Cassie

Jace takes one of the seats next to the small table where he placed the coffees, and I sit opposite him. Every Monday morning, we have an unofficial business meeting; however, I’m concerned that the purpose of this meeting might not be just business. I take a sip of my coffee and close my eyes as the sweet caramel flavour rolls across my tongue. It’s from the coffee shop across the road, and it’s my favourite menu item.

“Thanks for the coffee,” I say when I open my eyes.

He nods like it was nothing, his hazel eyes studying me intensely. “How are you feeling?”

“Better than I was on Friday.”

“You opted out of watching the game with the guys and me, so I assume your migraine lingered over the weekend.”

“Yeah.”

“You didn’t want to take me up on my offer to shop or bring supplies.”

“Flick was there. I didn’t see the need to put you out.”

He shakes his head. “It wouldn’t have put me out, Cassie. You’re my best friend. Friends do shit for each other. I wanted to help.”

“I know.”

Frustration crosses his face before he takes a deep breath and looks at me with so much openness and earnestness that I feel my stomach dip. “I missed you,” he says softly. “It’s the first weekend since you moved home that we haven’t hung out.”

“I know. I just… wasn’t up to it.”

He nods, and I’m sure he can see through my lies. I did have a headache, but it was mild, likely brought on by Thursday night. By Friday night, it was gone, meaning I could have caught the game with him and the guys if I’d wanted to.

He leans back and looks at his cup before looking at me. “I was wondering if you were… avoiding me after what you heard on Thursday?”

I neither confirm nor deny. I just wait for him to continue because he’s going to address it anyway, and we might as well get it over and done with.

After a moment, he clears his throat and then says carefully, “How much did you hear me tell Deck?”

I look away. “Enough.”

For years, I was so good at covering my feelings, pretending I didn’t love him, faking being okay with keeping the status quo. Back when it was Eve, Jace, and me, I accepted it was the three of us, and after I got back from Queensland, I managed to fool myself—at least for a little while—that being just friends was enough. Right now, I wish I could go back to that forced mindset. Sure, it was less authentic, but at least it would save us these kinds of awkward conversations.

“Cassie, I’m sorry. I never should have said all that.”

“It’s how you feel; nothing wrong with it.” I shrug, hoping I’m not displaying every ounce of how much it hurts to love him and know I’ll never be loved by him in return. I play with the lid of my coffee cup.

He leans forward in his chair. “You understand why I feel that way, though, right? After everything that happened with Eve, I’ve learned that you don’t mess with friendship. Mistake learned and not to be repeated.”

Even with everything I know about their breakup and how devastated Jace was, there are times when I forget just how much it affected him. Subsequently, he forgets he was happy right until she walked out. Which, in hindsight, probably doesn’t give him much faith in his ability to predict relationship outcomes, but that doesn’t take away from the fact he loved her, and they’d be married and living happily ever after had she not walked out on him.

“I understand that,” I say slowly. “But I really don’t understand why you felt the need to spell it all out to Declan like that.”

Jace winces, shifting in his seat and looking away. “He believed I was jealous of Thom because… my feelings for you were more than they were. Are.”

“Right.” There’s a touch of bitterness in my tone I can’t quite hide.

“I made a mistake with Eve, putting my hormones and shit before our friendship. It was an unequivocal mistake. I wouldn’t make that mistake with you.”

It’s not about not acting on feelings—if he ever felt about me the way he felt for Eve, he wouldn’t let anything stand in his way.

The thing is, friendship doesn’t one-up love. It’s not more valuable. More importantly, they can even benefit each other. Friendship is a great basis for a romantic relationship. He fell for Eve, and there was nothing that could keep them apart. Yes, I know he didn’t want me to go to Queensland, and he was prepared to end things with Eve, but he didn’t want to. The fact that he asked her to marry him only makes me surer they belonged together. I was the third wheel, even if I didn’t want to be. He’s never had those feelings for me. He never will.

“It wasn’t a mistake, Jace. You were deeply in love with her.” Perhaps he still is. “And had things been different, you’d be happily married to her.”

His laugh is ugly, full of bitterness and resentment. “But things weren’t different. If I had my chance all over again, everything would have been different. I would have done my life so differently. You wouldn’t have left, and Eve wouldn’t have walked away.”

“I don’t think that’s true, Jace. Eve still would have wanted to travel, see the world, and experience more in her career.”

“Fine,” he glares. “She wouldn’t have fucked me up beyond all recognition by walking out on a wedding that was a matter of weeks away. She would have talked about her desire to travel and experience more earlier, instead of feeling like she couldn’t say anything because she thought I wanted to keep her here and expected she should be some kind of happy housewife to me. Fuck,” he runs a hand through his hair with agitation that I tell myself isn’t aimed at me. “I never expected anything from her except for her to talk to me about what she freaking needed.”

The agony in his eyes still cuts through me. It was years ago, yet he’s reliving that pain all over again. I’ve heard him say before that he would have postponed the wedding and done anything for her. He loved her the way most women who have never experienced that kind of love can only dream about. Perhaps she’s finally figuring that out, if our conversation about her breakup with Sam on Wednesday was anything to go by.

“So, you would have ignored how you felt about her, how she felt about you.” I hold his gaze. “How I felt about you.”

He closes his eyes, and when they open again, I see the flash of sorrow, regret, and apology there. “Not ignored, just not acted on it. We were a threesome. That’s the way it should have stayed.”

“Three’s a crowd, Jace.”

“I never thought it was.” He pauses. “But then I never really understood how strongly you felt about me, at least not until it was too late.”

How strongly? What a way to word it. Sitting back in my chair, I hope this isn’t his lead-in to talk about my feelings now. He studies me in a way that makes my pulse race and my heart skip from fear. I don’t want him to see how strong my feelings for him still are. After a moment, he says, “Sometimes I wonder if we did our friendship a disservice by not talking about it. Burying shit and covering it up doesn’t make it gone.”

“I told you when I came back that I was over it.”

I was lying to myself, but I doubt that’s what he wants to hear. He wants me around as his best friend, as his business partner. Meanwhile, I might stay trapped in a hellish Groundhog Day kind of love that feels inescapable.

“Yeah, but maybe we still should have talked about it.”

“There wasn’t that much to talk about,” I point out. “I loved you. You loved Eve, and she loved you back. Sometimes things just are what they are, and they suck for someone. In that situation, the person it sucked for was me. Even still, I was happy for you both.”

His eyes scan my face as if he’ll be able to guess all my secrets if he looks hard enough. “You once told me you’d loved me since you were ten.”

“And you told me I couldn’t love you at ten,” I remind him, trying to suppress the wave of agony that remembered conversation brings back.

He shakes his head. “Cass, I was eighteen, and my best friend was slipping away from me, and I couldn’t stand it. I was filled with the dreams we’d carried for years. I was selfish and oblivious. Obviously, once I had more time to digest it…”

“We didn’t speak for a year.”

“What can I say?” he shakes his head. “It took me a while to digest it.” After a moment, he adds, “I still can’t understand why you never said anything before then.”

“You don’t remember? I told you, Eve said someone would feel like a third wheel.”

He looks away. “And she was right.” His gaze meets mine again. “You have no idea how much I regret everything that happened.” He leans forward. “I don’t want anything to come between us again.”

At Logan’s birthday more than a year ago, he made me promise nothing would come between us again. I remember the look in his eyes as he told me he didn’t want anything to come between us and made me promise that nothing would. Just like Eve leaving did a number on him, I know that my leaving did a number on him too. Eve and I were his girls—he loved both of us, even though it was a different sort of love. But I left, and then Eve left, and I know that left marks on him, scarred him.

I know how important it is to him that I don’t leave, and I understand why he says he doesn’t want to be with a friend again. I understand it all on a logical level, but that doesn’t make it any less soul-crushing or heart-breaking.

And I know that at some point, he is going to hold me to that promise. The question is, what will it do to me to keep it?

“I know,” I say softly.

“So, you understand then why that conversation with Declan took place?”

I nod. “I do. Your need to have your best friend back and to not let anything come between us again was misinterpreted by Declan as you feeling a different way about me, and you needed to correct that.”

He nods, looking relieved that I do understand. When he stands, I think that this must be the end of the conversation and that he’s going to leave. Instead, he gives me a soft look and says, “Can I have a hug?”

Reluctantly, I rise to my feet, and we meet somewhere between the two chairs. As Jace puts his arms around me, I’m enveloped in his warmth, his scent. The hug feels both wonderful and heart-wrenching. My heart races, each beat a painful reminder of the love I have for him and the reality that it’s unrequited. I close my eyes, savouring the fleeting closeness and intimacy of the moment while trying to hold back the tears threatening to spill over.

When he lets me go, he’s still watching me, but I’m hopefully masking the turmoil within. I’ve had to practice keeping him out of my head and not sharing everything the way that I used to—well, everything except the way I felt about him.

Instead of leaving, he sits back down in his chair. “Now we can get down to business.”

“Right,” I agree.

Business is better than more talk about my feelings.

The conversation jumps around as we cover the week ahead and concludes with Jace asking me some questions about Von Gruber. To say I’ve had a mild fascination with what happened five years ago is an understatement. While going through the archives of The Herald, I discovered that Jules and Brady, a married couple who used to work for The Herald, were hypnotized and made to do all sorts of things while undercover at a marriage retreat.

In a bizarre twist, however, it wasn’t them but a different pair of journalists who were responsible for bringing Von Gruber’s greed, corruption, and depravity to light. They made Von Gruber sound like a lunatic who controlled some of the wealthiest people in the state. He used his twisted imagination to extort money and other favours from them, even recording some of the most disturbing activities to ensure his hold over them or to sell to others. By the time I started working here, Jules and Brady had moved on and no longer worked in the state, meaning I couldn’t talk to them about it.

Adding to the mystery and deepening my intrigue is the chilling fact that after his arrest, Von Gruber never made it to prison. It’s as if he vanished into thin air. The prevailing theory is that he hypnotized the police guards into letting him escape, a terrifying possibility that has never been validated. This lack of confirmation only heightens my unease, as it’s been impossible to uncover any further information or trace his whereabouts. The thought that such a manipulative and dangerous individual could still be out there, lurking in the shadows, sends shivers down my spine.

By the time I’ve gone through everything I know about Von Gruber with Jace, he looks as horrified as I feel. When he stands this time, I know our meeting is over.

Instead of walking out, however, he stays standing, putting his hands in his suit pockets. “Cass, the contract and bank loan still need signing. Your dad is getting anxious about it.”

“Did he tell you that?”

“He asked me to talk to you about it.”

If Dad went to Jace instead of me directly, he’s getting more desperate, meaning my window of procrastination is over.

I nod. “I’ll talk to Dad about it today.”

After Jace leaves, I sit in my office, staring blankly at the laptop screen in front of me. My mind is racing with the fragments of conversations I’ve had over the past week: my conversation with Eve, Jace’s overheard conversation with Declan, my conversation with Gavin, and then my conversation with Jace this morning.

Buying out our fathers and becoming partners in this business isn’t marriage, obviously, but it is a partnership that legally binds us together. Maybe not until death do us part, but Jace is likely thinking in terms of the rest of our working lives. After that? Once upon a time, we envisioned our kids would buy us out in the future. This was the dream when we were younger, but the feelings I have for Jace complicate the simple dream from our younger days. Tying myself to a man I’m in love with feels like the epitome of stupidity. Yet, the thought of skipping out on Jace and telling my father I’ve changed my mind and no longer intend to buy him out, that his legacy is one I no longer want…

It’s not even true. The idea of letting go of the business completely is…unfathomable.

I rub my temples, feeling a headache coming on again. After taking a deep breath, I pick up the phone and dial Dad’s number.

Jace

Cassie doesn’t meet my gaze as she hands me my beer, then takes her seat opposite mine, still refusing to look at me. My stomach sinks as I take in her flushed face. How much did she hear? Were they still walking back when Declan shook his head at me, or were they already standing behind me?

My comments may have just ripped open the box of history we’ve both done our best to tape shut and, by silent agreement, marked off-limits. Everything that happened—all the things that drove her to move to Queensland—the feelings she had for me back then, are something we’ve never discussed. Not more than fleetingly, back when she told me she planned to move home and that she was over everything. Over me.

I thought leaving the subject alone was for the best. Why rehash Eve’s eighteenth birthday and the years that followed? We’ve moved on. We pieced our friendship back together.

Yet, as Declan makes a joke about the footy score on the TV above the bar and Cassie forces a laugh, I wonder if it’s been a mistake to keep quiet and never talk about it. Whether, instead of healing, it’s just a giant scab waiting to be picked off. It’s not like I believe Cassie loves me that way anymore, but the fact that neither of us ever references it might not be the healthiest thing for our friendship.

I stare at her, willing her to meet my gaze, but she keeps her eyes focused on the football game on the screen above the bar.

I hate this. I hate feeling like I just unintentionally damaged my friendship with Cassie when the only thing I want to do is protect it. She can’t fault me for focusing on rectifying the mistakes of my past by prioritizing our friendship, valuing it above all else—something I didn’t do but should have done with Eve.

The silence between us becomes excruciating. Even after we’ve ordered our dinners—a dinner I no longer have any appetite for—Cassie ignores me. Meanwhile, Logan and Declan look between us with worried expressions, and eventually, they stop trying to force jokes and conversation. The four of us are rarely silent, and not because we can’t stand the quiet, but because someone always has something to say. We bounce off each other. Bantering is always easy.

Just as the silence stretches into something so uncomfortable that I start imagining what I’m going to have to do to make it up to Cassie—how to apologize without making everything worse—I remember the conversation I had earlier today with a potential client. All day, I’ve been excited about sharing the news with Cassie because I know she’s going to be crazy excited. The news about her and Thom, and then my conversation with Declan, made me forget it completely until now.

“Cass,” I say softly, hesitantly.

“Mmm?” she murmurs without looking at me.

“You know the therapist you’ve been obsessed with—”

“What therapist?”

“Von Gruber, right?”

For the first time since overhearing my conversation with Declan, she looks at me.

“Yes, Von Gruber.” Her eyebrows draw together. “What about him?”

