Page 129 of Silver Fox Puck

I blink. "What?"

"Kenzie. Even Jake said Grant looks at you like he’s drowning and you’re the only thing keeping him afloat."

That stuns me. "Jake said that?"

"He didn’t use those exact words," she amends. "But, yeah. And Jake’s not exactly out here writing sonnets about people’s love lives, so if he noticed? It’s real."

I swallow. Hard. Because hearing Jake of all people say something like that?

That makes it real. That makes it terrifying. That makes it undeniable.

"So what do I do?" I whisper.

"You already know what to do," Allie says simply.

And she’s right. Because I do. I let out a slow breath, rubbing my temple.

"Thanks, Al."

"For what?"

"For being you. And for, I don’t know, not telling me I’m making a huge mistake."

"Oh, you definitely are."

I choke on a laugh. "What the hell?!"

"Kenzie. Love is a mistake. That’s literally the whole point of it. You do it anyway."

I don’t answer right away. I just let her words settle. Because as backwards as it sounds… she’s right.

Grant might be a mistake. But maybe he’s the right one.

"I gotta go," I say, my voice steadier now.

"Yeah, yeah. Go think about your feelings or whatever."

"You’re the worst."

"Love you too, idiot."

I hang up, staring at my phone.

Because now? Now I have to do something.

And before I can second-guess myself—

I tap Talia’s name and hit call.

Because if anyone is going to give me the truth, it’s her.

Talia answers on the first ring.

"If you’re calling to tell me you’re pregnant, I swear to God—"

"Jesus, Talia! What the hell?!" I choke on my own spit, nearly dropping my phone.

"What? It’s the only logical explanation for how weird you’ve been lately."

---