Page 41 of The Dating Prohibition

Before they made it to the door, Logan turned to Kendra. “I just want to make sure that you’re leaving for the right reasons

and not just to get away from BJ.”

Kendra’s shoulders pushed back and she looked her brother in the eye. “I promise you that this is not to get away from him.

I’m not gonna push it, and I’m not gonna ask for anything. Because, as you both acknowledged, he’s not ready. So, I’mma go

and do me. This decision isn’t about anybody else.”

Logan nodded slowly. “Okay, I just wanted to make sure, because I know you’re focused on your dream, but I also know a part

of you was holding out hope that things would work out.”

“True. And I don’t have any regrets. It’s just that I’m still processing, you know.”

“You’re disappointed. It’s okay.” Logan nodded.

“Yeah, I am. But I will be fine. And he will be fine. And, hopefully, when he is ready, he finds what he’s looking for.”

“And, hopefully, you find what you’re looking for too. All I know is that they better treat you right, so I don’t have to

kill them,” Logan deadpanned.

“Okay, well, let’s not go in that direction. We don’t need My Brother the Serial Killer to be the next title of a documentary.”

Logan laughed. “There are moments where I have that protective instinct. I can’t help it.”

“No, you definitely do have that instinct. And for certain people, I think I do too, but we’re not going to kill anyone anytime

soon.”

“Fine, take all the fun out of it,” Logan sighed. If he’d had his way, Chase would have been the first one to go. Luckily,

all of that was happening right as he and Shonda got engaged, so he had other more important things to focus on.

As they stepped back into her apartment, Lani and Shonda were sitting on the sofa gabbing away. BJ stood near the entrance

chatting with Stanley, his drink getting low.

“Can I pour you another?” Kendra pointed to his glass.

“Uh, sure.” He followed her toward the kitchen, and she reached for the bourbon on top of the fridge.

“Neat still?”

“Yeah, that’s fine.”

She took a deep breath as she poured a generous serving. “Listen, I just want you to know that there are no hard feelings.

I understand that you have things that you need to work out before you might be ready for something. And that’s completely

fair and valid. I don’t hold it against you. I wish—” She took a deep breath. “Ben, I wish you had been ready, because I think

that we could have had something really great.”

He remained silent, expressionless as he watched her and listened.

“I know you’ve still got your research to do and you’re not done, but I hope if you are able to that you’ll come down and

visit for the launch.”

He nodded. “I’ll see what I can do.” They stood there staring at each other, his hands in his pockets, Kendra’s arms hanging as she clenched and unclenched her fists.

All she wanted was to step into his arms and have him wrap them around her.

But it just wasn’t meant to be.

BJ blew a breath out his nose and opened his mouth to say something, but Kendra beat him to it.

“You know, Ben, I’m sorry. Your boundaries are there for the best and I wouldn’t want someone to be with me because they felt

pressured into it. When I finally do get my person, I don’t want there to be any question. I want them to feel certain they’re

with the person that they want to be with.”

BJ opened and closed his mouth, raking his hand over his hair before he accepted the drink from Kendra. “Thanks,” he said

gruffly. “And congratulations. You’re making your dreams come true.”

“One of them.” She smiled sadly.