There was a tone to Kenna’s voice when she lied, a slightly higher pitch that gave her away. Why she’d lie about that, I had no idea. I tensed. “Did Grant like it curly or something?”

Kenna’s hand, holding a makeup brush, froze halfway to her face. “No. He liked it straight. Why does it matter what he liked or not?”

“It doesn’t. I just—trying to figure out that shadow that’s in your eyes sometimes.”

Her movements were stiff as she continued applying eye shadow. “Just woolgathering. You know better than most that not all my memories are the best.”

But I wanted to know even more. That was a lie. I wanted to know everything. Yet it felt as if I were walking through a minefield. One wrong step and I’d blow us both sky-high. We’d never recover.

I pushed up in bed, swinging my legs over the side. “I’d like to hear more about that.”

A battle waged beneath the surface of her skin as if there were two halves of her—one who wanted nothing more than to unburden herself, and the other holding tight to every secret she’d ever locked away. “Okay.”

It wasn’t the thing she guarded so fiercely, but it wasn’t a denial either. “That request has no expiration date.”

“Thank you.”

I could’ve given her an out. Told her that there was no pressure. But that would’ve been a lie. I wanted her secrets because it felt wrong to have pieces of her hidden from me, especially if it caused her pain. I knew every inch of her body, but that wasn’t enough. I wanted every inch of her soul, too. The thought had me rearing back. What the hell was going on with me? Kenna wanted the white picket fence and a stable, predictable man in her life. I was not that. But maybe underneath it all, Kenna didn’t need that. I’d just have to find a way to get her to accept it. That might be as difficult as getting her to open that vault she’d locked up so tightly.

“Kenna!”

Zoe flew at Kenna with a speed I worried would knock her over, but I should’ve known not to underestimate my girl’s strength. Kenna swung the little girl up in her arms with an ease that was beautiful to watch. “Missed you, sweet girl.”

Zoe ducked her head. “Missed you, too. I’m glad Crosby brought you.”

Kenna laughed, setting Zoe down. “Brought me? I hounded him to bring me over last night, but he made me wait till this morning.”

“You did?”

“Ask him. I was super annoying.”

Zoe grinned at me. “Was she annoying?”

“The absolute worst.”

Zoe giggled, and Kenna gave one of her braids a tug. “How are you holding up?”