Chapter 1 Kinsley
KINSLEY
PRESENT DAY
The manifesting did not manifest.
But I shouldn’t be surprised. I’ve always believed that things happen in threes, and today is no exception.
My best friend moved to Blackstone Falls, and even though it’s temporary, it doesn’t feel temporary.
Then my ex decided he needed to start some shit for no reason this morning, resulting in another blocked phone number and a spike to my blood pressure.
The messages weren’t the problem.
They were vague, annoying, and often creepy, but nothing I couldn’t handle.
But the last message he sent had a picture attached—one taken the other night when I’d been out at Smoke, one of Nashville’s hottest bars.
I hadn’t wanted to be there, but a couple of girls from the team had asked and I needed to keep up appearances.
Always appearances.
Nessa and I had honed our titles as the heartbreakers of the Tennessee Tornadoes, carefully toeing the line to give them what they want without completely losing ourselves in the process.
But I’d taken it a step further.
I’d had a couple of videos go viral on social media at the beginning of my career, and all of a sudden, I was being asked to participate in podcasts, photoshoots, and ultimately, a reality dance competition.
I didn’t win, but my agent had seen money signs and I’d seen a way for me to raise awareness for the things that are important to me—so we compromised.
I agreed to make videos talking about my favorite products and brands, and companies sent me boxes of things to try in hopes I’d like those too.
Men got endorsements for sports drinks and women got endorsements for makeup and hair products. It wasn’t my favorite, but it more than paid the bills and allowed me to share my passion for causes that otherwise wouldn’t have my level of exposure.
I lived for the good and tried my best to ignore the bad, ugly, and downright insane things that landed in my comments and messages.
So, like it or not, I did my job and went out for the night.
Normally, I could handle it—smile and laugh and then immediately take a shower the moment I returned home. But the picture had been too much.
It felt personal.
Which would make sense considering Scott just couldn’t get over the fact that our relationship had been fleeting—superficial at best—and he needed to let it go.
I want to kick myself for not telling Nessa, for letting it go on this long, but when it had started, Nessa had inherited a baby from her cousin who had tragically passed away.
We’d dropped everything we could to focus on Remi—to give her all the love we could when we could barely love ourselves.
It had been all-consuming and I liked it.
It made everything easier in a lot of ways.
Nessa was taking care of a baby while trying to find the father, and I was supporting her the best that I could.
But with everything settled with the court, Remi could finally be with her father while Nessa was sequestered to Blackstone Falls until the start of the season.
It’d felt like the crash after an adrenaline high, which is how I’d ended up at this little coffee shop a couple of blocks from our apartment.
I take another sip of my coffee and scrunch up my nose at the almond something latte I’d mistakenly wanted to try. I’d broken my cardinal rule and stepped out of my coffee comfort zone consisting of pumpkin, gingerbread, or caramel and had instantly been reminded why I never do that.
Needing to commiserate, I pick up my phone and send a quick text.
KINSLEY: I tried a new coffee
NESSA: How bad is it?
KINSLEY: Terrible
NESSA: Why would you do that?
KINSLEY: I was trying to be spontaneous
NESSA: Then order new shoes online
I snort because I do love a new pair of shoes.
We talk a while longer as she drives to Blackstone Falls, her voice to text surprisingly accurate today.
I miss them already—her and Remi—but the simple exchange is enough to settle me and enough to finally admit defeat with the almond atrocity in front of me.
I’m about to leave when a small commotion by the counter catches my eye. The man’s back is to me, but the way his posture is equal parts tension and defeat is unmistakable.
He’s trying to move through the crowd toward the door, and I can picture the way his face is probably flushed adorably as he tries—and fails—to make his escape.
“Roy!” I yell loud enough to be heard over all the side conversations while still keeping my head ducked enough to hopefully preserve a sliver of anonymity.
I don’t anticipate being mobbed in the middle of the coffee house, but there’s not a lot of places I can go anymore without someone recognizing me.
Someday it will be because of soccer and not the other stuff.
But today’s not that day, and my agent and bodyguard will be pissed if something happens to me just because I wanted a latte.
I’d never take Zander for something like this, only when I’m going somewhere that I need to be seen.
I hate the thought of needing a bodyguard, but it’s my reality.
I feel better having him around in the places that are crowded and loud.
Luckily my everyday life hasn’t required his constant presence, and I hope to keep it that way.
In the meantime, I keep my focus on Royce. He’s adorably startled and now, I’m all in, waving and smiling as his face heats like he can’t believe his day can get any worse, but I like a challenge, so I add, “Come here. I saved you a seat!”