Liar, liar…but in a sweet way. She was trying to spare me guilt. I should put her out of her misery. Especially since she was starting to cry in earnest. Grinning, I typed back something that should clue her in to the fact that I was messing with her. ‘You’re lying.’

A sob escaped her before her phone chimed, and I felt a stab of guilt. Was this sweet? Or was I being a dick? I’ll make it up to her if I am.

She didn’t seem to understand my clue after reading my text. Sounding a little annoyed at my presumptive message, she murmured, “Am not…”

Latching onto that opportunity, I instantly typed, ‘Are too.’

Kiera seemed dumbfounded by my omniscient message, and I had to bite my lip to stop from laughing. She held the phone away from her like it was alive, then she started flipping through it like she was looking to see if she’d texted that to me. You didn’t, Kiera. I heard you because I’m right behind you. My stomach hurt from not laughing. Oh God, maybe Evan was right…I was a dick. She was so fucking cute though. I’d frazzled her enough that she wasn’t making sense. If you’d texted me, it would be the last message sent. Even I knew that.

I heard her say, “How did you know that, Kellan?” and I had to grab my stomach.

Shaking my head, I sent her another message. ‘I know that because I know everything.’ She looked genuinely alarmed now. Grinning, I immediately sent her another one. ‘I also lied…turn around.’

I stepped away from the tree as she finally turned around on the bench. Just as I’d predicted, the look on her face as she took me in was one of extreme joy—so much more than what she would have felt if I’d just strolled up to her and said hello. It was a little mean, sure, but now…now she knew how I felt every time I looked at her. Every day this is what being with you feels like to me. Now do you understand?

She breathed my name, and I started walking her way. That wasn’t fast enough for her; she was already running toward me, slipping and sliding on the frozen ground. She collided into me, wrapping her arms around my neck. Lightly laughing, I lifted her up and spun her in a circle before returning her to the ground. She laughed as she stared at me, and I felt contently trapped by the love in her eyes. Jesus, it’s so good to see you.

I was lowering my mouth to hers, eager to taste her again, when she pushed me back. The joy on her face shifted to annoyance. “You were kidding? You’re such a jerk.”