Page 94 of Confessions of a Canine Drama Queen

Leah had invited August over via text yesterday. Then, like the crafty fox she was, she’d plied Keaton with wine and wrenched every last detail from him.

About quitting his job.

About the fact that Fairchild & Hill might try to sue him.

About realizing he still had feelings for August. Deep feelings.

“What if... What if she thinks I’m having some kind of grief episode?” He shook his head. “I have no idea what I’m doing. I havezeroexperience in grand gestures and I’m so good at screwing things up.”

“You’re not nearly as much of a screwup as you like to think, Kea.” Leah came over and wrapped her arms around him. “And August loves you. I’ve known it for the longest timeandI knew you felt the same about her. Did you think I was trying to get you two together because I was bored? No! But you’re both as stubborn as each other and if I didn’t give you a push, you’d waste your damn lives being too freaking scared to do a thing about it. I had to take matters into my own hands.”

“It’s deeply annoying when you’re right,” he grumbled.

“That must be frustrating. I’m rightallthe time.” Leah grinned up at him.

“You wish, little sis.”

His heart pounded as he looked around the room. It was different now than it had been all those years ago. The walls were a different color and the floor had been replaced and there was no more thumping around from neighbors upstairs. But the heart and soul of the place was the same. The love that was etched into every corner by his family—a family that had faced challenges and fought bravely as a team.

“I hope it doesn’t come across like I’m trying to erase that night,” he said, raking a hand through his hair. “I won’t ever regret meeting Ellery and being married to her. That was an important part of my life.”

But it was a part that had to be put where it belonged—in the past. He had to stop letting those painful days after his wife died dictate how he lived his life now. He had to stop being afraid of losing someone he loved again, because the fact was, hehadlost August by pushing her away. It had become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

But at the same time, he didn’t want to disrespect Ellery’s memory or the love they shared.

“It’s not a bad thing to move on,” Leah said gently.

“Kind of goes against the whole ‘one true love’ thing, though.”

“The one true love thing is bullshit, if you ask me.” Leah shrugged. “Love is what you make of it in the moment. And loving August now doesn’t mean that you never loved Ellery. She would want you to move on and be happy, Kea. That’s the kind of person she was. It would make her weep to see you wasting your life away.”

Keaton found his eyes prickling for a moment, but he blinked the emotion away. He’d spent long enough oscillating between being miserable and numb. It was time to start living again.

“Thanks for helping me see past my own shit,” he said.

“That’s what family is for. You do so much for me, the least I can do is show you when you’re being a fool.” Her eyes sparkled mischievously. “But seriously though, I want you to be happy. I want her to be happy. You’re my favorite people in the whole wide world and you deserve each other in the best way possible.”

He nodded, nerves creating a knot in his stomach. “I’m going to lay it all out there and if she says no—”

“She won’t.”

“Ifshe says no,” he repeated, “then I won’t fall in a heap and go back to how I was. This is a turning point, and I hope she’s there with me. But it’s ultimately her choice, and if not, then... I still need to move forward.”

“I’m proud of you, big brother.” Leah squeezed him. Then she caught sight of a flash of red as August strolled up the street toward the house. “Time to hide!”

“I can’t hide, I have to answer the door.”

Leah whacked him. “Don’t you know anything about a reveal, Kea? It has to be a surprise! Besides, she’s got a key. She’ll let herself in.”

“Are you sure?” He looked toward the door.

“Trust me, okay? What’s the point of putting up all this stuff if you’re just going to open the door yourself?”

He wasn’t sure he agreed, but Leah knew her best friend and, for once in his life, he was going to listen to what she said. He just had to hope that he could show August how much he cared. How much he’dalwayscared...

And that he wanted to take the other path with her.

August walked toward Leah’s house, a shopping bag swinging on one arm. Her friend had said she would supply the wine, but August was sure that it would take more than a bottle of red to drown her feelings tonight. So she’d picked up some of her favorite egg custard tarts from the Portuguese bakery around the corner, along with a tub of ice cream, a bag of Chicago mix popcorn and some tequila.

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