Ah. Yeah. Of course he had. Because on the weekend, he hadn’t been around while I’d installed the extra security, and he sure as hell hadn’t been there on Christmas.

“Was it a planned visit?”

“No. He’s worried about me.”

I nodded. As he should be. I’d been worried even when I’d told myself I should hate her guts.

“One of his friends should be arriving soon,” she added. “Tyler. Apparently he agreed to join Blair in New Zealand, but wanted to drop by Australia to visit some friends first.”

“Huh.” My chest burned at the thought that Blair had felt the need to call in reinforcements. It was good that he was looking out for her, but no other guy could protect her the way he and I would. “Have you met Tyler before?”

“Of course.” Her smile was a little too fond for my liking. “He and Blair have been close for quite a few years, so we’ve spent a lot of time together. I haven’t seen much of him recently though.”

“Oh?” Why did that please me more than it should? I shouldn’t be getting possessive over a woman I’d done my best to leave in the past.

“Good morning.” Eden stopped beside our table, wearing an overly bright smile. “Would you like to order anything?”

I glanced at Kennedy, who nodded.

“Yes, please,” I said. “I’ll get a breakfast bagel and a cappuccino with cinnamon. What would you like, Kenz?”

“Waffles with chocolate syrup and whipped cream on the side, please. Another trim latte too. Thanks, Eden.”

Eden grinned, her nerves seeming to fade. “Good choice.” She hesitated, then added, “I’m glad you two are talking.”

Fortunately, she left before either of us had to respond. I looked around, suddenly realizing that a few other people had arrived, and many of them were watching us with interest.

“So….” I cleared my throat. “Apart from the fact you have an acting career, I know nothing about your life over the last eleven years. You’ve probably realized that Destiny Falls boycotted all things Kennedy Cox, so I haven’t even heard the usual celebrity gossip. You raised your siblings?”

Kennedy smiled. “Blair, not so much. He was only a little younger than me. But Mina, Joel, and Jamie, yes. I was their primary caregiver through middle school and high school. Now Mina is at Stanford studying criminal law, and Jamie and Joel are living their best lives at the Kappa Lambda Mu frat house at U.C.”

I raised an eyebrow. I remembered the twins being high-energy and not particularly academic. “Those little terrors are at university?”