“I scheduled a meeting next Wednesday with a client who thinks they know where he’s hiding and believes he’s back to no good.”

Cassie sits up straighter, her eyes wider and full of curiosity. “No way. If that’s… No one’s heard a thing from him in five years.”

I nod. “He could finally be done with staying off-grid.”

Excitement dances through her, and she grins at me, her smile lighting up her whole face as her journalistic and private detective instincts thaw through the ice. Well, they do temporarily. When her smile slips, as if remembering my comments from earlier, hurt flits through her gaze for a fraction of a second before she catches it and hides it from me. I feel it as a physical pain inside my chest.

Fortunately, with her curiosity now piqued, she’s not done with the questions. “This client, what’s he claiming? Why does he think it’s Von Gruber?”

“He has a daughter working at an exclusive hotel and club that is highly selective about who is allowed to enter. His daughter’s behaviour has changed, and she won’t speak to him. When he went there to talk to her, he came face to face with someone he swears matches the man from the articles from five years back.”

“Did he have a falling out with his daughter before she started working there?” she asks.

“No, they were close.”

“Still could be anyone,” she says, frowning. “It doesn’t mean it’s him.”

“You could be right,” I agree. “But you’re the one who said a man like that would never be satisfied with staying off-grid forever. He’s too greedy, too perverse, and too arrogant not to test the waters.”

“Sounds like it’s worth following up,” Declan comments, leaning back in his chair and joining the conversation. “I wasn’t in on the bust that brought him down the first time—too new to the feds to take part—but I heard about it. The guy was crazy, and not the kind of crazy you forget. We were all brought in to hunt him down when he escaped. If this is the guy… well, it makes sense he’d come back and try again. He virtually got away with brainwashing the elite for years.”

Cassie nods, her eyes finding mine. “When’s the meeting?”

“Wednesday. Could be a big-money client.”

“We like those,” she nods.

“We need more of them.”

With Cassie and me both devoted to O’Connell & Strand, we’ve kept the business ticking along to the point where it’s healthy and profits are up. The competition is still out to undercut us, but our reviews are much better, and word of mouth is working in our favour. Cassie and I are both keen to continue the upward trend of our profits, and our fathers want us to take over completely, buying out their shares before the business valuation gets too high.

I was ready to sign on the dotted line months ago. Cassie, on the other hand, keeps stalling the handover. Not for the first time, I have to remind myself she’s not looking for the optimal time to ditch me and the business. I’ve tried not to let my fears of her leaving because of feelings panic me again, but it would be my worst nightmare to say goodbye to her again, to lose her once more, and it’s a fear that’s playing on my mind. I know something is holding her back; I just don’t know what. Neither does her father, who just today asked me to talk to her about it.

Now isn’t the time, however—not when the flash of hurt I saw in her eyes is still making my chest tight and my stomach ache.

I look at her, studying her, but she’s back to avoiding my gaze, and I have the sinking feeling that I didn’t just fuck up a little bit with what I said to Declan, but a whole lot.

Maybe it’s past time we address the stuff that happened all those years ago. If she wants to, that is.

Cassie

A smile tugs at the corner of my mouth as I see the name flash up on the smart screen on my dashboard. Hitting answer, I say, “Hey, you.”

“Wow, now that’s a greeting a man could get used to.”

Smiling, I reply, “I’m glad you approve. Aren’t you up early for a Monday morning? You’re two hours behind us, which makes it…” I glance at the clock on the smart screen. “6:45.”

“Got up early just to talk to you.”

“Aw, Gav,” I say, warmed by his sweet response. “To what do I owe this pleasure?”

“I actually have some news,” Gavin says, his voice carrying a hint of mystery.

“Well, don’t tease me.”

“You know I love to tease you.”

Gavin is still quite the flirt and a good friend, even though I’ve been living in Magpie Grove for the past couple of years. We’ve kept in touch, and though I suspect part of the reason is him often trying to convince me to come back to QLD, sometimes it feels like he’s just checking up on me, making sure I’m okay. I made a lot of friends in Queensland—none quite like the friendship I had with Eve and Jace, but Gavin comes close, and it's great to hear from him. If nothing else, it’s a welcome distraction from the conversation I’m worried Jace is going to want to have when I get to work.

“It’s Monday—too early in my week for teasing,” I say.

“Not a great weekend?”

“Let’s not go there.”

It’s the first weekend since I moved back to Magpie Grove that I haven’t seen Jace, and that’s after I called in sick on Friday. I know he knows I’m avoiding him, but even that couldn’t make me agree to watch the football game together. And, of course, I didn’t have Thom as a distraction either. My weekend sucked.

“If you want to talk about it, you know you can call me anytime, right?” Gavin offers.

“I know, and I’m so grateful for that, but right now, I need some good news. Lay it on me.”

“I just wanted to let you know there’s another vacancy up here. You know, in case you were thinking about coming home.”

“You have no idea how tempting that sounds right about now.”

“I love her as a friend, and that’s all. I would never be stupid enough to let myself feel that way about a friend again. Never, ever again. No feelings like that. And especially not with Cassie.”

God, what I would do to forget those words. They echoed in my head all weekend, and each time they did, I felt them hit me all over again, each like a bullet to my already tender heart.

“Do you have any idea how much I’m missing the weather?” I ask, trying to focus on anything other than the way my heart is twisting inside my chest.

“You know I’m just going to keep ringing you with all these job vacancies until you come back to me, right?”

He laughs, playing it off as a joke, but I can hear the sincerity behind his words. I love Gavin as a friend, and I know he wishes our relationship had worked out. Maybe the way I feel about Gavin is the way Jace feels about me. That thought is a swift kick to the ribs, and it brings back the question that’s haunted me all weekend: why was Jace talking to Declan about me like that? Why did he feel the need to make it so clear that he doesn’t see me that way and never will?

I thought I’d done a pretty good job of keeping my love for Jace under wraps, but maybe I haven’t. Maybe they’ve been bubbling away under the surface for so long that they’ve become obvious every time I look at him. God, I wish I knew how to push them back down. I wish I knew how to get over my best friend.

“I have one more thing to share,” Gavin says. “And this is actually the real news I got up early this morning to tell you.”

I paste a smile on my face and try to give Gavin my full attention. “I can’t take any more suspense. What’s this news?”

“The editor-in-chief is leaving, and I just got asked to replace her.”

“Oh my God,” I squeal. “Gavin, that’s terrific news. I’m so excited for you!”

He chuckles lightly. “So, I just wanted to say that now that I’m in this position, there will always be a job here for you if you ever want it. I’ll make sure of it.” He pauses, letting his sincerity shine through. “If you ever change your mind and get so sick of the weather you can’t stand it anymore, let me know. I’ll fix you up, Cass.”

I choke on the tears that threaten to fall, hearing the full meaning behind his words. Gavin doesn’t know everything about my past heartbreak, but he made a few good guesses during the short time we were together. He guessed I’m in love with someone who can’t love me back, who will never be available to me. “Thanks, Gav. You have no idea how much that means to me,” I say quietly, letting him hear the sincerity in my voice.

The white brick building shaped like an L that is O’Connell & Strand comes into view, and I sigh as I pull into the car park.

“I have to go now, Gav, but we have to celebrate properly the next time I’m up there or you come down here, okay? We’ll have a proper celebration.”

“I’m going to hold you to that,” he tells me.

“You absolutely should. Talk to you soon.”

“Bye, Cass.”

It takes more energy than it should to drag myself out of the car and walk into work, and even more energy than I can muster to keep my smile in place.

I wave to Wendy, our receptionist who’s been with O’Connell & Strand for the past decade. The look she gives me says I’m doing a shoddy job of looking professional and like the partner I will be once I sign the contract to become co-owner.

“You still feeling sick, love?” she asks quietly, leaning over the front bench.

“Not quite one hundred percent, but better than I was,” I tell her before beelining for my office.

Almost worse than the hurt I felt over Jace’s words is how I failed to hide my reaction. I’ve been dwelling on Thursday night and Jace’s comments all weekend. The pervading sense of hopelessness has been creeping into my world a little more. I tried to get over Jace. I left the state, nearly ended our friendship completely so I’d have the space to date. I don’t want to be in love with my best friend, but I am, and those strings are wrapped around my heart so tight that I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to cut them off. What if I can’t? What if I’m doomed to love him for the rest of my life?

Since leaving all those years ago, I’ve dated enough men, including Gavin and Thom, to know there’s no one else for me. This feels like defeat because I don’t know how much longer I can keep doing this—just loving Jace from my spot beside him as his best friend. It’s hard enough with him not dating, but Eve will come home, and then I’ll have to stand back and watch them together all over again. Can I really do that?

“Hey, you’re here,” Jace says, walking in with a cardboard tray holding two coffees. After he drops it on the small table in front of my office, he props his hip against the doorway, one hand in his pocket.

As he stands there, blocking my exit, I can’t help but absorb his excessively good looks. His medium-length blond hair looks slick and stylish, his perfectly angular jaw is clean-shaven, and the white shirt he’s wearing shows off his tan. His grey suit pants fit him to perfection, the belt buckle drawing my attention down to his hips even though it shouldn’t. In the light of my office, his hazel eyes seem more green than brown.

Being in love with my best friend means I find him attractive in anything he wears, but when he’s dressed in a suit, my body always responds and signals its approval.

“Yup. I’m here.” I wrench my gaze away from him and motion to the coffees. “But you knew I would be, from the looks of it?”

“I hoped you would come in.” He steps into the office, closes the door, ensuring our privacy, and I feel my heart rate skyrocket.

Episode 10

Cassie

Eve raises her wine glass. “Cheers.”

I raise mine and tip it in her direction. “Happy Hump Day.”

We switched our weekly chat from Sunday to Wednesday a while ago to accommodate Eve’s Sunday night dinners with her boyfriend’s family.

“I can’t wait for the day we can do this in person instead of over WhatsApp.”

“Me, too.”

It's not a lie when I wish for it to be the truth, is it? When I want it to be the truth? Maybe if I tell myself enough—if I keep repeating the words—it’ll be true when she finally does come home. She's my best friend, just like Jace is, and I should want her here.

“I could really use a few drinks with you here in person,” Eve says, glancing down, her smile a bit wobbly.

“Why, what’s going on?”

Eve sighs. “I broke up with Sam.”

I sit up straighter, paying closer attention to my friend. “What? Why? What happened?”

“He just said it wasn’t working and we should end it.”

“Oh, hon, I’m sorry.”

“That’s the thing,” Eve continues quickly. “I should be upset, right?”

“You’re not?”

“No, and I think that worries me more than the breakup itself.”

Confusion furrows my brows. “Why?”

“Because I should be upset. I should be devastated, but I almost feel relieved instead.”

“You weren’t in love with him,” I say, less as a question and more as a statement.

“I thought I was, but maybe I just wanted to be.” She sighs. “I’m worried that I haven’t really been in love with anyone since Jace.”

I swallow hard, my stomach sinking like a stone. Jace proves to be the impossible man to get over—I know that firsthand. So, I have no idea how to respond to my friend. When she moved on and began dating, Jace went on his own dating spree. Then, around half a year ago, he settled down a bit and stopped the merry-go-round because he knew he wasn’t in love with anyone the same way he’d been in love with Eve.

“He’s the man you were going to marry, and you were together for years,” I remind her. “It makes sense you’re finding it tough.”

Maybe she’ll never get over him, just as I’ve never been able to. After years away from Jace in Queensland, I thought I was over him. But now I know what I didn’t then: I’d just suppressed my feelings and embraced denial. Worse still, I believed that by focusing on our friendship and the business, I could maintain the upper hand over the love I’ve had for Jace since I was ten.

I did everything I could to move on, even dating Thom. But some feelings won’t stay suppressed, no matter how much you try. Sometimes, as much as denial feels like the best and only option, it refuses to cooperate.

The truth is, if I’m brutally honest with myself, I never fell out of love with Jace. Meanwhile, he’s never fallen out of love with Eve. And so here we are again: me quietly pining for Jace, while Jace and Eve love each other from afar. It’s enough to make me question every one of my life decisions while simultaneously wanting to bang my head against a wall in hopes of curing my heart of its agonizing devotion to the one man I can never be with.

Ignoring the pinching sensation in my chest, I ask, “Are you thinking about coming home?”

As horrible as it is, my stomach drops, and nausea rolls through me.

Eve appears to consider her answer. “I’m not ready to come home quite yet. I still have things I need to do.”

It’s absurd, the wave of relief that washes over me when her words hit. Eve will come home sometime, and it may as well be sooner rather than later. I do miss her, and I’d be excited to see her. But I’m aware that, unlike last time, I can’t leave and escape to Queensland with a clear conscience—not unless I plan on walking out on a business my father helped build, one I promised Jace I’d stick around and help run.

I need to be mentally prepared for when Eve does come home. The pain I know I’ll feel when she and Jace rekindle their relationship is the reason I’m holding off on Dad’s offer (and request) to buy out his share. It’s a procrastination that’s starting to cause tension between Jace and me.

“Well, I can’t wait for you to come home,” I reiterate, trying not to wince at the lie.

“I can’t wait to have wine catch-ups and girls’ nights on the regular with you,” she says, adding to my growing guilt. “Anyway, enough about me. How are you and Thom doing?”

My throat tightens. “Actually, we broke up.”

“You’re kidding? When?”

“A few days back.”

Eve is silent, and I wonder if she’s thinking about the fact that I didn’t call her right away. “I haven’t told anyone yet,” I say before she can mention it.

It’s part of the reason I’m dreading seeing the guys tomorrow night. To say that Jace and Thom didn’t really get along is an understatement. I know Jace won’t be sorry to miss out on Thom’s company, but he’ll be worried about me. For me.

“Are you okay?” Eve asks.

“Yes, I’m a bit shaken up, but I’m hanging in there.”

Another lie. It was a relief when Thom suggested we end things because he was more invested in our relationship than I was, always talking about the future. I just wasn’t in love with him. Eve and I have that in common when it comes to our breakups. The fact that Jace is the reason for both of us, however, means I can never tell her—especially when I told her outright that I would never date Jace. Hoes before bros. Sisters before misters. I have no right to feel the way I do, not in her eyes, and not in mine either.

