Page 115 of Home Game

“It can be.”

I sighed, conflicted. “It’s not something that can be easily resolved.”

“Then promise me you’ll talk to Ryan before you leave.”

“What?”

“Promise me. Don’t just leave. Promise me you’ll talk to him.”

I couldn’t.

Jensen leaned forward. “If you don’t promise, I will go back upstairs and tell Ryan myself.”

“You wouldn’t!” I couldn’t tell Ryan. It wasn’t even an option.

“This is important.” He stood up. “I mean it, Zoey.”

Desperation overcame me. I stood up and grabbed his arm. “He can’t help me.”

“You don’t know that.”

I did know that, but it would be a disaster if Jensen went back up to the party and tried to talk to Ryan. “Okay. I’ll tell him.”

He pinned me with a serious expression. “Are you telling me the truth? Do you promise me that you’ll tell him?”

I couldn’t lie to him. If I promised something, I’d follow through. “I promise. But I need a few days. I need to find the right moment.”

He gave me a tight smile. “That works for me.”

We stood there, looking at each other. Before me, stood a man who truly cared about me. I wished I felt for him what he felt for me. I wished I felt for him what I felt for Ryan.

“Can I give you a birthday hug?”

I nodded. He wrapped his arms around me and squeezed me tight. It felt good. Not as good as Ryan’s hugs, but it still felt like a friend’s hug should. “Thank you, Jensen.”

He stepped back. “Happy birthday.”

I gave a short laugh. “Thank you. This was the best birthday I can remember.”

“Even though I started a fight?”

“Already forgotten.”

He rubbed my arm and then walked out of the lobby.

I metKrista’s eyes when I slipped back into the party. She moved towards me. Around us, everyone continued to drink and party.

“Everything okay?” she asked me.

I nodded. “Where’s Ryan?”

“He’s still in his bedroom.”

I looked around at all the people, who continued to drink and party.

“I want to go talk to him.”

She gave me a thoughtful look. “I think he’d like that.”

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