Page 69 of Exposed

“No. Wait did Felix…”

“Yes that was it. Felix did it! He tattled!”

“Wait,” I said and turned to Kennedy. “You and Felix?”

She nodded, a huge smile on her face.

I squealed and hugged her again. “It’s about time.”

She laughed.

“What’s coitus, Coach?” Jacob asked.

“Oh.” Matt cleared his throat. “That’s when two people…ummm…you’re a little young for that, but…”

As curious as I was to find out how Matt would finish that sentence, I grabbed the whistle around his neck and blew it. “Time for practice!”

Matt looked very relieved as all the players ran over.

“How many girls are you dating right now?” one of the players asked.

“Shut it, Smith,” Matt said.

At least he knew how to handle that question. I grabbed Kennedy’s hand and pulled her over to the bench. “Tell me everything.”

She was beaming. “I don’t even know what happened…” she laughed. “Sorry, wrong words. I remember every second this time. But Felix just…ugh. I don’t know how to explain it. I thought I was so far in the friend zone with him but when we hung out one on one it was just different. A good different. A really really good different.”

I couldn’t stop smiling.

“I really did think we were just friends. But he told me the other night at dinner that he had liked me freshman year. And I never knew that. I always thought it was one sided. But when we met up last night just the two of us, I saw everything differently. I never saw him as just a friend. I always wanted more. Kind of like the opposite of what I had with Matt. Matt and I were friends that turned…whatever it was for a second. And I had the biggest crush on Felix but we were just friends for the longest time. And now? This feels so right.”

“I’m so happy for you, Kennedy.”

“Just for the record, I don’t ever hop in bed with guys on the first date. Ever. There was a reason why Matt and I didn’t do that. He told you that right? That we didn’t…”

I nodded.

“I actually hadn’t slept with anyone since Cupcake. Every guy that was ever remotely interested in me, I kept at arm’s length. Taking things slow. Including Matt. But I think maybe I just knew it wasn’t right.Especiallywith Matt.”

I laughed. “Kennedy, it’s fine, you don’t have to keep diminishing that.”

“I know but…I think maybe I was just waiting for Felix this whole time.”

“You know, back at the lake house, I didn’t know what anyone was actually up to. But I had this vision in my head of what I thought everyone was doing. I pictured Matt with a big family.” I stared out at the field where the team was letting Jacob run around the field with the ball. It looked like Jacob and Nigel were playing keep away from the players.

The more days that passed, the more right this felt. I wasn’t scared of giving Matt my heart again. And I was hoping that Jacob and I were enough for him. Especially surrounded by all our friends. We were one big family. Just…different than how we’d originally planned. Different wasn’t bad.

I turned to Kennedy. “And I thought you were married to Felix. Traveling the world together taking photos. I pictured it so clearly. And I can’t picture it any other way.”

“I guess it’s never too late for that to come true,” Kennedy said. She stared at me for a few seconds. “And you swear you don’t like Felix? Because I’m really tired of sharing guys.”

I laughed. “It’s like what you said about Matt. I love Felix. So much. But I’m not in love with him.”

Kennedy exhaled slowly. “Good.” The smile slowly spread across her face again. “I’m going to marry that boy.”

I felt tears welling in my eyes.

“And you’re going marry Matt. And everything is going to be like how it was supposed to be 16 years ago.”

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