“Well, maybe you’ll find a hot new guy at the bar tomorrow night,” she says hopefully.

“Yeah, maybe.”

The conversation shifts to work for both of us, and before long, we’ve been talking for a couple of hours.

“I should let you go,” Eve says when she sees me yawn. “Speak soon?”

“Totally. Bye, hon.”

As I hang up, guilt threatens to swallow me, and I sink down in my seat. I’ve been living with it for so long, I should be used to it by now, but it sits heavier with me today than usual. I love Eve, and I miss her, but talking to her always reminds me of two things: One, Jace loved her first, and because of that, he will never be mine. And two, Eve will come home, and when she does, she and Jace will get back together, leaving me to live with the agony and heartache of loving him and watching him be with the love of his life.

Jace

“Ah, we have a serious problem,” Logan says, nodding toward the bar.

Declan leans forward in his chair, his jaw tightening as his hands clench around his beer. “Are you fucking kidding me?”

I turn around to look toward the bar and see Thom leaning over some woman, being a full-on sleazebag as if Cassie doesn’t exist at all.

The sight knocks the wind out of me while simultaneously turning my blood to a boil. “What the fuck?”

“Jackass,” Logan spits.

Propelled by the rage spinning a sledgehammer through my gut, I stand up. For Cassie’s sake, I’ve kept my mouth shut and made nice. But he knows we’re here. If he thinks I’m just going to sit here and—

“Oh shit, Cassie’s arrived,” Declan interrupts.

He’s right. Cassie has just walked through the door of the bar.

Before I can decide whether I should try to snag her attention before Thom does, Cassie spots Thom and the woman he’s chatting up. Instead of telling the loser off and slapping him, or hitting him like he deserves, she forces a polite smile and gives him a half-hearted wave. He has the gall to wave back at her before returning his attention to the woman he was hitting on.

The guys and I share a look of confusion before turning back to Cassie to see her reaction. When she uses the same forced smile on us that she shared with that idiot a moment ago, I know something is wrong.

As soon as she’s within reach, I pull her into my arms and hold her as if she’ll fall apart if I don’t. After a tense moment, she sighs and softens against me. My body relaxes slightly as she lets me hold her. I breathe in the scent of her light floral perfume, comforting myself with the knowledge that she’s here, I’m with her, and she seems to be okay. Even if her dickhead boyfriend is… well, I don’t even know what he’s thinking.

“You want to tell us why you were okay with that jackass back there being all over another woman, Cassie?” Declan asks once I let her go.

"Thom and I broke up."

The guys and I stare at her, waiting for more information. Logan breaks the silence first since Cassie isn’t offering anything. "Who dumped who?"

Declan shoulders Logan. “What this insensitive lug is trying to ask is: are you okay, or do we need to crack some skulls?”

Cassie smiles, and for the first time tonight, her smile is genuine. “Thanks, guys, I’m okay. No skull-crushing needed.”

I want to repeat Logan's question about who initiated the breakup, but I fight the urge because she specifically hasn’t offered the information, which leads me to think that Thom is the one responsible. Stupid idiot. I can’t imagine anyone in their right mind breaking up with Cassie. She’s probably trying to save face and avoid us marching over there and removing Thom from the bar, which I would only be too happy to do. My knuckles itch with the desire to make contact with his smug face.

Admittedly, this isn’t the first time I’ve had the instinct, but it’s the first time I’ve worried I might actually follow through. To avoid giving in to the desire, I sit back down in my chair, ensuring I’m on top of my hands so I don’t follow through with the overwhelming urge.

I spend the next couple of minutes trying to assess how well Cassie’s coping with the breakup. She doesn’t look back at Thom, and she doesn’t seem overly upset, so that’s something, but it can be hard to tell with Cassie. Sometimes she locks down her feelings, walling them off so that no one can read her. Worryingly, she could be heartbroken, and we’d have no clue.

I’m not sure she was this closed off before she went to Queensland.

“You need a drink,” Logan points out to Cassie with a frown.

Declan, Logan, and I all stand up, ready to rectify this problem now that we’re focused on the lack of alcohol and not on Thom.

Cassie, however, rises to her feet. “Sit down, men, it’s my shout.” She waves away our complaints and backs it up with a firm look at each of us, brooking no arguments.

After taking our reluctant drink orders, the three of us watch her leave. I’m sure my frown mirrors Declan and Logan’s expressions.

“Cassie’s handling the breakup well,” Declan says, still looking concerned as he follows Cassie with his eyes.

“It seems like she’s okay,” I say slowly, not trusting my perceptions.

“She’s not looking back at the asshole, and she didn’t flinch when she saw him flirting with that chick,” Declan adds.

“You, on the other hand,” Logan says, looking at me. “You look like you still want to smash Thom’s face in.”

“Don’t you?”

“Yeah, but I’m still worried you’re thinking about going over there and acquainting his head with the bar.”

“Our Jace never liked Thom,” Declan reminds him.

“None of us did,” I point out.

“He was okay,” Logan says.

When I glare at Logan, my mate just shrugs. “Yeah, he was a bit of a wanker, but he was harmless enough.”

“You, on the other hand…” Declan trails off. “You hated him and barely concealed it from Cassie.”

Logan shakes his head. “There was no concealment. Cassie knew.”

“What are you getting at?” I snap at the two of them.

“Nothing,” they duet.

“Bullshit. If you’ve got something to say, say it.”

Logan pushes back his chair. “I’m going to help Cassie.”

My gaze flicks between my mates, the one still at the table and the other running for cover. “Chicken shit,” I mutter. “What were you going to say?” I press Declan.

For the first time, Declan loses his assuredness and slightly smug look, instead looking more concerned than anything. “We thought, well…” He smiles sheepishly. “That you might be jealous.”

His words punch me in the gut, but I laugh it off. I stop laughing, though, when I see just how serious Declan is.

“I didn’t need to be jealous of Thom. I mean, at first, maybe I was worried because I didn’t relish spending time with the guy, or sharing Cassie with him when she’d just gotten back from Queensland after years of being gone. But Cassie never bailed on any plans or our regular hangouts. I don’t need to be jealous of some douche who clearly had no idea how awesome our girl is.”

“So, you haven’t been having feelings for Cassie?”

I snort.

Declan just stares at me.

“Cassie’s my best friend, nothing more.”

She can’t be more, no matter how beautiful she is, or how perfect for me I think she might be. No matter how much she creeps into my thoughts or my late-night fantasies. Immediately, my mind goes to the dream I had about her last night. We were in my bed. She was on top of me, and she was kissing me as if her life depended on it, and I—

“That’s not what I asked.”

“I know what you asked, but I love her as a friend, and that’s all. I would never go down that path with a friend again. Never.”

Declan shifts in his seat and shakes his head at me, indicating he thinks I’m full of shit.

“Do you really think that after what happened with Eve, I would be stupid enough to let myself feel that way about a friend again?” I ask. “I won’t be. Never, ever again. No feelings like that. And especially not with Cassie. Never with Cassie.”

She’s too important, and now that our friendship has healed, I refuse to do anything that will put it at risk again.

“And we’re back,” Logan’s voice booms as the tray of drinks lands on the table.

Too late, I realize why Declan squirmed and shook his head at me. Fuck.

Episode 9

Jace

“I wonder what’s holding Cassie up.”

Logan’s gaze holds steady on mine, and I shrug before sliding my phone from my back pocket. I check for messages before putting it away again when I see there’s nothing from Cassie. There’s only so many times I can message her without coming across as clingy. I’d rather cut my arm off than act like a needy boyfriend, especially since she has one of those now.

“Maybe Thom's hairstyling is holding them up,” Declan says, causing Logan to chuckle.

I shake my head and take a swig from my beer, swallowing the arseholish comments about Thom that are sitting on the tip of my tongue. The guys have given me a hard time over my dislike of Cassie’s new boyfriend, and I don’t need to give them any more fuel for their arguments.

“Does anyone need another?”

When my gaze floats down to the bottle of Midori and lemonade in Holly’s hands, I see it’s empty. Am I a shitty date for not noticing before now? It’s only been a year and a bit since I was last in a relationship, but I feel out of practice. Dating nowadays feels like being in a foreign country, one where I don’t know the language.

It was never like that with Eve. I knew her so well and we were such good friends before we dated that I never had to wonder how to act around her or what she wanted. And before that, I was just a horny teenager with sex on the brain. I dated a lot, but nothing serious.

And part of me wonders whether hanging out with Cassie since she moved home has spoiled me too. Being friends for so long means I don’t worry about working out what she wants; I just know.

Making a move to reach for Holly’s empty bottle, I offer, “I’ll grab it.”

She shoots me a bright smile. “No need. I think I see someone I know, so I was going for a walk anyway. You want anything while I’m up?”

I hold up my half full bottle. “I’m good, thanks.”

Holly looks at the others sitting around the bonfire. “Anyone else?”

There are at least fifty people in our yard, celebrating Logan’s birthday, and a lot of Logan’s mates brought partners. So, it isn’t surprising Holly might have recognised someone. As she walks off, I force myself to check out her arse in the tight jeans she’s wearing. The view is good, but it doesn’t heat my blood the way I know it should.

Logan and Declan are watching me when I turn my attention back to them. “What is it?”

Declan shakes his head. “Nothing.”

Logan raises a shoulder in a half shrug and drinks from his beer when I look at him to fill me in. Useless. The two of them have a lot of opinions they’re happy to share until I want them to say what’s on their mind, and then they decide they want to keep their traps shut.

“Cassie is here,” Declan announces.

“Finally,” I mutter, my gaze cutting straight through the crowd, to the back gate that has just opened.

My mouth feels dry, as if I’ve been hoovering the desert with it when I see Cassie walk in wearing a short, sparkly silver dress that hugs every curve of her body. The dress pushes up her breasts and makes her tanned and toned legs look a mile long. Instead of wearing high heels, she’s wearing a pair of sparkly silver sneakers I swear only my best friend can make look formal.

“Wow,” Declan says, echoing my thoughts.

Cassie waves at a few of the people standing in a group near the back gate before she spots us sitting around the fire and heads in our direction.

“Hey!” She leans over the back of Logan’s chair to give him a kiss on the cheek and a hug from behind. “How’s the birthday boy?”

Standing up, Logan squeezes between two chairs to hug her properly. “Better now that you’re here. You look hot as fuck, babe.”

Logan isn’t wrong. Cassie was always a pretty girl, but as a woman, she’s stunning. The hair she used to wear shoulder length in high school now hangs nearly to her waist, and instead of being dark brown, it’s full of highlights that make her look as if she spends all day, every day, in the sun. Usually, she keeps her makeup to a minimum, preferring the natural look, but she’s gone all out this evening. She looks like she belongs on the cover of Sports Illustrated.

Nearly eight years ago, I sat outside her window on the night of Eve’s eighteenth, listening to Cassie tell her mum she didn’t compare to Eve. Now, there’s no evidence of the girl who inadvertently revealed her insecurities through that open window. Cassie is a seductive mix of competent woman, tomboy and beautiful female. Every guy at the party, my mates included, is admiring her, and the stupid pride I feel that she’s ours is ridiculous. Well, not ours or mine, but-

“Hey, Jace, good to see you.”

I force a smile that hopefully doesn’t look like a scowl as Thom thrusts his hand forward.

Fucking Thom.

Reluctantly, I shake his hand. Declan and Logan seem to think my feelings about the guy are irrational. Not for the first time, I wonder if I’m jealous of the preppy journo. I can’t be, can I? I’m just scared of losing Cassie again. To get over Eve and me dating, she moved to Queensland and lived there for years. Now that she’s finally back, and we’ve mended our friendship, I’m not keen to see some rando take up all her time. That’s all.

If I was convinced Thom would make Cassie happy, that would be a different story, but I know my best friend, and he’s not the right guy for her.

Not that I know what her type is. She never really dated anyone in high school, and I’ve never seen her with a boyfriend before.

You’re her type. She never dated because she liked you. My conscience supplies unhelpfully.

Maybe I used to be her type, but I’m not anymore. Cassie’s feelings for me are a thing of the past.

Finally, now that my mates have let her go, Cassie throws herself at me, and I catch her easily. Hugging her, I inhale her perfume and the smell of her shampoo, a mix called Passion Berries. I showered at her place once and could not resist reading the label on the back of the bottle. Vanilla, passionfruit, and wild berries were among the ingredients I remember. It’s a mouth-watering combination, but the urge to flick my tongue across the pulse in her neck still takes me by surprise.

Admittedly, this is not the first time I’ve had to resist a ridiculous impulse around Cassie, but I’ve never been this close to messing everything up and acting on it. I’m fighting my baser need to find out if she tastes as good as she smells. A fight made tougher by the awareness of her soft breasts pushing against my chest. And when she drops her head and presses her nose into my shirt and breathes me in, my whole body tightens, my blood rushing south, filling my groin with heat. The sudden need to have her spread under me steals the breath from my lungs and makes me ache for her in a way I can never have her.

Cassie looks up at me, and my gaze falls upon her glossy mouth. Her pink tongue darts out, sliding across her luscious bottom lip in a move I’m sure isn’t an invitation. Despite that fact, my body tightens even further. My pulse throbs heavy and thick between my legs as I imagine her tongue stroking mine while I bury myself to the hilt inside her.

Quickly, I let her go. When she looks at me, her eyes appear larger and darker in the firelight. Then Cassie blinks and offers me a calm smile. I must have imagined the moment between us just now.

Discreetly, I adjust myself and sit down, reminding myself I can’t have these reactions to my best friend.

Thom appears behind Cassie and his arm moves around Cassie’s waist possessively. For a split second, I imagine tearing it from his body and beating him bloody with it.

“Is Holly here?” Cassie asks, her gaze bouncing around the party before coming back to rest on me.

“She saw someone she knows. She’ll be back soon.”

