Page 17 of Undeniably Unexpected (Boston’s Irresistible Billionaires #6)

I wasn’t going to say anything. I was going to stick to the plan Kenna, Katy, Wren, Sorel, and I had come up with.

When I got here, Katy was immediately all over me, asking a dozen questions at light speed.

I told her the truth, and I could see the relief in her eyes.

Katy and I have been best friends since we were small kids.

Since my aunt Layla married her uncle Callan, who was her guardian, and we all sort of became one big family.

She was worried about me. She knows I used to have a crush on Loomis. A crush that led to nothing fun on my end, and she didn’t want me to get hurt.

“I know what Tinsley wants too, and I get it. Loomis is a great guy, and I don’t want to see him or his son hurt. But I don’t want to see you get hurt either,” she had said, almost identical to Kenna’s speech.

“You just got out of a relationship with Alden, and you need time for yourself. Time to heal.” That was Wren.

Sorel’s eyes were on my wrist as she said, “Figuratively and literally. You have enough on your plate. You don’t have to bring them with you.”

“Yes.” Kenna was practically dancing naked in the rain with all the support. “We’re just worried about you.”

“I know that,” I told all of them.

Katy studied me because Katy knows me almost as well as Kenna does. “Do you, though? Because your expression is telling me otherwise, and I know how your brain and heart work. You’re loyal and loving to a fault.”

I snorted. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

“It’s not unless you put your health and well-being last,” Wren said adamantly.

I got their point.

Tinsley didn’t say much and didn’t try to persuade me one way or the other. I give her credit for that even when it was obvious what she wanted me to do in this situation. And before he got here, I was determined not to invite him again unless he asked.

But then I saw him arrive with four security guards and a look of pure relief on his face when he entered the room.

Plus there’s Fen. The cute tiny thing who gave me a toothy smile when he saw me and was holding his Curious George that I gave him.

He’s now playing with Willow and Rory, which is the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.

I could tell him to find his own place to hide out. I likely should, if we’re being honest.

But anywhere he goes, anything that’s booked for him, he’ll be followed.

Plus, I haven’t felt that thing. That swooshy, gooey, oh my god, I want him so badly thing.

Okay, I’ve felt some of that. But nothing crazy.

Nothing insurmountable. Maybe it’s the breakup and the feelings I had for Alden, or maybe it’s my mind shutting my heart down and finally getting the picture that we deserve better than settling for men who don’t want us.

Or maybe I’m totally and completely over him. It was a crush, not love.

Whatever it is, I think I’ll be fine.

Besides, even if he comes with me, it’s not like I’ll have to spend twenty-four seven with him. We’re talking about a house on an island, and knowing Uncle Kaplan, the thing he called a cottage is likely a mini mansion.

Then there’s the series of texts I received from Alden.

He was losing his mind over the fact that I was dating Loomis Powell.

He told me to come to his place and stay there so I’d be safe from the press.

He told me Loomis was just using me and that I meant nothing to him.

He said Loomis would never love me. Not the way he does.

I haven’t responded to him.

I don’t want to miss Alden. I don’t want to think about what our relationship was and ultimately what it wasn’t. Or what I was to him. An afterthought. A hindsight. That’s how he made me feel. Like I wasn’t originally enough, but hindsight is wonderful.

Too little, too late, and I deserve better.

I do. And I don’t want the temptation of going back to him because part of me sees that if he continues to try to win me back, I might.

But right now, with this question to Loomis, I’m actually testing a theory.

“I can’t do that to you, Keegan. Not only will the press attempt to follow us, but it will perpetuate the illusion that we’re a couple and keep you unnecessarily in the spotlight.

Your name, your face, slanderous rubbish that tabloids like to spread just to get clicks and sell magazines—they’ll be everywhere.

You’re a Fritz, so I have to imagine that will naturally be worse than it otherwise would be. ”

And that. That right there tells me everything.

The fact that he didn’t automatically jump all over the idea for his own gain and is actually trying to talk me out of it to protect me tells me that he’s not trying to take advantage of me as Alden said he was.

“You said it to me before. If the world thinks we’re together, it can help you.”

He frowns. “Love, I wasn’t being serious.”

“You sure about that?”

He looks away, his jaw tight. He doesn’t answer because he can’t.

I knew part of him was serious when he suggested marriage even if he tried to blow it off as a joke.

I won’t marry him. Sorel and Mason did that, and while I’m willing to help, marriage is a step too far for me, and I don’t think it’ll be necessary for either of us.

“Would it help you?” I press.

He blinks, utterly blindsided by my question. “I…” He swallows thickly and peers over at Fen and then back at me with a contrite scowl. “Yes. It would help.”

I thought so. Maybe this is dumb. Maybe this is going to be the stupidest thing I’ve ever done, but playing it safe never got me anywhere. It’s all I’ve ever done. Kenna said it. I’ve been afraid to take risks with myself and my life, and where has that gotten me?

Afraid to tell people I’m an author. Men dating me while it’s convenient for them and passing me along when they’re ready for something better. I’m over it. I want the risk. I want to take chances even if they seem stupid to everyone else. I’m so tired of caring what others think. It’s exhausting.

And I want to help Loomis and Fen.

It’s who I am. And I know I’ll regret it if I don’t. Besides, I’ve already promised to safeguard myself, and I will. Loomis isn’t interested in me that way anyway, so it won’t be a problem.

“I think it’d help me too.”

“With Alden?” he questions, searching my eyes.

“Yes.”

“Are you sure, Keegan? Are you absolutely positive about this? Please think through what you’re saying to me,” he urges. “Because you’re potentially saving my life, but this feels like I’m ruining yours, and I can’t tolerate that as an option for you.”

“The world has a short attention span. We won’t have to do this fake relationship thing for long.

A few weeks or months at the most. They’ll move on from this quickly enough after that, and hopefully by then things will be secure for you and Fen, and Alden will have moved on too, and I can simply go back to my life.

People already know me as Keegan Fritz. I doubt there’s much they can add to that, and it’s not like I have a bunch of skeletons in my closet for them to find. ”

Except as I say that last part, I pause. I do have some skeletons. One with a different name and a new book deal.

“Holy Christmas, is this really happening?” Estlin cries, disturbing the deafening silence around us. “Are you actually going away together as a fake couple?”

“Look,” Jack cuts in before anyone can answer. “I’m not Team Alden or anything since I know how hurt you were when he ended things, but for whatever it’s worth, I also know he greatly regrets it, and I think he really does love you.”

Jack’s words hit that spot inside of me. The one I’ve been trying to ignore and push aside.

I glance over at him. “You think ?”

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 to think about 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.”