Page 29 of Shattered Dreams
The lake looks different in daylight. I watch it move, regardless of what’s going on around it.
I wish I could do that—carry on regardless.
I sit on the edge of the dock and pull out my phone, seeing so many messages from Roman.
The guilt at what he would do if he saw me last night, kissing my best friend, that I swore nothinglike thatexisted between us. But Roman called it—since day one, he knew.
I didn’t.
Roman would lose hismindif he knew.
But fuck him and his fucking model. Cheating bastard.
I stare at the water, wondering what the hell I’m going to do. I can’t ignore Roman forever.
Footsteps crunch behind me, slow and deliberate, and I know it’s Kieron before he says anything.
"You always did run away from awkward situations." He lowers himself to sit beside me on the dock.
"I just needed some air."
"I get it."
I glance over at him, and he offers a half-smile that makes me wonder what he’s really thinking about.
"I booked a hotel nearby when I arrived yesterday. I didn’t want to impose on everyone here."
I laugh, still watching the ripples on the lake. "You areneveran imposition."
He hums a quiet acknowledgment. "It is one of those artsy boutique places with a bar downstairs, obnoxiously good tea, and overly curated playlists. Seriously expensive though, but nice. I thought I would drive there later—maybe get breakfast, clear my head."
I look over at him while he watches the water too, his hands laced behind his head.
Fuck, he really is gorgeous.
"You should come with me. We don’t have to talk about any of this, and I will even shut up if that is what you need. It could be something different for you, a distraction."
I hesitate, knowing it shouldn’t matter since it’s just a walk, a hotel café, a friend offering normalcy, but everything feels like a choice right now, a fork in the road I don’t want to be at.
Still, the idea of space—neutral space, away from the house, away from the memories, away from the way Amanda looks at me like I am going to break—is tempting.
"I would need to ask Amanda to keep Poppy a little longer."
"She already offered that. She told me last night she thinks you need some time to just be yourself."
I huff a small laugh. "She’s not wrong about that."
He nudges my knee with his own. "So is that a maybe?"
"It’s a yes, but only if you let me pick the music on the way there."
Kieron lifts his hands in surrender. "That is fine as long as you don't pick show tunes."
I raise a brow at him. "You used toloveshow tunes."
"I used to love canned spaghetti, too. We all grow up."
I shake my head, the smallest laugh escaping me. "Fine, but if we pass a bakery, we’re totally stopping there."
