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heart began to pound as Jon put the car in park.
    “Brae—”
    I snapped my head up to glare at Gus once my eyes were safely covered. “What if he is there?” The cheap frames hid my fear and hurt. “You know he and Caleb are friends.” I shoved the car door open and stood, adjusting my outfit.
    I had specifically spent most of my Friday afternoon shopping for this occasion. In the event he did show, I didn’t want to be caught off guard. I had settled for tan-colored, pleated, cuffed shorts that made my legs appear long, Dior wedges that cost me a fortune covered my feet, and a sheer peach Portofino shirt completed the look. It wasn’t over the top dressy but fit the occasion, and I prayed to God that if he came he would feel the same pain I felt in my chest.
    “So what? She’s your best friend. You can’t not show up.” Gus laced his arm through mine as we began to walk towards the front door. Peyton’s sports car wasn’t parked next to the others, but that didn’t mean that Louis hadn’t dropped him off. My palms were clammy as we waited for someone to open the door.
    “I don’t want to see him.” Panic took over my body.
    “That’s fine, baby girl. If he’s here, we’ll look the other way.”
    Kennedy opened the door, a wide smile plastered across her face. Jon, Gus and I had each pitched in and made her a basket filled with home essentials such as dish towels, candles, some spices and a few tchotchkes Gus and I had picked up at Crate and Barrel. Caleb stood behind her, waiting for us to walk through the foyer. Closing my eyes, I could hear the ocean waves crashing only yards away. Though they only had a few furniture pieces, it already felt like a home.
    After we’d said our hellos, Kennedy jumped with excitement. “Come, let me give you a tour.” She took the basket from Jon and handed it to Caleb.
    We walked through the house and Kennedy glowed as she explained their plans for each room. If someone had predicted a year ago that this would be Kennedy’s house, I would have laughed until tears fell. Her dream of being a trauma surgeon had been replaced with the promise of motherhood and a practice in a nearby clinic. She was no longer looking out for herself, but for her future family. Love had changed her.
    Every single person will change who they are for someone they love.
    We joined the other guests—mostly Caleb’s friends—in the eat-in kitchen. The large, open room emptied onto a back deck that ran the length of the house and included a wooden staircase that led directly to the beach. The conversation amongst the men turned to sports and stocks, and my heart rate finally relaxed after an hour had passed and no one else joined the party.
    Tuning out the conversation, I focused on the ocean, imagining all the weekends I would spend here with Kennedy, whether she liked it or not. But my tranquil moment was tarnished when Kennedy and Gus both approached me with concern on their faces. Gus scratched his scalp while Kennedy picked at her manicure.
    “What is it?” I asked when neither spoke up.
    “Peyton is on his way.”
    “What!” I hopped off the bar stool.
    “He texted Caleb that he was making a quick stop at the liquor store. He wanted to know if we needed anything.”
    “You knew he was coming?”
    “I knew Caleb had invited him, but when he didn’t confirm I didn’t think I needed to tell you.”
    I took a deep breath. “It’s fine,” I lied. Eventually, our paths would cross whether it was with mutual friends or in the courtroom. “I’ll just keep my distance from him and one of you,” my hand moved from Kennedy to Gus, “needs to stay by my side.”
    “Don’t worry. We’re still expecting a few more people so you won’t even notice he’s here.” Kennedy laid a reassuring hand on my shoulder.
    She didn’t understand that I was helpless when it came to him. I could feel his presence anytime he was close. Even in a crowded room, I would still feel his proximity