Page 130 of Silver Fox Puck

I groan, pressing my palm to my forehead.

"Not pregnant. Just… emotionally unhinged."

"Oh, so it’s about Silver Fox again."

I freeze. Because of course she knows. I don’t even have to say his name.

"What gave it away?" I mumble.

"Your face. Your mood. The fact that you had a layover in Denver, came back, and suddenly started looking like someone kicked your emotional support animal."

I sigh. Hard.

"I saw him today," I admit.

"And? Did you make a scene? Throw a drink in his face? Strip him naked and ride him into the sunset?"

I snort. "Wow. That escalated quickly."

"Kenzie, I have known you a long time. I know how you work. If you’re calling me instead of just bottling it up and ignoring your feelings, that means it’s bad. Worse than a couple weeks ago."

She’s right.

I don’t call people when things get complicated. I run. I dodge. I pretend I don’t care until the feelings disappear.

But this? This isn’t disappearing. This is sticking. Like a permanent marker on my goddamn soul.

"I saw him with his daughter," I say quietly.

And for once, Talia doesn’t have a joke.

She just… listens.

"Shit," she finally mutters. "That’s a game changer, huh?"

"Yeah. Yeah, it is."

"How bad is it?"

I let out a breath.

"I think I love him."

Silence.

Then—

"Yeah. You’re screwed."

I laugh, but it’s a little choked. "I know."

"So what are you going to do about it?"

And that’s the real question, isn’t it? Because I don’t know. I want him. But I’m terrified of what that means. Of what it would take to have him completely. Of what I’d have to risk.

But before I can answer—

My phone buzzes.

---