack

Deadly. I get to fuck the hottest girl on campus and then see his face the next morning. With any luck, might make her scream loud enough so he can hear it too.