Cassie nods and smiles, but her smile is a little dimmer, not really reaching her eyes. Cassie gets along with everybody and has tried to draw my new girlfriend into conversations and get to know her. Both women try hard, but they have little in common. Holly is a girly-girl, and while Cassie likes girly-girls—Eve was a girly-girl, after all—Cassie prefers talking about sport, business, and writing. Things Holly has no interest in.

“Go sit with your friends, babe,” Thom tells her, giving her a squeeze. “I’ll get you a drink.”

Logan claps Thom on the back. “C’mon, I’ll show you where the drinks are.”

Before Thom leaves, he dips his head and kisses Cassie. I look away as my stomach twists. And when I look back and see Cassie’s contented smile, the beer I’ve been drinking sours in my stomach.

With a sigh, Cassie plops down in the chair beside me, the one Holly vacated earlier.

“What’s wrong?” she asks with no preamble or bullshit.

I don’t know if Declan hears Cassie ask, but I see his gaze flicker over us before he resumes talking to the dude next to him. Some guy Logan knows from work.

“Nothing,” I say, picking up the beer bottle I put on the ground when I saw Cassie come in, taking a swig.

“Oh my god, you just lied to me.”

My gut is still twisted in knots, but I can’t help but grin as I turn to face my best friend more fully. “How do you know?”

She gives me a small smile. God, she’s so beautiful, so stunningly beautiful, that looking at her hurts like a physical ache in my chest. Why do I have to notice now, when I know we can never be more than friends? When I know just how much I will lose if I’m ever stupid enough to put my dick before friendship, like I did with Eve.

I lost Cassie once, and I refuse to again. For the sake of our friendship and the business we’ll one day co-own, I can let anything come between us. Meaning, there’s zero reason for me to spend even a moment thinking that maybe I got it wrong; maybe I never should have dated Eve because I would have been happier—happiest—with Cassie.

“C’mon, Jace. How long have I known you? I know your tells.” A small frown tugs her brows down. “But you rarely set out to deceive anyone. What gives?”

What am I supposed to say?:

“I finally see you the way you wished I did when we were teenagers. How different would things be now if you and me were the ones who dated instead of me and Eve? I hate that. I’ll never know because I can’t risk losing you the same way I lost Eve. You’re my best friend and my future business partner, and there is no future for us other than friendship. But it’s becoming an effort to remind myself you’re off limits.”

“Jace,” she prompts.

“Just. Promise me we’ll never grow apart again,” I scrape out.

The thought of any distance between us again makes my lungs tight. Raw emotion clogs my throat. I will do anything to avoid screwing up our friendship, which probably means accepting her relationship with Thom, even if I think he’s the wrong man for her.

Her eyes soften, making my heart knock harder against my ribs. She used to look at me like that all the time when we were younger. Back then I took that softness and affection for granted, took her friendship for granted. I don’t anymore; I never will again.

She holds my gaze, resolute. “I promise.”

“Come ‘ere then.”

I wrap an arm around her when she shuffles her chair closer to mine, hugging her to me. She feels so good, so right, pressed against my side, her head resting against me. It isn’t until Declan raises an eyebrow at me, that I force myself to remove my arm, feeling cold and miserable the moment I lose that contact.

“Nothing will come between us again, right?” I ask, not willing to let this moment go completely.

“Never.”

Every part of me wants to reach out for her again so I can pull her back to me. But I can’t do that because Thom is back with drinks, and he’s brought Holly with him. Cassie jumps up to give Holly a hug and kiss, offering her the seat she was just in. I don’t want Cassie to move, but Holly is already taking her place beside me. My moment with Cassie is well and truly over.

“Fire’s dying,” Logan announces, throwing another log on the fire and sending sparks soaring into the night sky.

I have just enough time to see Thom pull Cassie into his lap a couple of seats down from me before the smoke changes direction, coming at Holly and me.

Once the smoke eases, and the thick smoke stops stinging my eyes, Holly shifts closer to me in her chair. I wrap an arm around her, ignoring the way my brain compares her to Cassie. Holly’s delicate features and cherry-red hair make her a knockout. She’s beautiful and smart, and nice. But maybe Holly isn’t the right woman for me, if my reaction to Cassie is anything to go by, which means I need to end things between us. Stringing her along isn’t fair.

Something that becomes clearer still when Holly tilts her head up and presses her lips to mine, and I feel nothing until I imagine that those lips belong to Cassie.

Episode 8

Cassie

I turn off the car engine, unbuckle my seatbelt, and reach for the door handle just as my phone starts ringing on the car seat next to me. Assuming it's Jace calling to check how close I am, I pick it up, but instead of Jace's name, I see Eve's name flashing on the screen.

I swipe the screen to answer the call. "Hey."

"Oh! Hi! You actually picked up."

"Surprised?"

"Well, it's your night out with the guys, right?"

"I just parked outside the bar, so you caught me in time."

It's an unusually warm April evening, probably the last one before spring arrives. Feeling the need for fresh air, I start the car again and roll down the windows. The tantalizing aroma of food wafts in with the breeze, making my stomach growl.

"Great! I have good timing, then!"

Tapping my finger on the steering wheel, I furrow my brows at Eve's overly cheerful tone. "Were you hoping I wouldn't answer?"

"No, not at all. It's just... I already had a voicemail planned out in case you didn't pick up."

"Well, now you don't have to leave a message. What's up?"

"Can't I call just because I want to catch up with my best friend?"

"Of course, I just thought we'd talk on Sunday, like we always do."

"I know, but I was sitting at my desk and I thought, why not switch things up and call Cassie tonight? She'd be thrilled to hear from me."

"Okay, you're freaking me out. Seriously, Eve, what's going on?"

"How was your day at work?"

"Come on, you didn't call to ask about work."

"No, but I'm easing into it. Humour me."

I sigh, a knot of worry forming in my stomach over Eve's strange behaviour. "It was fine."

"You were at the paper today?"

"Yes, I was."

"Aren't you finding it exhausting juggling your time between the agency and the paper?"

"Not at all."

She asked me the same question on Sunday, and I told her then that I enjoy the variety. After returning to Magpie Grove, I missed writing for The Queensland Times, so when I saw a contract position at The Sydney Herald for two days a week, I jumped at the opportunity. Now, I can utilize my journalism degree that I worked so hard for while also assisting Jace and our fathers with the agency.

Eve's repeated question indicates that either she didn't pay attention to my answer on Sunday or she's building up to something she wants to say.

"And how's Flick?"

Alright, that answers my question; she's still building up to it.

"I think she's alright. I haven't seen much of her this week."

After getting tired of sleepless nights, I moved in with Declan's coworker. Declan and Logan have become even bigger players than they were in high school.

I could handle all the flirting and even the occasional joke about joining them, but constant sleep deprivation due to their nightly activities almost drove me insane. Six months after moving in with Declan and Logan, I found a new place. Jace took my spot in the house, finally leaving the place he shared with Eve before she left.

My new roommate is nice, and she's a detective with the Sydney Federal Police, so we occasionally share resources. She works nights, so we don't really see each other much. But Eve already knows all of this.

"Okay, and... how's Jace?"

And here it is, the real reason she called.

In the eight months since I moved back home, navigating my friendship with Eve and Jace has become quite challenging. Now I understand the struggle Eve went through when I moved to Queensland. I'm the one caught between two friends, and I hate it.

"He's... doing okay."

"I have to tell you something, and you're not going to like it."

I lean back in my chair, bracing myself for what's coming. My car may be parked, but I sense a collision ahead. My instincts are tingling.

"I've started seeing someone."

The air rushes out of my lungs.

"Say something," she urges.

"What do you want me to say?"

That it's been eight months, and Jace is still heartbroken? Sure, he's doing better now, but he never mentions you, and he hasn't shown interest in another woman since you left?

She exhales a long breath. "I don't know, Cassie. Tell me I'm not the worst person in the world."

I love Eve, I really do. But my heart is crushing itself because I know how much this will hurt Jace. Watching him suffer from a broken heart has been agonizing. But remaining neutral is important to me; it's the only way to be a friend to both of them.

"You're not the worst person in the world, Eve."

"I have to tell Jace, right?"

"I think you should."

"I was thinking... maybe you could tell him. It might be better—"

"No. Leave me out of it."

"We haven't spoken for months, Cass. I can't just call him out of the blue and tell him I'm with someone else."

"So, you want me to blurt it out?"

"I thought he might handle it better if you delivered the news."

"It's your relationship with him. I'm not getting involved."

"He isn't dating anyone at all?"

"He hasn't shown interest in anyone since I came back to Magpie Grove."

"Have you ever wondered if... maybe he's looking closer to home?"

It takes me a moment to understand what she's implying. "Are you kidding?" I manage to utter.

"No, I—"

"He has never looked at me in that way, Eve," I choke out, pain and anger squeezing my heart. "How can you even bring it up, especially after what you said two months ago?"

"I'm sorry, Cassie."

Embarrassment colours her tone, and I know she genuinely regrets it. But I'm still triggered. Two months ago, Eve saw a photo that Jace posted on Instagram of the two of us and completely freaked out. Believing there was something romantic between us, she called me to berate me. It took me two hours to calm her down and convince her that she was seeing things that weren't there.

After we ended the call and the initial shock of her accusations wore off, I allowed myself to be angry at Eve. But then I reminded myself that she was homesick, miserable, and full of regret for leaving. At that time, she had been gone for about six months, and I half-expected her to fly back home after our conversation to reconcile with Jace. However, one week later, it seemed like she had completely forgotten about it. She hasn't mentioned coming home since, nor has she dared to accuse me of secretly dating Jace again.

I tried to put that conversation behind me, but now that she's suggesting that Jace and I might be together? Well, she's acting like she'd be fine with it, but I know better. Eve may handle Jace moving on, but not if it's with me. She has asked me directly if I would ever date Jace, and I promised her that I wouldn't. It's simply not an option. The moment Eve and Jace got together, Jace became off-limits to me permanently. Their breakup hasn't changed that.

The door of the sports bar swings open, and people spill out onto the street, their laughter filling the air. It's enough to make me smile, even though happiness is the last thing I'm feeling.

"I need to go. The guys are waiting for me," I tell Eve.

"Of course. Cassie?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm sorry for asking you to be the messenger. I will tell him. I just don't want to hurt him."

"I know."

"And I'm sorry for suggesting—"

"It's fine," I interrupt her. "Are you happy, Eve? Is this new guy everything you want?"

She giggles. "It's still very new. Nothing serious, but yeah, I like him. He's been pursuing me for a while, but I've held off because I wasn't ready. Last night, though, it felt like things were progressing. I just didn't feel right starting anything without talking to Jace first."

"Then you're doing the right thing by talking to Jace. Trust your instincts."

And then? I suppose I'll be here to pick up the pieces, as I always am.

She swallows. "We'll talk on Sunday?"

I force a smile. "Absolutely."

We hang up, and I start my car again to close the windows. Then I head toward the sports bar across the street.

As soon as I walk into the bar, I see my guys sitting down, enjoying their drinks. Jace immediately spots me, and a wide grin spreads across his deliciously enticing mouth, igniting a tinge of desire in my belly.

Why does he have to be so incredibly handsome?

Why does he always have this effect on me?

He brushes back a strand of his dark blond hair and throws his head back, laughing at something Declan said. His happiness is infectious, and despite the knot in my stomach from my conversation with Eve, I feel the urge to laugh.

"Hey, Cassie."

As usual, Jace captures all of my attention when he's around, blocking out everything else, including the familiar face now standing in front of me.

"Hi, Thom." Thom is my coworker at The Sydney Herald. With his sandy hair and bright blue eyes, he's decent-looking, and he's asked me out a couple of times already. Since he found out that I come to Brady's Sports Bar on Thursdays, he's been showing up, positioning himself close to the door, hoping to catch my attention. He reminds me a bit of Gav—nice enough, though not as intelligent as Gav.

Thom flashes his most charming smile at me. "Can I buy you a drink?"

"Another time." I give him an apologetic smile. "My friends are waiting for me."

"I'll hold you to that, Cassie. One of these days, you'll say yes."

"I'm sure you're right." I offer him another quick smile before continuing toward the men in my life.

"There she is, finally!" Declan jumps up from his seat as soon as he sees me, pulling me into a tight hug that muffles my giggle against his shirt.

Once he lets go, Logan spins me around before passing me over to Jace, who embraces me as if it's been ages since we last saw each other, not just a day. I press my face into his clean shirt, breathing in the scent of his laundry detergent and aftershave. He plants a kiss on the top of my head, causing my heart to skip a beat as he holds me impossibly close, our bodies pressed together, thigh to thigh, chest to chest.

Looking up at him, still encircled in his arms as if he doesn't want to let go, my gaze locks onto his before dropping to his full lips. It would be so easy to stand on my tiptoes and kiss him. My heart pounds against my ribs as I let myself indulge in the fantasy of how his lips would feel against mine, how our tongues would dance together. The mere thought ignites an ache in a place it shouldn't. Will I ever stop being affected by him? Years of living in Queensland, away from Jace, were supposed to help me move on.

Swiftly, I try to untangle myself from his embrace, forcing a smile as I take a step back. Well, I attempt to step back. He doesn't let go, instead keeping a firm hold on me as he studies me intently.

"Are you okay?" he asks, his voice tender and soft.

His concern tears at my heart.

"Yes, I'm fine."

Whatever he sees doesn't seem to convince him, but he does release me. "I'll get you a drink."

"It's fine, I can—"

He gives me another quick kiss, this time on the cheek. "Don't worry about it. I'm getting drinks for the guys anyway."

Before I can change his mind, he guides me to an empty seat.

Logan, who sits beside me, pats my knee in a gesture that I interpret as part apology and part understanding. "Don't mind him."

Declan is still focused on Jace, but I know his words are meant for me. "He was like this with Eve whenever he thought she had a rough day."

Logan nods. "Yeah, he was. And she loved it."

I swallow, my stomach dropping as my heart aches for Jace. Eve did mention that Jace had a way of taking care of her when she was upset, a side of him I never got to witness since I kept my distance during their relationship. And now? It leaves me feeling desperate and a little miserable, knowing I'll never experience that kind of love from him.

