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The question surprised me, and I opened my mouth to respond but shut it when I realized I had no idea what I’d been about to say "Uh, yeah Yeah, it’s okay I wasn’t expecting this, but I know I’ve said that exact sa"

"I will tell you, Kennedy Just not yet"

I smiled and nodded "I know you will" I looked at our half-eaten ot a conversation I’ve been dreading out of the way And I’ you feel as relieved as I do?" He sentset out of here?"

"Sounds perfect"

Once ere finished and the bill was paid, we stood to leave Rhys walked directly behind me out of the restaurant, and helped me into his truck We talked about the dinner, and the relief we felt now that everything was out there in the open Everything about our conversation felt perfect It felt easy It felt like a friendship A friendship I should have had with him for over a month

When we pulled up to the condo, I touched his arrab the keys to the car, and then I’ to leave so I can talk to Liam I want you to know that just because we know for sure nothing will happen between us, you do not have to leave Kira and I both really like having you here, and if you want to stay, please do"

That secretive s over the console, I wrapped an arm around his neck and pulled him closer so I could press a kiss to his cheek "Thank you, Rhys For everything You showing up in California was the best gift you could have ever given me"

18

Deceh to take a shower before Kennedy was at h The hours while she ith Rhys had dragged

As soon as the door was open, she was launching herself atto o okay?"

"Better than okay I’m still in shock at how okay it went Rhys said he’d realized soon after he er in love with ive us the chance that he’d asked me for"

My eyes widened "Are you serious?"

"Ye--" Her words cut off abruptly when I pushed her against the wall and pressed my mouth to hers

Kennedy’s hands i it, but just as fast as they got there, she released the fabric and pushed against my stomach "Lia rinned wickedly, and she giggled against my next kiss

"No, I’ else So we’re going to go sit on your couch--on opposite ends--and I’ fro, I’m pretty sure you understand that by now"

As much as I wanted Kennedy underneather if she was ready Once ere seated on opposite ends of the couch with her feet inherself, and then waited another few seconds

"Okay," she said "There are three things that you need to know First is the tattoo that Kira and I got the day before Rhys showed up" Grabbing the collar of her shirt, she pulled it to the side to show otten "Kira, as you know, had been with Zane for years, and you sahat happened to her when he left her You no about Rhys, and so the months with you, I realized that Rhys and er had the sainally had Before, that past controlled ot deeper into ot further and further from that past, and its hold So Kira and I both felt like ere finally free from our past relationships--relationships that had coed us That is what the free hearts stand for" Kennedy laughed and shook her head "And then my past came back into my life the next day, and you sa that went"

I srabbed her feet inthem I didn’t want to interrupt her, but I wanted her to knoin control of my lifeeh, well, mostly my sex life It makes me panic when I’ Like I told you that day in your office, only you and Rhys have ever been able to ive up my control But only Rhys has ever knohy I needed that control"

I waited soather her thoughts But this was so that I was seconds away fro her to tell , but I’ll try to make it so you understand Before I met Rhys, I needed control for a completely different reason fro-willed person, and that’s so I’ve always ad as definitely the one thing I’ve taken fro that way After my first real kiss I realized just how vulnerable I felt during it, and it made me really uneasy because that wasn’t the kind of person I was So I made sure froain I always took control after that With Rhys, there was so about him that made it so easy to just let hi, but I still fought hi to make all my relationships be just like my parents’ Do you remember I told you that I used to hat they have, and then I realized that that kind of love didn’t exist?"

I thought for a second, then nodded "Ice creaht Rhys hat made me realize thator think that But I never understood that I’d been trying to force my relationships to be perfect until I talked to Rhys about it last night To be honest, I always thought it was only Kira who did that So with Rhys, losing controlhow our relationship went, then after hio back to feeling vulnerable with any guy; but then I met you, and you demanded control from the start The second you touched me I was already completely lost in you in a way I had never been, and it absolutely terrified ht it was because you were like Rhys, but Brian is actually the person whowas easy with Rhys, but everything was terrifying with you because what I felt with you was ht at one point that he was the last person I would ever love So it wasn’t the similarities between you and Rhys that scaredcontrol with you It was that I had finally found the guy I was meant to be with, and after what had happened with Rhys, I was too scared to let ain was the hardest and scariest thing I’ve ever done"