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Jack forced a chuckle that didn’t sound convincing in the least, even to him. “Nothing like that. Everyone’s safe, but there is something I want to talk to you about. Will you have lunch with me?”

Ernie furrowed his brow. “Sure thing. Just let me get out of this suit. Give me a minute.” He headed off to the locker room, and Jack touched the ridge of the carousel ring in his pocket.

I’m doing this for you, Constance. Let’s just hope your brother doesn’t kill me when I tell him.

Not that he planned to confess everything. There was no need to mention those glorious few hours he’d spent with Constance the evening he drove her home, even if he’d hardly been able to think about anything else since it happened. Every time it flashed through his mind, the mere thought made him start to harden. The way she’d kissed him, touched him, moved beneath him as his cock pressed against her slick heat. And she’d even said she wanted him. It was going to feel so damned good when they finally gave in and⁠—

Ernie came striding toward him with a frown, and Jack hunched, shoving his hands in his jacket pockets. His torrid daydream receded, replaced by cold dread.

“How was your flight?” Jack started toward the Brockerhoff Hotel at a brisk pace. It was best to get this over with.

“Fine, but what is it you want to talk to me about?” Ernie jogged to catch up. “Now, you’ve got me worried.”

“It’s nothing big. We can wait until we’ve ordered our lunch.” It wasn’t big. It was enormous, and he wanted to be able to look his friend in the eyes while he explained. Why couldn’t Ernie be patient?

“All right,” Ernie said, not sounding all right about it in the least. “Did you catch the latest Robins game?”

Thank God Ernie was relenting. “The one against the Yankees? I heard it on the radio. That home run at the top of the ninth was something else, wasn’t it?”

Baseball had always been safe territory for them. As they headed into the hotel restaurant and waited for their seats, it was a relief to chat about sports. Jack almost hoped Ernie had forgotten they had something else to talk about, but he had to get this over with.

He didn’t have long to wait. The moment they were seated at their table, Ernie looked him in the eyes. “Enough about the Robins. Spill the beans, Jack.”

Taking a deep breath, Jack braced himself, holding Ernie’s gaze. “It’s about Constance.”

Ernie’s jaw clenched and he leaned forward, eyes narrowed. “Goddammit. I warned you not to⁠—”

“Yes, you did, but I can’t hide my feelings anymore. I’m in love with her.” There. He’d said it. There was no going back now.

Ernie let out and exasperated sigh and looked out the window for a long moment, face red all the way up to his hairline. Jack had done it now. Ernie was never going to speak to him again.

Turning back and meeting Jack’s gaze, Ernie folded his hands together on the table. “I can’t say this is a surprise. You’ve done a piss poor job of hiding your interest. I knew this day would come, but I just—” He shut his mouth and stared at his hands.

“You what?” Jack’s stomach churned, dreading what he would say next. “If you never want to speak to me again, just come out and say it. You’ve been my best friend forever, but I am not backing down from this. I know you don’t think I’m good enough for her, though I don’t know what I’ve ever done to you to make you think so little of me. But I’ve never felt like this about anyone, not even Myrtle. I am not walking away just because you disapprove.”

Ernie glared at his water glass so hard that Jack wondered if it would shatter. “It’s not because I think you’re not good enough,” he grumbled.

“It’s not?” Jack tried to catch Ernie’s gaze. “If it’s not about me not being good enough, then what’s the problem?”

Ernie’s shoulder’s slumped and he looked at Jack with the saddest eyes. “I just don’t want you to break her heart again, and I’m worried you’re going to, despite your best intentions.”

Jack straightened. “What do you mean ‘again’? When did I ever break Constance’s heart?” They’d shared their first kiss six days ago. What was Ernie talking about?

Sheila interrupted them and asked for their orders. Ernie got a turkey sandwich and a cola. Jack ordered chicken pot pie and a slice of strawberry rhubarb pie for dessert. If he couldn’t drink, he needed all the pie he could get to make it through this conversation. As Sheila turned her attention to the next table, Jack turned back to Ernie. “What is it that you think I did?”

“You broke her heart over and over growing up. She carried a torch for you for so many years, and you never noticed. And no matter how oblivious you were, she still held out hope. Did she tell you about the letters she wrote to you during the war?”

“What do you mean?” Jack was lost. “You know she and I wrote each other. I let you read a bunch of them. You know very well that neither of us ever said anything romantic. They were just letters between friends.”

Ernie shook his head. “I’m talking about the letters she didn’t send—the ones where she poured out her heart to you.”

“She did?” He would have to ask her about it next time he saw her. He’d written her a few letters he didn’t send too, not that he’d ever talked about them or shown them to anyone.

“I ran across them by accident. She doesn’t know I’ve seen them, so please don’t say anything. I ran out of drawing paper, and I thought she might have some in her desk. I looked through her drawers, and that’s where I found a pile of unsealed letters without addresses, tied up with a ribbon along with every letter you ever sent. I shouldn’t have snooped, but I did. I’m not proud of it.”

Their food arrived, but they both ignored it. “What did the letters say?”

Ernie shook his head. “I’m not supposed to have seen them. She’d never forgive me if I told you instead of letting her share them herself when she’s ready. But believe me. She was in love with you, even though she didn’t hold out any hope that you’d ever notice. And neither did I. You were already dating Myrtle when I found the letters, and I didn’t think I should say anything. So I kept quiet, but then…” Tapering off, Ernie shook his head.