"What's the score?" I ask Logan, desperate for a distraction. There's no use dwelling on what it would be like to be in a romantic relationship with my best friend.

When Jace returns to the table, he hands the guys their drinks before placing mine in front of me. Instead of resuming his previous seat, he sits beside me, draping his arm across the back of my chair and leaning in closer. I fight the urge to move nearer, to rest my head against him as if he's mine.

"Cassie?"

I shift my attention from the TV's highlight reel to Jace, watching as he reaches out to lift a strand of my hair, letting it slip through his fingers. The simple gesture sends shivers through me, igniting a longing that I wish didn't exist. Uninvited, vivid images of his hands and mouth on my body, him naked above me, loving me intimately, flood my mind, leaving me almost breathless.

His lips curl into a half-smile, though his eyes still hold concern. "You're somewhere else tonight."

I force a smile. "Sorry."

My reaction only deepens the concern in his eyes. "Cassie, what's going on?"

Shaking my head, I redirect my attention back to the television. "Nothing."

Soon enough, he'll hear from Eve. She'll tell him about her new relationship, and he'll put two and two together. He'll assume my strange behaviour is because I'm worried about him.

I wish worry was the only thing I felt right now, but to my shame, resentment claws at my insides. Eve walked away from an engagement and a relationship with this man, someone I would have given anything for a chance to love. If I had been the one he fell in love with, if I had mustered the courage to confess my feelings and date him, would he have proposed to me? Would we be married?

It was easy to convince myself that staying silent about my feelings for Jace was the right thing to do when he was happy with Eve. But now I fear I'll never stop regretting the missed opportunity.

Regret can eat away at you.

I need to push these feelings aside, lock away my desires, and focus solely on our friendship. After all, I've been through the agony of unrequited love before, and I can't go back there. I can't allow myself to burn with desire for someone I can't have.

I can't.

I won't.

Especially since I can't run away from it like I did last time. Not when our business requires both of us.

I need to take action, something to quell these feelings I have no right to. My gaze shifts back to Thom, still seated near the door. Is it possible that dating someone I genuinely like could lead to falling in love given enough time?

Is it possible to fall out of love with the person who seems like your perfect match?

Only time will tell.

Episode 7

Jace

2 months later…

"Is this really everything?" I ask Cassie, eyeing the four large boxes stacked in the corner of her new room.

Cassie rolls up the sleeves of her shirt, though they immediately slide back down her slim, tanned arms. "Yup. I know it's not much, but I left a lot in Queensland."

"Right."

She steps forward and places her hand on my arm. "I'm here to stay, Jace. I'm fully committed to the business, okay? It was just easier to leave behind the things I didn't really need than to bring them with me." She shrugs. "Besides, Declan and Logan already have so much stuff. I didn't want to overcrowd their home with my belongings."

Her gaze meets mine, silently pleading for me to believe her. It's not that I don't trust her; it's just that I've spent the past couple of months expecting her to call me any minute and tell me she's changed her mind about moving home. To tell me she doesn't want to leave Queensland and her job. It wasn't until she arrived in Magpie Grove late last night that I finally accepted that this is actually happening. But now, as I look at the small number of boxes and furniture, uncertainty creeps back in.

I don't want to get accustomed to her being home if she's planning to leave again soon.

Yet, as I see the sincerity in her dark eyes now, I nod. Cassie lets out a small sigh of relief and lowers her hand.

"I still can't believe you decided to move in with these idiots," I say, deliberately raising my voice.

"Oy!" Logan shouts from the lounge, where he's watching the prelude to the AFL Grand Final on TV. "I heard that!"

"Yeah?" I shout back. "Good!"

Cassie laughs, then asks, "Are you ready for a drink?"

"I've been ready for hours."

It's meant as a joke, but Cassie's mouth tugs down at the corner, her dark eyes reflecting concern as she reaches out to touch me once more. "I wouldn't have blamed you if you started without me."

My relationship with Eve began on Grand Final Day. Tomorrow would have marked our seven-year anniversary and our wedding day. Despite talking to Cassie every night, we haven't dwelled on it much. So when she told me she would be home this weekend, I was grateful and relieved, knowing I would need her. Her presence might not fix everything, but with Cassie here, the grief isn't as overwhelming, the ache of loneliness isn't as sharp, and the void in my heart isn't as vast.

I smirk. "I know, but I wanted to wait. I had faith you'd make it in time."

She smirks back at me. "No, you thought I wouldn't make it back until halfway through the game. I told you the roads would be empty at this time."

This morning, Cassie and Declan paid a visit to her parents to collect a few things she had sent down there. I was worried she wouldn't make it back in time for the game when they decided to stay and have lunch with her folks.

Cassie gently squeezes my arm. "Come on."

She leads the way to the kitchen. I lean against the countertop, retrieving the bottle opener from the top drawer while Cassie grabs two beers from the fridge.

"Logan, need another one?" she calls out, sliding our beers along the counter to me.

"Yes, ma'am," Logan replies, showing up in the kitchen.

I pop off the caps from our beers and hand the bottle opener to Logan, who takes his beer from Cassie.

"I love that you're already making yourself at home," Logan says, winking at Cassie as she takes out the snacks she prepared earlier from the fridge and pantry.

Her eyes shift to Logan. "You don't mind, do you?"

Logan's smile is warm. "Of course not. I mean, you did buy all this stuff."

"Yup, it's going to be great to have a woman around to buy food and tidy up," Declan says, walking into the kitchen.

Declan is far from the sexist pig he pretends to be, but he can't seem to resist stirring up trouble.

He's clutching a towel around his waist, his skin still flushed from the shower, steam trailing off him. Cassie tosses a wrapped candy at Declan, who catches it, unwraps it, and pops it into his mouth, his gaze teasing her. But she's not looking at his face; her gaze lingers on his stomach. I half expect her to blush, as the old Cassie would have done. However, the Cassie standing before me doesn't miss a beat—she just hands him a bottle.

Things are mostly back to normal between Cassie and me, and our friendship is nearly as strong as it was before she left the state all those years ago. But moments like these remind me that I don't know my friend the way I used to. There's Cassie B.Q.—Before Queensland—and Cassie A.Q.—After Queensland. Cassie A.Q. is someone I'm still getting to know.

I despise being reminded that I no longer know her as I once did. Almost as much as I despise the way Declan is eyeing her up. He's looking at her as if she's someone he'd like to tie to his bed. He's into that kinky stuff.

"I hope I'm not embarrassing you, Cassie," Declan says, practically purring the words.

She raises an eyebrow. "I've seen plenty of naked men before, Declan. A six-pack isn't exactly new to me."

"Way hey," Logan says, waggling his eyebrows.

Cassie's good-natured grin is aimed at both Logan and Declan. "You guys always loved showing off your abs when we played footy in the park, remember?"

Declan smoothes a hand over his stomach. "I didn't realize you were paying that much attention." His smirk is suggestive. "Did you commit those memories to heart so you could relive them when you were alone in bed?"

Cassie leans in, waiting for Declan to do the same, then whispers, "Wouldn't you like to know."

Declan's eyes widen, as if he can't believe she said something like that. Logan stands there, grinning at the exchange, but I'm not smiling. Declan has always been a flirt, and it's not like he never flirted with Cassie when we were younger, but Cassie never flirted back. She would act reserved, shy, sometimes embarrassed, and occasionally amused.

Maybe that's because she was waiting for attention from the one guy she had feelings for back then. Me. But that's no longer the case, and while I'm relieved that she's moved on from me, I'm far from thrilled about this new dynamic. I've only just gotten Cassie back, and I don't want her to leave again because she hooks up with Declan and everything falls apart.

After all, I know firsthand that introducing sex or romantic feelings into a friendship can complicate things. That's the best-case scenario. And the worst-case scenario is that it destroys the friendship beyond repair.

"Are we going to watch this game or what?" Cassie asks, glancing between the three of us.

Declan throws his arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer and giving her a squeeze. "Missed you, you know that?"

Cassie smiles indulgently up at him. "Missed you too." She playfully pushes him away. "Now, go put some clothes on."

Declan frowns. "But watching games in the nude is kind of a house rule."

Cassie laughs, then stops abruptly, looking at Logan. "He's joking, right?"

Declan chuckles as he leaves the kitchen, and Logan looks amused as well. "Yes, but we definitely won't mind if you want to watch the game naked."

Great. Now Logan is the one flirting. I look at Cassie, waiting to see her reaction, but she just shakes her head, a wide smile still on her face. Her eyes continue to sparkle with amusement as she looks at me. However, when she notices the expression on my face, her smile fades into a frown, and she tilts her head, questioning.

I shrug, forcing a grin, hoping she attributes my mood to the day and upcoming anniversary, rather than her flirting with my friends. Then I push off the counter, picking up a couple of the snack plates she prepared and heading for the living room.

Cassie and Logan follow me, and Declan joins us a minute later, fully dressed. The four of us immediately start arguing over who gets the sofa and who has to sit on the floor, and I do my best to put the flirtatious behaviour of my friends towards Cassie out of my mind. Instead, I try to enjoy the easy banter between the four of us.

Thinking back, I don't have too many memories of my friends that don't involve Cassie. Not during our high school days, at least. Until Eve and I got together, Cassie was always right there with me, my constant companion. Declan and Logan adored her back then, accompanying her to my footy games, hanging out at my place, watching sports together. They still adore her now, which is why they offered to let her move into their prized bachelor pad.

"Hey, remember when Declan tried to streak across the MGS?" Logan asks us during a commercial break.

Cassie giggles. "I tempted him with a meat pie, thinking he'd never agree, but he jumped at the chance."

Logan nods from his spot on the floor. "Right before he hopped over the barrier and started stripping."

Declan gives Cassie a confused look. "You really thought I'd turn down a pie? This body always needs fuel."

"Mm-hm," Cassie says, smirking as she places her half-empty bottle on the coaster, then leans back against my outstretched arm.

There's a moment of hesitation from both of us. Growing up, Cassie was always the affectionate one, never hesitating to offer hugs and touches. Of course, that changed once she realized I was with Eve. Now, when she touches me, it's calculated and cautious. I'm not sure why. Maybe she thinks I don't want her physical affection. Or maybe she's concerned about sending the wrong message and making me think she's not over me.

Determined not to let this easy moment slip away, reminiscent of the good old days, I pull her closer, wrapping my arm around her and hugging her by my side. The fact that she's touching me without overthinking or analysing it is a sign that she's starting to relax around me. Considering she's back and planning to work in our fathers' business alongside me, it's necessary. And I've missed it, missed her touch.

She leans into me, resting her head on my shoulder, and my heart tightens in my chest. Warmth spreads through me, filling the void she left when she walked away from our friendship.

I hope Cassie meant it when she said she's here to stay because it would be too easy to grow accustomed to her being back home. Too easy to fall into a routine of the four of us doing this regularly. And after losing her once, I know all too well how painful it is to watch her walk away and sever our connection.

I'll do whatever it takes to avoid going through that pain again.

Episode 6

Cassie

Six and a half years later…

The words on the screen blur before my eyes, making it hard to comprehend their meaning. I've read Eve's email at least ten times, and with each read, it becomes more confusing than before.

My Dearest Cass,

I've decided to take the contract in France. I know you probably won't understand this choice. Nobody else seems to. Maybe that should stop me, but I can't ignore the feeling that I'll regret not seizing this opportunity. I wish I could have pursued it without hurting Jace, but I failed.

Cass, the wedding is off, and I think Jace could really use a friend right now. I know Queensland has become your home, but do you think you could come back to Melbourne more often than once a year? He misses you. We both do. Always have and always will. Talk soon.

All my love, Eve. XOXO

As my phone chimes with a new message, I'm not surprised to see it's from Jace. Since I was about to message him, it's expected.

Eve left. She ended it, and the wedding is off. I thought she was happy. I don't understand.

There's an unmistakable pain laced in every word he types. Jace and Eve have been together for almost seven years. The wedding was scheduled for September, on their anniversary, only three months from now.

From a thousand kilometres away, I've tried my best to fulfil my duties as maid of honour, even flying to Magpie Grove to help Eve choose her wedding dress.

During our regular Skype catch-ups, Eve and I rarely discussed anything else. Yes, she mentioned the offer to work with the renowned photographer Everett Benton once or twice, but with the wedding drawing near, I assumed my friend would turn it down. I believed that settling down with Jace was her future, not France.

Did I miss the signs?

The fact that her decision has blindsided me indicates that, yes, I did miss them.

And I'm not the only one caught off guard. From the sound of it, Jace is in shock. Once that subsides, he'll be hurt, angry, and...

"Morning, Cassie."

Gavin Bowman, my colleague and friend, approaches my desk with two cups of coffee in his hands.

"Thanks, Gav," I say, taking the cup he hands me.

"Are you okay? You look like you've seen a ghost."

"Not a ghost, exactly. I just received some news from my friends in Magpie Grove."

"Are they okay?"

I take a sip of the coffee, relishing the bittersweet taste before meeting Gavin's concerned gaze. "Not really."

He furrows his brows. "That's not good."

Gavin has been working at the Queensland Times for a few years longer than me. He served as my mentor during my probationary period. We went on a few dates when I first started here, but our relationship never progressed into something romantic. Still, he's one of my closest friends in Brisbane.

"Do you think you should go back to Magpie Grove, Cass?" Gavin asks, taking a seat at the desk adjacent to mine.

The news of Jace and Eve's breakup has left me reeling, and I haven't had a chance to consider whether returning home is the right move. But now that Gavin brings it up, I can't help but contemplate it.

"I'm not sure. Maybe."

"But you'll come back to us, right?"

"Of course, Gav. You know I will."

"Good, because I'd miss you too much if you left for good."

His words echo the conversation I had with Jace before I left Magpie Grove.

"Just so you know, just so there's no confusion, I don't want you to go. I don't want to spend months here without you."

"I know, but it's just one summer."

"You'll keep talking to me, right? You're not going to disappear and cut off contact?"

"I wouldn't do that."

"Promise me, Cass. Promise me that when you come home, we'll be good. We'll be okay."

"I promise."

