When I looked back at Jenny, she was nodding and smiling. “About how the two of you got together. She’s really enjoying writing it. It’s what she’s meant to do…I can tell.” Her face scrunched as she examined me. “How do you feel about that?”

I bit my lip as I looked back at Kiera. A book about us. About us having an affair…fuck. That would be…painful. But maybe cathartic too. There had been so many times during that mess when I’d wondered just what she’d been thinking. I wasn’t sure if I could handle reading her thoughts about the whole thing, but I knew…no matter what…if this was what she wanted, I would support her through it.

Grinning, I looked back at Jenny. “I couldn’t be prouder of her.”

Smiling, Jenny slowly shook her head at me. “You know…if you’d been this guy all those years ago, I might have actually said yes to you.”

I laughed at her comment. “Yeah. Thing is…” My eyes drifted back to Kiera. “Without her…I never would have become this guy.” And I never would have known how it felt to be this happy.

Jenny let out a long, sappy sigh that clearly said: That’s so romantic. Troy sighed in the exact same way. Knowing I was being nauseating, I rolled my eyes and grabbed the tray from Troy. “You’re both ridiculous,” I said, glancing between them.

Jenny just laughed as I walked away. Troy sighed again.

My friends arrived at the bar not too much later. Griffin entered with as much noise as he could, smacking open both doors so everyone would look at him. Evan was next. He instantly spotted Jenny and they reunited with gusto, like they hadn’t seen each other in years. Matt shook his head at the eager pair in the exact same amused way that I did. And Evan says I’ve developed a flair for the dramatic. Not the only one, buddy.

Matt and Rachel stepped inside, holding hands, while Griffin scanned the bar, probably searching for Anna. I walked over to them, giving Anna a moment to compose herself; she had to be freaking out. “Hey, guys…thanks for coming,” I said, my smile suggestive. Jenny smirked at me, since she knew what I meant by that. The guys just shrugged.

“Of course, wouldn’t miss it,” Matt said, clapping me on the shoulder.

Hoping Anna was ready, I motioned toward our table. When I twisted to look, I saw that Anna was still there, but I wasn’t sure if it was by her choice or not. She was rigidly standing beside the table, and Kiera was physically holding her in place. Anna was so pale as we approached, I worried she might faint.