Page 122 of Too Far

Together.

She asked for together.

The gaping hole in my chest, the one I created when I ripped my own goddamn heart out and walked away from Josephine, suddenly doesn’t hurt quite so acutely.

I can give her that.

I can give her so much more.

If only I get my head out of my ass.

They’re right. I can’t handle everything on my own. I have to let them in, commit to the version of my life I want. Even if it looks nothing like the dreams I created long ago.

Kendrick rises to his feet. Looming over me once more, he stretches his arms overhead and jerks his head to the side until his neck cracks. “You want to run later?”

I nod absently, lost in thought.

He returns the chair to its place at the table and tips his chin once more. “How much money did your mom leave you?”

My lungs seize at the question.

My mom was wealthy in her own right. Long before my dad came into the picture. Honestly, I think he resented her for it. She didn’t need his money, and that meant he couldn’t use it against her. He got especially nasty when he found out she’d left me a trust he knew nothing about.

“Five million when she died. I’m sure it’s grown since then. You know I can’t touch that money, though. The trust is ironclad.”

Taking a step back to me, he crosses his arms over his chest. “What were the terms again?”

I let out a huff and roll my shoulders. He knows the terms. We used to talk about how we’d spend our twenty-fifth birthdays on a private island together. That dream didn’t keep as we got older, but it was our favorite fantasy to lean on during grueling workouts and two-a-days in the heat of summer.

The terms of the will are simple. Beautifully simple, in a way that’s symbolic of my mom’s love. Her will mentions nothing about football or my education. She designed the trust so I didn’t have to meet any sort of metrics to access it.

“I get the money when I turn twenty-five,” I remind him—more than three years from now—“or when I get married. Whichever comes first.”

He nods again and raises a hand. Then he walks into the house.

Chapter 56

Josephine

“So.Jojo.”

Kendrick chuckles softly. He squeezes my hand once, but he doesn’t let go as we pick up our pace to catch up.

In my periphery, he smirks. “She wants something.”

Blinking at him, I try to make sense of the lighthearted warning. How can he interpret her intentions from those two small words? I’m endlessly fascinated by their tightknit connection.

We’re hiking around the property on a footpath that K swears is safe. Even though we had to bring bear spray.

The girls are walking ten yards or so ahead of us, and every so often, they peek over their shoulders. We can’t hear their conversation, but I catch the sound of their laughter every few steps. Kendrick calls out to them when they get too far away for his liking—which earns him matching unamused glares each time.

The way he cares for them makes my heart flip-flop in my chest.

Emilia stops and turns to face us, donning an angelic expression. “Did you bring your nail stuff with you?”

“Millie,” Kendrick scolds, keeping his voice low.

“What? It’s a fair question!” She plants one hand on her hip. “If we’re stuck here for another day or two, how else are we supposed to pass the time?”