Back then, I tried my best to convince myself that I wasn't lying. But after years of silently longing for my best friend, I couldn't simply switch off my feelings. The rejection, even if Jace never intended it that way, was still too fresh and painful. The thought of pretending around the only guy I've ever loved became overwhelming.

Coupled with my newfound love for Queensland, I made the decision in late February not to return. It upset Jace more than I anticipated. He threw a fit when I told him my plans, and after explaining that I wasn't ready to join our fathers' business and wanted to study Journalism at Queensland University, we didn't speak for a year.

Eventually, Eve grew tired of being our go-between and insisted we start talking again. So we did. At first, our conversations were superficial, but over time, they became more meaningful. Our friendship didn't fully recover until six months ago when Kent, Jace's father, had a heart attack, and Jace leaned on me for support.

The near-death experience of someone dear to you has a way of shifting perspectives. I care about Kent almost as much as my own father, and I was devastated. From that point on, Jace and I started talking daily. Initially, it was mainly about Kent's progress, but even after his health improved, we maintained our communication. We never addressed the void our friendship fell into when I left, or how I broke my promise. Instead, we simply picked up where we left off.

Now that our friendship is almost as strong as it once was, I believe Jace would appreciate having a shoulder to lean on. Not that he doesn't have friends in Magpie Grove, but I'm probably the closest thing he has to a true best friend if Eve is no longer there.

"Besides, you wouldn't want to miss out on the upcoming election and political race by moving back to boring old Magpie Grove," Gavin reminds me.

"No need to convince me, Gav. I'm a Queenslander now."

Gavin examines me, clearly appreciating my tan and the lighter shade of my hair compared to when I first joined the Times. "You certainly look the part."

While his evident admiration should stir some warmth within me, all I feel is flattered and amused.

With his light brown curly hair and dark brown eyes, Gavin is undeniably attractive. He takes care of himself, hitting the gym after work every day. He's also intelligent. Overall, Gavin is a great guy. But damn it, why don't I feel that spark with him?

"I'll see you at the meeting at ten?" he asks.

"Yep," I nod and attempt to smile, assuring my co-worker that I'm alright, even though in my mind, I'm already requesting time off from my boss and booking my flight back to Magpie Grove.

As Gavin walks away, I refocus on Jace's message and hit the reply button.

I'm coming home for a while. See you soon.

I huddle deeper into my jacket, trying to ward off the chill as I sit in the passenger seat of Mum's car. How long will it take for me to adjust to Magpie Grove's weather? I'll probably just get used to it and then have to fly back to Queensland. Living in Brisbane for the past six and a half years has made me lose the resistance I once had to a Magpie Grove winter.

And, of course, I had to pick the coldest day on record to come home, according to Mum.

"How are you holding up?" Mum asks, cranking up the heating.

"I can't believe I forgot how cold winter is everywhere else besides Queensland."

"The heating is on full blast at home, and your room is all set up. I thought you might want to head straight to bed when we get there."

The flight from Brisbane to Sydney was only an hour, but I had worked a full day before catching the evening flight, and I've been yawning non-stop for the past hour.

"Also, your father is waiting up for you. He might want a quick hug and a chat."

I smile. "Of course."

Being an only child, I've always been close to my parents, and I know they've been missing me for quite some time. Mum and Dad were obviously disappointed when I told them I was only coming back for this short two-week trip in July.

"Oh, and just a heads up, he might try to convince you to come back here permanently to work."

"Well, he wouldn't be Dad if he didn't."

"Yes, but he might seem a bit more desperate this time."

Turning to look at my mother, I notice the furrow between her dark brows and the firm line of her mouth.

"Why would he be more desperate than usual?"

"I'm afraid the business is going through a bit of a rough patch, Cassie."

"What? How?"

The business has always been successful, and I've been in regular contact with Jace. He would have mentioned something if the business was struggling.

"They've had a string of bad luck, starting with Kent having to take a few months off after his heart attack, and then Greg leaving to take care of his mother in England. And now, Jace is having trouble focusing because of Eve..."

"So we don't have enough people to handle investigations?"

"That's a big part of the problem," Mum says, her frown deepening, indicating there's more to it.

"What aren't you telling me?"

Mum glances at me before returning her gaze to the road. "I don't want to bring this up with your father because it'll send his blood pressure skyrocketing, but there's a new agency that has recently opened in town, and they're giving Kent and your father a run for their money."

"You've got to be kidding me."

There has always been only one detective agency in Magpie Grove, which is why there has always been plenty of work. Magpie Grove has a wealthy demographic, but there's also a significant amount of poverty and crime. We have always supported the police and other agencies that require discreet work. Our reputation has been excellent, and our rates are great. No one has ever dared to challenge us. Until now, it seems. It's no wonder Dad's blood pressure is affected by the competition.

"Why didn't you tell me any of this over the phone?" I ask, puzzled. And why didn't Jace?

"Because I didn't want your decision to come home to be influenced by us," Mum explains, sitting up straighter. "I wanted you to have the space and time to get over Jace on your own terms and come back when you were ready."

The revelation hits me like a shockwave. I had never confided in Mum about my feelings for Jace, yet she seems to have known all along. She's never mentioned it until now.

"I never knew you knew," I admit quietly.

Mum clicks her tongue, looking at me as if I've said something obvious. "Of course I knew, Cassie. You're my only daughter. I could see the way you looked at him, and when he started dating Eve, you flew to Brisbane and became despondent. And let's not forget all the conversations about your future plans that revolved around Jace. It was clear as day."

"I wasn't despondent."

"You were miserable. I wanted to talk to you about it, but I thought forcing you to open up might make things worse. And it wasn't easy when you kept our conversations so brief."

"I didn't want to burden Auntie Ruth with long-distance phone calls."

"I understand that. I kept hoping you would come back so we could have a proper heart-to-heart conversation, but..." She trails off with a shrug. "You never did."

"I wanted to, Mum. I really did, but I just couldn't. Two months wasn't enough time."

I had wanted Jace and Eve to be happy, and if I had returned, they would have worried about me. My pain and wounds were still fresh and intense, and I couldn't hide them.

"No, I get it. But I was hoping you'd come back after being away for a year or two, once you had truly moved on from him."

"I'm sorry."

"I don't want you to come home out of obligation. I want you to come back when you're done running, Cassie. Whenever that may be."

Her tone is gentle, her words a soft shake. I can't deny that I've been running away, desperate to escape the heartache of the past. But now, I no longer pine for my best friend. The devastating realization that he will never be mine doesn't bring the same heart-wrenching pain anymore.

Occasionally, feelings of envy still bubble up when I see Eve and Jace's lovey-dovey photos on social media, but it's more about longing for that kind of intimacy and closeness in my own life. I've had relationships over the years, some with great guys like Gavin, but I've never fallen in love with any of them.

Because no one can compare to Jace, can they?

I push that thought down, hoping it will drown in the depths of my mind where it belongs. Just because I didn't have chemistry with my past partners doesn't mean I'm not over Jace. To be hopelessly in love with a man for so long, a man who wanted to marry my best friend, a man who will never love me back... that would be pathetic, right?

"I'm over Jace now," I declare, trying to convince myself.

Mum glances at me, a small smile playing on her lips. "I remember how passionate you and Jace were about the future of the business. I thought you two would conquer the world together. But then..." Her smile fades. "And then your passion shifted towards journalism. Which is great, it's just..."

"Just what?" I prompt, a knot forming in my stomach.

"I know you've always said you'll come back and join the business one day, but if journalism is your true calling for the foreseeable future and the business continues to struggle, you might need to consider the possibility that there won't be a business to come back to."

A wave of icy dread washes over me, and my stomach tightens at the thought. Yes, I love journalism, but I have always imagined myself as part of O'Connell & Strand Investigations. Always. Recently, I even talked to Jace about coming back and working as a freelance writer while contributing to the agency. But I never set a specific date for it. It felt like something far off in the future, maybe five years from now.

I didn't think I was ready to leave Queensland, but the idea of living in another state while my father and Kent's business crumbles is unimaginable. I have a duty as their daughter. I'll miss Queensland, I'll miss Gavin and the Times, but it's time to expedite my plans or risk losing my family's legacy.

Jace

I grimace with each knock on my door, startled by the unexpected and overly enthusiastic visitor.

"I'm coming."

Please, for the love of God, stop knocking.

I need to chug a litre of water and take a couple of Panadol before dragging my sorry ass to work. It may be Saturday, but we're drowning in paperwork and quotes, and I can't bear staying home for too long. It's too depressing. Too empty. Too... painful.

Running a hand over my face, I notice the stubble and the desperate need to shave just as I swing open the door. But all thoughts vanish the moment I lay eyes on the woman standing in front of me.

"Cassie."

Instinctively, I reach out for her as she reaches for me, pulling her into a tight hug before I can stop myself.

"Hey," she mumbles against my bare chest.

Suddenly aware of my barely dressed state, I release her, and she steps back. I watch her gaze drift down to my bare chest and settle on my jeans—jeans I forgot to button in my haste to get to the door. Feeling self-conscious, I quickly button them up. When her eyes meet mine again, her cheeks are slightly flushed.

"Did... Did I interrupt something?" she asks, looking uncomfortable.

"Eve's only been gone for less than a month," I snap. "Do you really think I've moved on already?"

She furrows her brow. "No. I... I'm sorry. I didn't mean that."

Instantly, I feel like a jerk. It's incredible to see her, and her presence means everything to me. These past six months have been the closest we've come to the normalcy she once promised we would have. Before that... I can't even begin to describe how much I missed her.

"I'm sorry. Of course you didn't interrupt anything, Cass. Come in."

She nods, swallows, and steps past me as I gesture for her to enter.

I close the door behind her. "I thought you weren't flying in until next week."

She tucks a strand of hair that escaped her long ponytail behind her ear, then slips her hands into the back pockets of her jeans, gazing up at me. "I wanted to surprise you."

"Well, mission accomplished."

For a moment, we stand there, observing each other, the silence thick. It dawns on me that the last time Cassie and I were alone together was six and a half years ago, when she assured me that leaving was the only way to fix things and that she would be gone for just the summer.

"Go through," I say, breaking the silence and pushing pause on the memories of that conversation. "I'm just gonna throw on a t-shirt."

Cassie nods and offers me a small smile as I slip into my bedroom and rummage around for a clean shirt. "If you hadn't been so set on surprising me, I could have picked you up from the airport," I call out.

"You would've had to fight my mother for that honour," she calls back.

"Mona would've let me win. She adores me."

The first shirt I find that doesn't smell offensive is an old Metallica tee. I pull it over my head, taking note of the growing pile of dirty laundry. Eventually, I'll have to stop avoiding it and do some cleaning.

But that's a problem for future me.

Exiting my bedroom, I close the door a little harder than intended, and the loud bang serves as a reminder that I should search for painkillers. Cassie is in the kitchen, wrestling with my coffee machine as I join her.

"I thought I'd give coffee-making a shot," she says, glancing sideways at me.

Swiftly, I open the compartment she's struggling with and pop the coffee pod in for her. After pressing the button, a delightful aroma fills the air, prompting a loud moan of appreciation from Cassie. I can't help but chuckle.

"Do you want one?" she asks.

"Yes, please. Make it the Super Strong one."

I retrieve the Panadol from its spot and gulp down two tablets with a mouthful of water. As soon as I place the glass back on the counter, Cassie hands me a cup of coffee.

"Cheers," she says warmly.

"Cheers."

Her eyes sparkle, and her smile is genuine as we clink our coffee cups together. A wave of gratitude washes over me that she's here.

Don't get too comfortable. She'll be gone before you know it.

After years of longing and waiting for Cassie to return, I've finally come to terms with the fact that she has no intention of coming back anytime soon. She's thriving with new friends and a job she loves, and she probably won't join me in running our fathers' business.

In other words, I'm done being bitter and resentful about it. We may live in different states, and we may have gone a year without talking because of it, but things are finally good between us again. She's been there for me when I needed her, especially when my father had a heart attack.

"So, how long are you staying this time?" I ask as I return the Panadol to the cupboard.

How much time do I have with you?

"I'm, um, considering sticking around for a while."

"So, a couple of weeks? Maybe a month?" I jest, trying to lighten the mood, even though the thought of her leaving again feels like an axe to my chest.

She gives me a mysterious smile and takes a sip of her coffee. After swallowing, she says, "Longer than that. I actually started writing my resignation letter to The Times this morning."

There's a sparkle in her dark eyes as she studies my face, clearly gauging my reaction.

"Are you serious?"

"It seems like our dads could use some help with the business, especially with Ray recovering from surgery, and I... I thought you could use a friend around right now."

She means with Eve gone. I won't deny that the idea of her moving back fills me with a glimmer of happiness, the closest I've felt in weeks. But Cassie has always insisted that Queensland is her home; she's happy there.

"You love Queensland."

"I do, especially the weather," she says, mimicking the motion of rubbing her arms and shivering. "But I always intended to come back and work for O'Connell & Strand."

"What about your career? You love being a journalist."

Why am I trying to talk her out of this?

"I'll do my best to find freelance work. It'll be an adjustment. But I can't love what I'm doing when I'm constantly worrying about the agency. I can't let our fathers' legacy go up in smoke."

"You have no idea how happy I am to hear that."

"I hoped you would be." Her expression grows serious. "Why didn't you tell me the business was in trouble, Jace? I would have come home earlier if I knew. I should have moved back and gotten my Investigator's license when Kent had the heart attack."

"At the time, I thought I could handle it, and when things took a nosedive, I didn't want to say anything because you were happy. I didn't want to take that away from you."

She shakes her head. "Jace..."

"I felt like you deserved happiness, and you wouldn't be happy if you moved back."

"That isn't true." Her gaze falls to the floor before climbing back to my face, her eyes meeting mine. "I've always said I would return and join the business at some point."

"I know."

"But you didn't think I would?"

"After everything that happened, I wasn't sure."

She nods, and I wonder if she's remembering the same conversation I am, the one we had before we stopped talking for a year.

"We have plans, Cassie! We're supposed to get our PI license and continue the tradition of Strand and O'Connell. You and me."

