Page 125 of Don’t Go Breaking My Heart

Kleo smiled softly. “A month ago, it probably would have. I did wish for your misery, but not anymore. I’m sorry for that. I should have reached out.”

“I get it,” he said. “You needed space.”

She smiled, a little wobbly. “Thanks for giving it to me. Even when I didn’t deserve it.”

I felt a lump rise in my throat as I watched them. This was what healing looked like—messy, complicated, but worth it.

“We were both struggling,” Kannon said.

“Thank you for being strong enough to let me hate you,” she said quietly. “I was looking for someone to blame and you were there.”

“I beat myself up over it plenty,” Kannon replied. “So I understand.”

Our orders arrived and we picked at our food.

“I don’t want to grieve alone anymore,” she admitted, her voice wavering slightly. “I want to remember Leah together.”

Kannon stared at her for a long moment, then nodded. “I’d like that,” he said. “I’m sure she would have liked that too.”

“Thank you for being so amazing about all of this,” Kleo said to me. “Leah would have liked you. That probably would have made her mad, but I know she would have. I get why you were so sprung on this one.”

Kannon laughed and wrapped an arm around my shoulder. “She’s pretty hard not to love.”

Kleo looked at me, her smile brighter now. “So, how’s house hunting?”

I laughed. “Eventful. But I think we found the one.”

“And if it’s not, we’ll keep looking. We put in an offer.”

“Congratulations!” Kleo said. “Fingers crossed for you guys. I look forward to getting to know you better, Merritt. I hope we can be friends. This guy is a butthead, but I miss him.”

Kannon chuckled again. “And you were always a pain in my ass, but I guess I missed you as well.”

49

KANNON

Ileaned against the kitchen counter, watching Merritt fuss with her hair in the hallway mirror. Her lips were pursed, her brow furrowed like she was getting ready for a high-stakes photoshoot and not just a casual visit to the bar to hang out with Riggs and Kleo. She always got like this before seeing Kleo. Maybe it was nerves, or maybe it was just that she cared too much about how other people saw her—something I’d been trying to break her out of since day one.

“You almost ready?” I asked.

She shot me a look through the mirror. “Almost. You know, it’s not fair.”

“What’s not fair?”

“You being a man and all that.”

I raised an eyebrow. “You don’t want me to be a man?”

She gave me a look. “No. I’m saying when we have to go somewhere, you throw on the same jeans, a black T-shirt, and your boots. It’s like you have a uniform. A good one, but there is no thought behind you getting ready to go anywhere. You don’t have to get ready—you just go. I have to choose my outfit, think about accessories, and then do my hair and makeup.”

“You don’t need to do any of that,” I said. “I love you and you’re mine. You impress me just fine when you’re naked without a drop of makeup on.”

Merritt laughed, a sound that never failed to send warmth spreading through my chest. “That’s sweet, Kannon, but a girl likes to feel pretty on the outside too. I want other people to look at us and think we’re pretty close in the looks department. I don’t want to be the slob hanging on the arm of the hot guy.”

I pushed off from the counter and walked over to where she was standing. Gently, I turned her to face me, taking her hands in mine. “You are pretty. The prettiest, in fact. But if it makes you feel good, take all the time you need. I’ll be here, ready whenever you are.”

She rested her head against my chest. “Thank you for being patient,” she murmured.