“That’s different.”
“Sure. But honestly, it annoys me that no one seems to see through her fake holier-than-thou act. She pretends what happened between us doesn’t bother her.”
A flicker of hope ignites inside me. “Is that what this is? A front?”
“What do you mean?”
“This thing with Ford. Is she really into him, or is she just trying to show everyone she’s over me?”
Her expression sharpens as she crosses her arms. “Why does it matter to you?”
“It bothers me.”
“Because you’re still into Harper?”
I scoff, attempting to sound convincing. “What? No! Of course not. I’m happy with you, Kenzie. Happier than I’ve ever been. But it feels low for her to go after my best friend like this. I think she’s trying to make me jealous.”
“You really think so?”
“She probably knows I’m here and wants to make me look bad. Hell, she might be using poor Ford to help her play this game to win me back.”
As the crowd thickens, the view of the tree—and Ford and Harper—vanishes. Kenzie rolls her eyes and leads me down an alley between two storefronts. “I wouldn’t put it past her. She embarrassed herself at my bridal shower.”
I narrow my eyes. “She was at your bridal shower?”
“Seriously, Asher, you never listen. Yes, she was. Ford came to pick her up, claiming it was for Gina, but I heard they went out instead.”
“Like a date?”
“Yeah, I guess so.”
“Figures,” I say, shaking my head. “Everyone knows Ford’s always been jealous of me. He can’t have you, so he settles for my leftovers to feel validated. It’s pathetic.”
She laughs. “He’s tried hitting on me before, but I shut him down. He’s so not my type.”
This catches my attention. “He’s hit on you? Recently?”
“It’s been pretty constant since high school. We went to prom together, remember? He was way too friendly once we went public. I think he wants me, but he knows I won’t give up what we have for him.”
“It’s just sad.”
“He’s too broody. I prefer a man who stands out in a crowd.”
A smile spreads across my face as I pull her into my arms and kiss her. “Yeah? What else do you like in a man?”
She grabs my collar and yanks me backward until my shoulders hit brick. My fingers find the gap between her jacket and sweater, climbing over goosebumps. The wool scratches my wrists as I reach higher, expecting the band of fabric that isn’t there. Just skin. Just her. She inhales sharply, arching toward me.
“Jesus, Asher,” she whispers, her breath visible in the December air. “Did you stick your hands in snow?”
“This is exactly why I love you. Harper would never have sex with me in public.” Kenzie pushes my hands away from beneath her shirt and glares at me.
“Is that why you think I’m better than Harper? Because I’ll screw you in a dark alley?”
“That’s not what I said.”
“If you really wanted to get inside me, it would have been better not to mention Harper at all.”
Groaning, I run my hand through my hair, buying time. Her eyes narrow, but the corner of her mouth twitches upward. Sheshifts her weight to one hip, waiting, the same way she did last week when I compared her ass to Harper’s and she made me elaborate for twenty minutes before letting me touch it.
