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CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

JACK

Y eah, I’m verging on a heart attack.

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 so much 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 I have 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.

Slowly, she takes her phone from my hand and sets it on the duvet beside her. Then she reaches up and pulls at her topknot, letting her hair cascade around her shoulders.

“Kiss me.”

Two words are a wave of relief as I bring her face closer to mine, her chin gently gripped between my thumb and finger.

“Do you want my tongue, Kendra Hart?”

She wets her bottom lip, and at the same time, her pupils dilate. “I want whatever will last the longest. ”

“I’ve missed you, Kitten.” My voice is raspy as I feel her lips for the first time in what feels like forever.

I kiss her again, sweeping my tongue inside her mouth. “You taste like mine. Are you mine?”

She whimpers as her body practically collapses beneath my touch, and I bring a steadying hand to her waist, pulling her body into me.

“Because if not, I might start up a relationship with my captain.”

The smile she releases against my lips makes me want to lay her down right here and demonstrate in multiple ways how much I love her.

She pulls at the hem of her sweater. “Take this off. Take me.”

I shake my head, pissed at myself for doing it. “I’m not going to fuck you while your brother and parents are downstairs.”

My jeans are tented, and her eyes drop to the obvious bulge.

“Your dick says otherwise.”

“Yeah, well,” I whisper against her swollen lips, “I’m a respectable English boy.”

I watch the way she melts.

“You have no idea how hot that is.”

My face is all cocky smirk. “Why do you think I said it?”

I run the back of my knuckles across her jean-covered pussy. “You’re soaking through your pants, Kitten.”

She whimpers with more need.

“But I want you to eat something while I ask you a question.”

Her hooded eyes grow a little wider as I hand her a sandwich and then wider again when she sees the olive-colored key in my other palm.

“What’s this?”

“What do you think it is?”

“Well, it looks like a key to your apartment,” she says, taking her first bite.

I shake my head. “Technically incorrect. It’s a key to our place. If you want it. ”

She swallows her mouthful and stares right at me. “Are you …”

I nod. “I don’t want you to save up for another apartment because I want you with me. In our place, watching reruns of your favorite programs and arguing over football.”

She narrows her eyes, and I kiss her before she can say it.

“ Football ,” I drawl.

I kiss her again because what the hell? I missed the shit out of her.

“Move in with me and sign the deed that is currently sitting on the kitchen island at home. I bought the place from Jon, and I want it to be ours. Just you, me, and our castle.”

“Like royalty?”

Her eyes sparkle with the answer she hasn’t yet said, but I don’t need to hear it. I can feel it already.

I push her hair behind her left ear. “Yes, Kitten. Because you’re my queen.”

KENDRA

“You know you need to close your mouth to chew, right?” I say to Ollie as he sits, slack-jawed, shepherd’s pie piled high on his plate.

“All this just feels like a dream. Like Christmas came early or something.” He points at Jack with his fork. “What was it like when you met him for the first time and then found out your mom was marrying him?”

I look across at my boyfriend as all five of us sit around the dinner table.

I can tell what he’s thinking— Why in the hell is this guy, one of the biggest names in soccer, fanboying over my stepdad?

I mean, I get it—Jon is a big name. But my brother is arguably bigger worldwide. That’s Ollie though. While he might be flashy with his cars, you’ll never find a humbler person.

I take another bite of Jack’s dinner. Damn, this is good.

“How are you feeling, honey?” Mom asks me as she leans across and refills my water glass.

My brother pauses on his swoon session and immediately shakes his head. He’s been pissed off with the national squad decision since I told him.

I shrug, feeling anything but relaxed over missing out. “It’s just another four years to wait.”

I swear I see Mom grow heart eyes when Jack rises from his seat and rounds the table.

When he reaches me, he leans down and presses a kiss to my cheek. “I promise I’ll make this summer unforgettable for you …” He pauses and brings his lips closer to my ear. “Fuck Brazil. We’ll have an amazing time together, whatever we do.”

“Do you think the Blades will make the playoffs?” Dad asks Jack.

He remains standing behind me, massaging my shoulders as he answers, “I think we have a shot, yeah. It’s going to be a close call though.”

“I think you’ll do it. Jon has worked wonders with that team.” Ollie nods his head at Jack. He never interacted with Tyler like this about hockey. The difference is night and day. “Although you’ve proven all the doubters wrong.”

I feel Jack’s weight shift from behind me as he leans down and wraps his arms around my shoulders, his chin on top of my head.

Fuck, I love this boy.

“Can you all keep a secret? I’d say my balls depend on it.”

Mom giggles, and Dad fights back a smile.

“Ooh, insider knowledge.” Ollie rubs his hands together with glee.

“What is it?” I ask, sensing Jack’s excitement .

“Jon told me I’m getting my shot on the first line as center. They want to see how I go.”

“No freakin’ way!” I audibly squeal, and my dad’s hands fly up to cover his ears.

I leap from my seat and wrap myself around my six-foot-four boyfriend.

“Wait.” I pause and pull back. “That’s Tyler’s position, right?” I’m so not sorry when a grin spreads across my face.

And judging by his current expression, neither is Jack. “Again, top secret, but he’s being shipped to the AHL. It’s been a long time coming.”

“Fucking shit anyway.”

“Oliver Hart!” Mom announces as she stands from the table with her empty plate. “Congratulations, Jack. You have such a bright future ahead of you—I know it.” She glances down at our joined hands and smiles. “You both do.”