Page 128 of Silver Fox Puck

Silence.

Then—

"Ohhhhhh shit."

I tell her everything.

The ice cream.

Olivia.

How seeing Grant with his daughter completely shattered me.

And by the time I’m done, I’m fully expecting her to freak out.

To tell me I’m insane for getting attached.

To remind me that Grant and I were never supposed to be more than a mistake.

But instead?

Allie just exhales softly.

"You love him, don’t you?"

I freeze.

Because it’s the first time anyone has said it out loud.

The first time I’ve even let myself think it in full.

And instead of denying it—

Instead of making some sarcastic joke—

I just… sit with it.

Because she’s right.

"Yeah," I whisper. "I think I do."

The words hang between us, sinking in, solidifying.

And Allie, to her credit, doesn’t freak out. She doesn’t make some big dramatic reaction. She just… lets me sit in it.

Which is exactly what I need.

"Well, damn," she finally says, her voice softer now. "I knew you were falling, but hearing you actually admit it?" She pauses, then huffs out a small laugh. "You’re in deep."

"Tell me something I don’t know."

"Does he know?"

I bite my lip. Because that’s the real question, isn’t it?

"I don’t think so," I murmur. "I mean, maybe he can tell? I don’t know. We haven’t talked about it. I don’t even know if he feels the same way."

"Oh, he does."

---