CHAPTER ONE
Jenna
EIGHT AND A HALF YEARS LATER
What the hell did I just read?
The letter feels strange in my hand as I flip it over, checking for a “just kidding” reference while pretending I can ignore the throbbing between my legs.
Jack’s hinted at this side of himself. But the hints were so goddamn subtle I assumed I was imagining them. Wishful thinking on my part.
But this?
It’s something straight out of a romance novel.
And I’m struggling to focus.
After meeting at the hockey team's Fourth of July party, Jack and I became close friends. Some would say we were inseparable for the following few months. But it was purely platonic. Jack’s someone you file under the “too innocent for his good looks” category, and I wasn’t going to be the one to corrupt him. As fun as that would have been.
He meant more to me than that. I liked having a male friend that didn’t want to immediately get in my pants.
There were times I felt like he was the only one that truly knew me. Even my friendship with Penelope wasn’t as deep, and I thought we told each other everything. Only I never opened up the way I did with Jack.
Life was good.
Until it all came to an abrupt end. Jack’s time in the US ran short, and before I could process, he was on a flight back to Australia.
I can still remember our last conversation. I thought he was bullshitting me.
“I promise I’m not lying.” Jack laughs as he speaks. “My coach needs me back there.”
“That’s what I’m not buying. If you’d said your family needs you…maybe I’d believe it.”
“Fine. My family needs me.” He bites back a smirk and I’m less convinced he’s telling the truth. “Can I have your number? So we can keep in touch when I’m really gone?”
“Nope.” I bite back a smile of my own. “You can have my address. I’ll await your letters on the holidays.”
Jack snorts but there’s something about his expression that gives me pause.
“I’m happy to write you letters, Jenna. But I really am leaving.” His smile softens before his face drops, and for the first time since he came barging into my room, announcing that he had to go home, my chest tightens.
“Riiight,” I joke but my tone lacks humor. “You’re leaving?”
“I am.”
“For how long?”
“I don’t know. I’ll probably be back next semester.” That’s not too long.
“Okay, great. I guess you can have my number then.” I reach for my phone until Jack stills my hand.
“I kind of like the letter idea.”
“You what?” I laugh under my breath.
“How about I write to you for your Thanksgiving? Then you write back for Christmas.”
I frown, my brows furrowing. That’s a lot of work when we could text. “Come on.” He bounces his eyebrows. “It will be fun.”
“You’re something else. You know that?”
“Yep. You love it.”
“Okay. Fine. I want Valentine’s Day to be included as a holiday. You can be my not-so-secret admirer.”
“Done. But I’ll be back by then.” His wide smile warms my heart, but a nagging feeling settles in my chest, and I can’t put my finger on what it is.
One thing’s for sure. I’m going to miss him.
Jack never came back.
I was right. His Australian coach didn’t need him. Why would he?
His family did.
His parents had been in an accident. They’d died. His coach didn’t want to worry him for the fourteen-hour flight home since there was nothing he could have done.
Not that he told me that until we were two years into our letter exchange.
He kept up the charade of his lie, until he was finally able to talk about it.
Or write about it. He refused to give me his number, saying it was easier that way.
And maybe he was right. Either way, our letters continued for eight years after he left.
Letters of friendship, support. Always innocent.
Until today.
God am I confused. And a little turned on.
Grabbing my phone, I shoot off a text to my friends, Blair and Hayley, hoping one of them is free to talk.
Me: Why the hell do my two closest friends live in San Francisco? I need you
Blair: I’ve just walked in the door. Give me five and I’ll call
Me: Thank you. You’re a godsend
I breathe a sigh of relief and fall back to the couch, covering my face with my hands.
Blair’s my voice of reason. She’s the Zen in my crazy-ass world.
I have no doubt she’ll ground me, because what I really want to do is board a plane to Australia and ask Jack what the hell is going on, while waving the letter in his face. I’m a live-in-the-moment kind of girl.
