Page 178 of Puck Prince

“Shut the fuck up.” Kennedy’s mouth drops open. I was expecting her to be livid. I wasn’t expecting her to act like she just watched the season finale of a reality dating show. “That is so… wow. Just wow.”

“I know.” I can’t believe I am admitting it out loud. But at the same time, it feels good to get it off my chest. To tell someone.

“But you guys are so good together. I totally thought you liked each other. I thought—” She shakes her head. “You really sold the performance.”

“That’s the confusing part, Ken… At first, it was all a performance. Camera on, smiles on. Camera off, exit stage left. But then it got blurry.”

“Because of all the closet fucking?” She’s smiling now.This girl, I swear to god.

“No,” I snap before I think better of it. “Well, sort of. But mostly no. It’s because he’s not anything like I thought he’d be. He’s loyal and protective and sweet. He makes me laugh and lets me cry. The more time we spent together, the less fake it felt. At least for me.”

“Just to summarize, you pretended to the world that you were in love. But in the process, you fell for him for real.”

I don’t say anything. I don’t have to. I start crying again.

“That is so fucked up.” Kennedy scoots closer and pulls a throw blanket over both of us. “And so beautiful. Does he know how you feel?”

I shrug, swiping my arm across my very tender nose. “I didn’t get a chance to say anything. He just kept going on about how he’s trying to protect me. But I don’t see how leaving me in the dust is protecting me.”

“He is right next door. He’s not far away if you want to talk to him.”

“I wouldn’t even know what to say. His mind seemed so made up.”

Kennedy snorts. “He’s a man. His mind is never actually made up. He’ll think it through, realize he feels the same way, and come back around.”

I know she’s trying to make me feel better, but I’m not so sure. “He seemed pretty decided when he left the hospital, Ken. I think I’ve lost him. I’m pretty sure he’s gone.”

“Again, my gut is telling me differently. And I know my gut can be unreliable sometimes. I’m easily swayed by a good haircut and a stiff drink and there was that year when I thought I might have IBS. But I really do think my gut is right this time. Owen is a good guy. And I don’t say that about most men—especially hockey players.”

“Speaking of Lance…”

Kennedy’s smile disappears. “We weren’t speaking of Lance, and I will not speak of him.”

“What is it with you and him anyway? He acts like he has a crush on you, and you act like you want to crush him.”

Kennedy groans. “Long story summarized? If people are romance tropes, you and Owen are fake relationship meets forced proximity. Lance and I aren’t even a romance trope. We’re enemies to regrets, and no one wants to read that book.”

Kennedy clearly doesn’t want to get into it, but I’d love to escape into someone else’s drama for a beat. My own life is feeling far too heavy.

“Listen to us—” Kennedy leans her head against my shoulder. “—getting all fucked up over men. Who needs them anyway?”

“Not me,” I mumble.

“Exactly. We’re strong, capable women who can chase our dreams and build our lives without any help from them.”

“Sounds good to me,” I lie.

“Then that settles it. From now on, fuck anything with a penis.”

I can’t help but laugh. It hurts like a bitch, but I can’t help it. “I think that’s how I got where I am right now.”

“Fine: don’t fuck anything with a penis. It’s just us girls now.”

“And whatever this little one is.” I put my hand on my stomach.

“We’ll raise the munchkin together. Sister moms!”

Kennedy hops up and goes to the kitchen, returning a minute later with ice cream. “I have Cherry Chocolate Chunk and Coco-Mocha-Cappuccino.”

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