He folded the paper. Anna was going to have to tease Jenny because he still read the newspaper.

“I didn’t do it for Jenny, as much as I love her. I did it for myself.” He sighed. “I hated myself, and one day, I had the peace of mind to wake up and do something about it. Three months after that hotel in Paris, I drove straight to rehab from the set, checked myself in, and I didn’t leave until I was ready to be on my own.”

He looked over at Jenny. “But I didn’t answer your question. She makes me laugh, and I like her cat videos. I like that every time she reads Persuasion, she’s nervous Captain Wentworth’s note to Anne will be mislaid. I like that she gets up every day as if there is something wonderful waiting for her, and I get to share it with her. I love her. It’s simple.”

Anna sat back and rested her head against the wall. The casual way he spoke, it was as if he hadn’t said the most amazing thing anyone had ever said about her friend.

“I don’t understand,” Anna said. “I thought you were going to say it was because she took care of you. She never stopped loving you, even when you left her. Even after Paris, she thought of you.”

Reed cringed. “Those are the reasons I will try every day to do better, to give her whatever she needs, but I love her for her, not the things she did for me.”

Anna wiped her eyes and didn’t miss John’s concerned gaze from across the room.

“It’s easy sometimes,” Reed said. “Sometimes the right choice is the easy choice.”

“If you hurt her again, I will dismember you, and they won’t find the pieces. I will place a hex on your remains, cursing you to wander after-school special movie sets forever, alone and unhappy.”

Reed choked on his tea. “And Jenny’s the writer.”

“I’m serious.”

“My only goal for the rest of my life is to be with her. That’s all I want. I’ll take any role I have to so she doesn’t have to worry about money again.”

Anna looked up at John’s concerned face. Anna felt a sob forming. She closed her eyes and put her palms on them.

“Anna,” Reed said, “what’s going on with you two?”

“We had sex in the back of a truck, and I really like him.” She put a hand over her mouth.

Reed laughed and crossed his arms over his chest. “That’s perfect.”

“It’s a terrible idea.”

“He seems like a good kid.”

“He’s not that young.”

“He doesn’t kiss and tell, if that’s what you’re worried about.”