While I wait for her call, I read the letter again and my body heats. It’s been a long time since someone surprised me in the bedroom, and if Jack can really do the things he says he wants to do… God damn. My core pulses just thinking about it. I’m taking this letter to bed with me later.
My phone buzzes across the table, pulling me out of my horniness as I rush to grab it.
Blair: Change of plans. I’m coming to LA. I’ve got two days off. What do you say we have a girls’ weekend mid-week?
My heart jolts. I really do have the best friends.
Blair and I met last summer when she moved here with her douchebag ex.
Now she lives in San Francisco with her new boyfriend.
Or rather, her old boyfriend, after they reconnected a few months back.
It sucks not having her here, but Zane is perfect for her, and since he plays for the San Francisco Storm football team, it made sense for her to move there.
Lucky for me, she visits often and I travel to San Francisco any chance I get.
Me: Blair, I love you! How does Zane feel about that?
Blair: It was his suggestion
Me: Zane, my man. I knew I liked him
Blair: I’ve got a few things to do tonight but I can be there by lunchtime tomorrow
Hayley: Ooooh. I’m in LA too. I can meet you both for dinner tomorrow night. If that works?
And Hayley Jackman enters the conversation.
Otherwise known as bestie number two. Though I would never rank them.
They’re equally amazing. Hayley’s a big-name Hollywood actress, and also dating one of the guys from the Storm football team.
But surprisingly, we didn’t meet through Blair.
I met Hayley on the set of a psychological thriller we starred in together.
She had a guest role, and I was one of the regular cast—at least until they killed off my character.
While her star is much brighter than mine, Hayley and I became fast friends. She matches my crazy, yet she’s down to earth and easy to get along with.
Me: Dinner sounds perfect. There’s something I have to tell you both
For some reason, I kept my friendship with Jack a secret from my friends. I guess I liked having something private in my life, while my world was constantly being picked apart and scrutinized.
Jenna Brooks steps out with another man after the premiere of her latest series.
TV star Jenna Brooks seen leaving the Prince Hotel at 4 a.m., on the arm of her recently divorced co-star.
Did Jenna Brooks sleep with one of the girls from Treasure Island? We’ve got an exclusive tell-all with the reality star.
The tabloids never bothered me—almost everything they reported had some truth to it. Still, I liked having a secret.
Now it’s time to share the truth.
Hayley: Are you okay?
Blair: You’ve got me worried
Me: Thank you both. But I’m fine. It’s a funny story. You’re going to love it
“Wait! You’ve been writing to each other multiple times every year for the past eight years?” Hayley’s eyes widen as she stares at me in shock.
“Yep.” I maintain my straight face while Hayley and Blair freak the hell out, both in their own special ways.
“And you never exchanged numbers?” Blair speaks slowly, perhaps giving her mind time to catch up. “Wow.”
“I know, it’s mind-blowing. Mostly because I bet neither of you thought I could commit to one person for that long. But it’s the truth.” And now, he’s fucking with my head.
I’m questioning everything. Is he messing with me? Or does he want more? I’d firmly placed him in the friend zone with no thought of that changing. But now…a little part of me wants to find out. He was always so innocent. But it’s been years. Maybe he’s changed and wants to show me the real Jack.
“I love that he’s Australian.” Hayley interrupts my thoughts. “Your basic knowledge of my Aussie slang makes much more sense now.”
“Right?”
She laughs heartily, while Blair’s eyes bounce between the two of us. “Am I missing something?”
“Remind me to fill you in on Australians and their use of the word ‘right.’”
“Okay.” Blair shakes her head, her brows puckered until her expression morphs into one of excitement. “Back to the letters.”
“Yes! Can we read them?” Hayley’s face lights up, never one to hold back, while Blair’s cheeks redden, most likely worried they’re asking too much. I don’t mind though.
“I’ve got nothing to hide. However, some of them are long. And the last one is going to surprise you.”