"Plans change. You and Eve are together now, and if I come back, I'll want to be happy for you guys, but it will hurt me to see you with her. I... I still need time, Jace."

"Spending the summer apart was supposed to make things go back to the way they were. You said we'd go back to normal if you left. How much more time do you need? Two more months? Six months? A year? Two years?"

"Maybe. I don't know how long I need. I just know I'm not over it yet. I'm not over you, and I'm not coming home until I am."

"Then hurry up and get over it already."

"It isn't as easy as that. I've loved you since I was ten, Jace."

"You can't love someone at ten."

"I loved you!"

"Then why didn't you ever say anything?"

"I wanted to. I wanted to so much, but Eve said it would screw everything up, that someone would feel like a third wheel."

"You still should have said something, rather than lying to me about it for so many years."

Our eyes lock and hold, and my mind does its best to return to the present and forget the past.

"I'm over... everything that happened and have been for a while. I've just been dragging my feet, and I do love Queensland and my job, but me staying... it wasn't because of you and Eve."

"Okay."

Her feelings for me were much stronger than I ever knew when she left the state, but it took a stupid amount of time to understand the extent. When she told me she wasn't coming home, I reacted poorly. I was young, selfish, desperate, frustrated, and hurt. After all, I broke up with Eve after her birthday because our relationship hurt Cassie, and she convinced me to get back together with Eve and spend the summer apart. I easily believed the promise she would come home in a couple of months and be over everything.

Cassie is still studying me, still trying to read me.

I don't want or need to discuss the past. Not talking for a year sucked, and bringing up her feelings and causing a fracture in our friendship again isn't something I'm willing to do. It might have taken six years, but she's coming home and wants to work in the business with me, just as we had once planned. I don't know when she got over her feelings for me, or how long she's been over them, and I don't need to know.

"I've waited a really long time for you to say you're coming home, Cass."

She grins, and I reach for her, pulling her to me, just like I would have done six years ago. For a moment, she freezes in my arms, and I worry I've crossed some invisible line I didn't know existed. Then she hugs me back ferociously.

"We're going to get this agency back on track. Strand and O'Connell," she says into my t-shirt.

"Damn straight."

"We're going to do this."

"Nothing will stop us."

Eve might have left, but Cassie is back, and for the first time since Eve has gone, I don't feel as if my world is about to end.

Episode 5

Jace

The music wafting from Eve's party down the street is surprisingly upbeat and poppy. I know my mates are probably throwing a fit over the song choice, but I can't find it in me to laugh. Cassie told me we're fine. She lied. Our years of maintaining a strong friendship have crumbled to dust. And it all unravelled so damn quickly that my head is still spinning.

Sitting on the grass outside Cassie's window, I absentmindedly pluck at the blades while waiting for the light to flick on in her room. Her window is open to let in some breeze, though there's not much of it tonight. After a minute, I hear her bedroom door close. The light remains off, but the creaking of her bed springs fills the darkness before she starts to sob. Deep, heart-wrenching sobs that pierce through my chest repeatedly.

Her tears are my fault. Well, mine and Eve's. Cassie was desperate to get away from the two of us, and she would probably be mortified to know that I can hear her right now. But listening to Cassie cry is my punishment for hurting her. She's my best friend, the person I turn to for everything.

How many times did I tell Eve that we should tell Cassie about our relationship? Too many to count. Eve insisted on waiting, but I should have been more insistent. It may not have changed everything that unfolded tonight, but Cassie wouldn't have felt so betrayed. She wouldn't have asked me out on a date.

God.

The look on her face when she realized my answer was no, when she discovered that I'm dating Eve—I can barely breathe every time the memory floods back.

"Cassie?"

The sound of Mona Strand's voice freezes me in place. I can imagine the concern etched in Mona's dark brown eyes. Mona is just like her daughter—or rather, Cassie is just like her mother: kind, considerate, and generous.

The light flicks on in Cassie's room, and I scoot closer to the house on the grass. Through the window, I see Mona sitting on the bed beside Cassie.

Mona wraps her arm around her daughter. "I take it things didn't go well at the party?"

Cassie sighs. "You could say that."

"He didn't notice all the effort you put into looking good for him tonight?"

All the effort she put in? Cassie dressed up for me?

Of course she did. Who else did she ask out tonight?

I'm an idiot.

"Who?" Cassie asks.

"The boy you dressed up for, obviously."

"No. It didn't make any difference."

"Well, then, he's foolish."

"Not foolish. He loves someone else. And... and I could never compete. I'm just so plain."

The sheer agony in her voice tears me apart. She thinks she can't measure up to Eve?

Over the years, I've rarely witnessed any kind of rivalry between the girls, and I used to attribute it to their strong friendship. But now I wonder if it's because Cassie believes she doesn't measure up to Eve. And now, my relationship with Eve has only amplified that feeling.

Which is absurd. Cassie isn't plain. She's stunning with her dark brown hair, cute upturned nose, and sprinkling of freckles. Plus, she's incredibly fit thanks to her love for sports—an interest we share. She's always around me and my mates, and if we weren't friends, I'd probably spend more time admiring her.

But she's my friend, strictly off-limits.

I applied the same rule to Eve, but everything changed that night we kissed. In that moment, I felt something I hadn't experienced with anyone else. There were fireworks and a connection so intense that I couldn't tear myself away from it.

Yes, and look where it got you.

I knew getting involved with Eve was a terrible idea, but being with her felt so right that I allowed myself to believe it might not end in disaster.

If I could go back to that night and change what happened, would things be different now? If it had been Cassie I kissed, would Eve feel the way Cassie does now? If I kissed Cassie, would I have experienced the same fireworks and intensity I felt with Eve? Would I have fallen in love with Cassie instead?

Fuck. I tug at my hair, desperate to silence my racing thoughts.

"Oh, Cassie," Mona says gently. "You're not plain. You're beautiful."

"Not compared to her, I'm not."

Mona clucks her tongue. "Comparisons are pointless. You're a stunning young woman. Why won't you believe me?"

"You have to say that because you're my mother."

Mona chuckles softly. "I may be biased, but I'm not blind. I'm incredibly proud to be your mother, Cassie."

"Thanks, Mum."

"I know it hurts right now."

"It's always going to hurt. Every time I see them together."

Her sob slices through me, stealing my breath.

"It won't always feel this way."

"I don't know. I think it might."

"Well, I know you weren't seriously considering Auntie Ruth's offer, but maybe you should think about it now. Go to Queensland for a while, get away. Give yourself some time to move on from the guy."

"I'm considering it."

"Good."

With great care, I rise from my spot and move away from their house, hoping to remain unseen. If I stay any longer, I might find myself climbing through Cassie's window, begging her not to go. I've always felt lucky to have two best friends, but Cassie is the one I spend the most time with. Not just because Eve is occupied with her extracurricular activities and photography apprenticeship, but because Cassie and I have so much more in common.

Cassie effortlessly blends in with the guys, unlike Eve, who they often find themselves admiring from afar and struggle to approach. My mates even complain when Cassie misses my football games. Our shared love for sports is just one of the many things we have in common. We both have grand plans for when we take over the Magpie Grove Investigative Agency from our parents. We're thrilled to work together and contribute to the business, something Eve has no interest in being a part of.

Cassie is my mate, my best friend, and I love her. The thought of her leaving the state because of me, because she has feelings for me and seeing me with Eve will hurt her, is... unimaginable. How can I allow that to happen?

The music has shifted now. Instead of the poppy and fun tunes, it's heavy, and it guides my steps back to the party.

"Cut my life into pieces This is my last resort Suffocation No breathing Don't give a fuck If I cut my arm, bleeding. This is my last resort."

Papa Roach, I realize after a moment. Eve added my music to the playlist to appease the guys. A wave of tenderness and affection for her washes over me. I've fallen hard for Eve, maybe because she's my friend, or maybe for other reasons. Regardless, I don't want to end our relationship. It's going to tear me apart, but is there any other choice if our being together hurts Cassie? No matter how much it's going to suck, I have to break up with her.

Eve spots me the moment I step through her front door. The crowded room of a hundred or more people doesn't hinder our connection. It's always like that between us—we know when the other enters a room. Her worried expression twists my insides as I manoeuvre through the crowd to reach her.

"Where have you been?" she asks, placing her hands on my shoulders. "Is Cass okay?"

Cassie is far from okay. I want to spill everything I overheard to Eve—I usually do. It's second nature for me to share everything with Cassie too, and resisting the urge has caused more trouble than I anticipated. But with the laughter and drinks surrounding us, now isn't the right time. This is Eve's party, her eighteenth, and it would make me the biggest jerk alive to ruin this important and special occasion for her.

Tomorrow I'll do what needs to be done. Tonight, I'll ensure she enjoys herself and creates positive memories.

"Cassie will be fine," I reassure her.

Well, she will be once I end things with Eve. I hope.

Eve nods, but I notice her nervous habit of nibbling on her bottom lip.

"I love you, Jace. I know it was terrible, but I'm glad Cassie knows about us now."

I don't mention that we should have talked to Cassie earlier, or that things might never be the same again, and that we may have ruined everything tonight. Instead, I wrap my arms around her waist, pulling her close, and whisper into her hair, "I love you too."

Because it's true.

Cassie

"Cassie?"

"Mm," I mumble loud enough for Mum to hear me through my bedroom door.

"Are you decent?"

I've been holed up in bed all day, lacking any motivation to get up. The moment I woke up this morning, I buried myself under the covers, pretending the outside world didn't exist.

Mum enters my room just as I sit up. "Cassie, Eve is here."

Crap. I was supposed to call Eve today, but I've been avoiding that conversation. Putting on a fake smile and pretending to be in a good mood feels too difficult. Besides, I've been contemplating whether I should spend the summer in Queensland. Leaving Jace and Eve for months doesn't sit well with me, but at the same time, I don't know how I'll overcome the hurt and envy of seeing them together.

Mum gives me a look that I can't quite decipher before stepping aside, allowing Eve to enter the room.

I gasp as I take in Eve's distressed face. The tears have dried, but mascara stains her cheeks.

"What's wrong?" I ask immediately, sitting up straighter.

Eve crosses the room and collapses onto my bed. "Jace broke up with me."

"What?"

Eve buries her head in her hands, shaking with sobs. "I don't understand, Cass. Last night, we were together. He told me he loved me, and then this morning, he ended things."

"No."

Unfortunately, my denial doesn't magically change her statement from fact to fiction. The grief radiating from my friend is undeniable. I don't get it—Jace loves Eve. He told me so just last night. And nothing has changed since then.

Well, except for the fact that I confessed my feelings to Jace and asked him out.

The sun streams through the windows, warming the room, and although I'm under the covers, I can't shake the feeling of coldness inside me. Jace broke up with Eve because of our conversation last night. So much for him believing I was okay. He knows me too well; I probably didn't fool him for a second. Now Jace doesn't feel right about dating Eve.

Guilt and hopelessness constrict my chest. What a mess everything has become.

"Eve, I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault."

"But it is."

Eve stares at me. "What are you talking about?"

"I... I asked Jace out."

"What?"

I sigh and force myself to meet her gaze. She's looking at me as if I've just told her I've killed her puppy. "I thought you were dating someone, someone other than Jace, obviously. I've had... feelings for Jace for a while, and I thought now that you were dating someone—someone I assumed I would meet at the party—I'd ask Jace out." I let out a forced laugh. "I had this silly idea that Jace and I could go on a double date with you and your mystery man."

What a colossal misjudgement.

"Clearly, he felt bad about everything, and that's why he broke up with you," I add.

A look of relief sweeps across Eve's face. "That explains a lot. I didn't realize you've been crushing on Jace. Why didn't you say anything to me?"

"Because I thought it would be weird. You always said it would ruin our dynamic if two of us got together."

Eve has the good grace to look sheepish. "I know I said that, and honestly, I didn't want to go there with Jace. It just kind of happened..."

This conversation is not making me feel any better.

"So you asked him on a date," Eve continues. "What did he say?"

"What do you think he said? He said he couldn't date me because he was with you. Now obviously he feels guilty about it, but I didn't want the two of you to break up. If he'd mentioned he was thinking about it, I would have told him not to because all I want is for you and Jace to be happy."

Eve suddenly bursts into tears. "Oh, Cass. I barge in here upset about Jace ending things with me when you have these feelings for him. What are we going to do?"

"Honestly, I have no idea."

Eve gives me a watery smile, but I can't return it. This whole situation seems ten times worse today than it did last night. If Jace thinks that breaking up with Eve is going to fix things, he's wrong. Nothing will ever make things go back to the way they have been, doesn't he see that? Jace's guilt is going to wreck everything Eve and Jace have unless I remove myself from the situation and give my friends some time to enjoy each other.

"I'm thinking about going up to see Auntie Ruth after Christmas."

"What? No, you can't leave us for the summer."

As far as protests go, it feels more obligatory than genuine, and I can't help wondering whether Eve has been secretly hoping I would go so she and Jace can spend time together without worrying about making me feel like a third wheel.

"I think it'll be good for you guys. You two can be all couple-y and stuff without worrying about me being a third wheel."

"You'll never be a third wheel, Cass."

"We both know that isn't true. It's the reason you always said it was better to leave romance out of our group."

Eve hangs her head. "I never knew you liked him."

"Yeah, well, that's because I never said anything. And thank goodness I didn't, huh? If I had, you never would have gone for Jace, right?"

"Of course," Eve agrees, looking appalled I would ask her such a thing. "Now I don't know how I feel about being with the guy you like."

The guy I like? Jace is so much more than that. He's the guy I love. The guy I've always loved, and the only guy I've ever loved. It has been that way since we were ten. But I can't exactly tell Eve that without making everything worse.

"Well, maybe when I go to Queensland, I'll find my own Jace, or at least get over my feelings for him."

"And then everything can go back to the way it was?" Eve asks hopefully.

"Yeah. Sure." Like that's ever going to happen.

Eve hugs me. "I'm so sorry I didn't tell you earlier."

"I forgive you."

"I know Jace isn't going to like the idea of you leaving for the summer."

"Don't worry about Jace. I'll talk to him."

Eve nods and smiles. "Thanks, Cass. I don't know what I'd do if things between me and Jace were over for good. I'm crazy about him, you know?"

I understand that much better than she'll ever know. Which is why I must talk to Jace. As much as I don't want to bring up our conversation from last night, I have to. It's the only way to make him understand that I need to go to Queensland. That way, we can all get on with our lives, Jace and Eve together. And me? By myself for the first time in my life.

Jace

"Well, if it isn't my sister from another mister."

Dad's voice filters through the security door as I shoot hoops outside. My morning has been a complete disaster, but I can't help but smile at the affection in my father's tone. Without even seeing our visitor, I know it's Cassie. She's practically family, just as close to Dad as she is to me. We've been a part of each other's lives ever since our dads joined forces. Don't get me wrong, Dad loves Eve too, but Cassie has spent more time at our house, simply hanging out.

"I'm glad you're here. My son could use a pick-me-up."

"I'll do my best. Where is he?"

"Playing basketball in the backyard. Go on through."

"Thanks, Kent."

I tuck the ball under my arm as Cassie opens the sliding door and peeks her head out.

"Hey," she says, a small, forced smile on her face as her gaze meets mine.

"Hey."

She steps out, sporting her usual summer outfit—denim shorts, sneakers, and a vibrant t-shirt. After closing the door behind her, she looks at me and extends her hands, signaling that she wants the ball. I pass it to her, studying my best friend as she lines up her shot.

The slight flush on her cheeks and her difficulty in meeting my eyes after releasing the ball give away her non-platonic feelings. As if her tearful conversation with her mother last night didn't already make it clear.

Keeping this secret from her may be the dumbest thing I've ever done. If Eve and I had been honest from the beginning, things would be different now. Well, I can't say for sure how Cassie's feelings would be, but maybe she would have confronted them earlier. Perhaps she would have never asked me out, and I would have never known she liked me.

In silence, we take turns scoring before she finally stops, resting the ball against her side and looking at me. "I'm thinking of going to Queensland for the summer, taking Auntie Ruth's offer."

"What? No!"

I've torn my heart apart to avoid exactly this outcome. "I don't want you to go, Cass. Eve and I broke up so you wouldn't have to witness us together. You have to stay."

Cassie takes a step closer, locking her eyes with mine and letting me see the conflict within her. "And how is that going to work, Jace? Take a moment to think about it. Can you really envision the three of us hanging out like we used to? Do you think we'll go swimming every night, pretending that I never asked you out and that you and Eve aren't in love? You're asking the impossible."

Emotions tighten my throat. She's damn right. Everything is a mess beyond repair. I broke up with Eve because Cassie has feelings for me, causing anger and pain for Eve. And now I've made Cassie feel embarrassed and uncomfortable.

Nothing feels right. Will it ever feel right again?

The urge to swear and unleash my frustration on something is strong, but I don't want Dad to come out here and ask me what's wrong. Hurting two girls in twenty-four hours? My two closest girls? Dad would tell me to grow up, be a man.

Cassie takes a few more steps toward me, her eyes wide and earnest, before pausing and placing her hand on my arm.

She holds my gaze. "You have to let me go, Jace. It's our best chance at... at finding some semblance of normalcy. I'll go and have an amazing vacation. You and Eve can stay here and spend the summer together. And when I come back, I'll be over everything. It'll be easier this way. We can pretend none of this ever happened."

It's logical. It makes sense. Yet, it's the hardest pill to swallow. Cassie and I had plans for this summer. Cricket matches, concerts, staying at my aunt's beach house. Eve would have joined us for some activities, and I would've spent my nights with her. But Cassie was supposed to be my days.

Not because she's a time filler, but because Cassie is my best friend in the world. I've been looking forward to this holiday—the summer after graduation. And now? The summer holds none of the promise it once did.

But how can I force her to stay when she's so determined to leave? How can I tell her not to go when she's right about everything, including it being our best shot at returning to normal?

"Do you really think it'll work for you to leave?" I ask.

"Of course," she replies, her voice brimming with enthusiasm, yet her eyes still carrying sadness. Uncertainty.

"Then you have to do it, I guess. But just so we're clear, just so there's no misunderstanding, I don't want you to go." I maintain her gaze, silently urging her not to look away. "I don't want to spend months here without you."

"I know, but it's just one summer."

"You'll keep in touch, right? You won't disappear and cut off contact or something?"

She looks away, and my gut tightens. "I wouldn't do that."

"Promise me, Cass," I demand. "Promise me that when you come back, we'll be good. We'll be okay."

"I promise."

Her words hold determination as she flips the ball in her hands, preparing for another shot at the hoop. The moment the ball leaves her hands, I reach out and pull her closer, enveloping her in my embrace. After a moment of resistance, she relaxes into the hug, returning it.

Is she burying her face in my shirt and taking a sniff?

Regret gnaws at me. How did I mess up so badly by overlooking Cassie's feelings for me? She's always been reserved around guys, hardly ever dating. It took so much courage for her to ask me out, despite her discomfort. Once again, I ponder how things would have unfolded if I had kissed Cassie instead of Eve.

But dwelling on what-ifs won't change the reality. I made a choice, and it's irreversible. Cassie isn't angry; she's just taking some time away. I can handle one summer without her. We'll stay connected through WhatsApp instead of soaking up the sun at the beach. I owe it to my lifelong friend to grant her the freedom she desires.

I grab the ball, initiating a one-on-one game.

We'll emerge stronger from this. I refuse to lose Cassie. She gave me her word that we'll be okay, and she's never broken a promise before. There's no reason to doubt her now, is there?

Episode 4

Cassie

"To Eve!" Jace shouts over the blaring music, raising his shot of tequila. "And to the end of exams!"

"To Eve!" I chime in, lifting my shot. "And to a summer filled with sun, sand, and beaches!"

Eve, already holding her glass, raises it with a grin. "To school being over, and to me finally being legal to drink. Woo-hoo!"

"Cheers!" we all exclaim in unison.

We down our shots and slam the glasses back onto the cluttered kitchen counter. Plastic cups, half-empty bottles of alcohol, and snacks cover nearly every surface. Eve promised we had enough food to feed an army, but I'm not so sure we got it right. It seems like the entire senior year of Magpie Grove High School showed up tonight. With summer beginning and graduation just around the corner, and considering Eve's immense popularity, we probably should have anticipated the turnout.

"Another round, please, barkeep," I playfully request from Jace.

"Your wish is my command," he replies.

Without thinking, I reach out and brush a lock of Jace's sandy blond hair away from his eye. He responds with a lopsided grin, and a jolt of excitement rushes through me.

"Let's raise a toast to the next chapter of our lives!" Eve shouts above the chatter of girls singing along to the music in the corner of the kitchen.

"Absolutely!" I agree. "Perfect timing."

Especially because tonight, I've decided to gather my courage and tell Jace that I want more than just friendship. After years of biting my tongue and holding back, I'm finally ready to put my heart on the line.

I can't help but hope that I've accurately interpreted Jace's signals of interest in me. Over the past couple of months, he's stopped dating other girls and consistently showers me with compliments. He notices when I put in extra effort, whether it's wearing my hair down or donning a dress instead of my usual jeans and t-shirts. He laughs at all my jokes and prioritizes spending time with me over his guy friends.

If I'm mistaken about Jace's feelings, my confession could make things incredibly awkward between us. But every day, I grow more confident that Jace feels the same way I do. Plus, the timing feels right. Eve has started a serious relationship, and after keeping her boyfriend's identity a secret for two months, she's finally ready to reveal who he is.

For fourteen years, we've been an inseparable trio, but with Eve's boyfriend entering the picture, we can become a foursome. No one needs to be left out.

"Alright, spill the beans, Eve. When do I get to meet Mystery Man?" I bounce on my toes, unable to contain my curiosity. "Is he here tonight?"

Jace finishes pouring the shots and glances at Eve, waiting for her response to my question.

"You'll meet him soon," Eve says, grabbing the shot prepared for her. "Let's just have a drink first."

I struggle to hide my frown as I watch Eve gulp down her tequila. She's been incredibly secretive about this new relationship, aside from confirming that I know the lucky guy and expressing how happy she is. It's almost as if she's anxious about us meeting him, but I can't comprehend why. Sure, I may not possess Eve's natural beauty, flirtatious nature, or confidence, but I have my own appeal as a sporty girl. Guys appreciate being able to have conversations with me about almost anything. And Jace easily gets along with everyone.

Besides, anyone Eve is dating would be an improvement compared to her previous boyfriend, Gary, who was twenty-four years old. Unless that's the reason Eve has been keeping her boyfriend's identity from us...

"Please tell me you're not back with Gary," I groan. "He's way too old for you."

"Oh God, no. I can happily say that Mystery Man is our age," Eve reassures me.

"So where is he? He should be here by now. Come on, the suspense is killing me."

The party has been in full swing for over an hour.

"He's here," Eve responds, offering a smile but avoiding direct eye contact.

"Seriously? Is that all you're going to tell me?" I press. "You've been going on about this guy for two months. We're best friends, Eve. You're supposed to share everything with us." I turn to Jace, placing my hand on my hip. "Tell her we deserve to know who he is."

Jace shifts his weight from one foot to the other and casually shrugs, which sends a faint ripple of unease through me.

"Help me out here," I plead with Jace, attempting to pinpoint why I suddenly feel like something is amiss. "Aren't you as curious as I am?"

Normally, Jace would be the first one to tease us whenever we talk about guys. Now that I think about it, though, he hasn't teased Eve about her new boyfriend much. In fact, he has hardly mentioned him at all. I initially attributed it to him spending more time with me, but maybe my assumption was wrong.

Suddenly, the music abruptly stops, and Jace clears his throat, his hazel eyes flickering up to meet mine. "Well, not exactly. I, um, already know who he is."

"You already know?" I grip the counter tightly as I turn to Eve, my heart pounding in my chest as anger, hurt, and an odd sense of betrayal rush through me. "Jace knows? How come he knows, but I don't?"

"Um, because..." Eve glances at Jace, then back at me. "It's a bit complicated. You see—"

"Yo, Eve!" Declan Fox shouts as he enters the kitchen, cutting her off. "Who's in charge of the music? Can we switch it up?"

Declan may not be part of our tight-knit trio, but he's a good friend to both Jace and me. I've watched countless footy games with him by my side, cheering on Jace. Under normal circumstances, I'd be glad to see him, but his interruption tonight might just push me over the edge.

"Hey, Cass," Declan says, looking me over, completely unaware of my frustration. He grins and leans back, emitting a low wolf whistle. "Damn, you're looking stunning tonight."

"Thanks, Deck."

Declan sidles up next to me, wrapping his arm around me with such force that it almost knocks me off balance.

"I've got my girl right here," Declan tells Jace, squeezing me against his side. "Where's yours?"

Under different circumstances, I might have revelled in Declan's compliment, but I'm too preoccupied with what's happening here. I've been relentlessly asking Eve about the identity of her boyfriend for ages. Why does Jace know who he is? Why did Eve confide in Jace and not me? And if Jace knows, why hasn't he told me? None of this adds up. Something feels off. Something isn't right.

"Why do we need to change the music?" Eve questions Declan.

Declan shrugs. "We need more rock. And before you kick my ass, all the guys are threatening to leave if this shitty pop music keeps playing."

Eve rolls her eyes. "And here I thought it was my birthday party."

"It is, but couldn't you sprinkle in a few rock songs here and there to keep everyone happy?"

Eve glances at Jace, then at me, holding up a finger as she starts walking backward. "I'll be right back. I promise."

I could swear I hear Jace mutter under his breath as Eve and Declan embark on their mission to change up the music.

Turning to Jace once more, I inquire, "You know who her mystery man is?"

The guilt shining in his hazel eyes turns the dinner I had—pasta—into a heavy stone. He didn't appear that guilty when I caught him using my razor to shave his face during school camp last year.

"Well, don't keep me waiting. Tell me who he is. Please," I practically plead.

"She made me promise not to tell you. She wants to tell you herself."

"Oh."

Hurt and envy entwine, and even though I desperately want to avoid overreacting, a lump of lead settles in my stomach and makes its way to my throat, obstructing proper swallowing. Jace and Eve are sharing secrets, secrets they’re keeping from me. In the fourteen years of our friendship, it has never felt like this before—as if I'm being left out, excluded.

Will Eve feel the same way if I proceed with my plan to ask Jace out? Am I about to exclude my best friend and make her feel like a third wheel?

No. Eve has someone. We'll be a foursome.

"Hey," Jace says softly, gently nudging my arm. "You look a bit pale. Want to step outside for a bit? Get some fresh air."

"But Eve—"

"I'll let her know we'll be outside."

I observe him effortlessly navigating through the crowd blocking the doorway to the living room. At six feet and two inches, he's a solid mass of muscle, honed by years of playing footy. I used to play football too. It's just one of the many things we have in common. We enjoy almost everything together. We're destined to take over our fathers' business and become business partners. We're not just a good match, we're a great match. He'll see that, won't he?

A few moments later, he returns, his hazel eyes radiant with warmth and concern. "Eve will join us when she's finished. Come on, let's go," Jace says, throwing his arm around my shoulders.

We make our way to the back door, and as soon as it opens, the intense heat rushes in to greet us. Tonight's supposed to stay above twenty-nine degrees, and it definitely feels like it's still hovering in the low thirties. The only people braving the heat are the smokers. I follow Jace around the corner of the house, down to a small grassy area with a bench.

"You look amazing, Cass," Jace compliments as we sit down together.

"Thank you."

His compliment sends my heart aflutter and a warm tingle races through my body, completely unrelated to the weather. I dressed to impress him tonight, wearing a short black skirt and a fitted black top that accentuates my decent cleavage. And it's not just the outfit I went all out on—I also curled my dark brown, shoulder-length hair with a curling wand, framing my face just right. Mum even helped me apply movie star-worthy eye makeup.

I've always had a tomboy side, and I'll never be as thin as Eve. Mum has drilled into me countless times that I shouldn't compare myself to others, but sometimes it's hard to resist. Eve, tall and slim, boasts perfect raven hair cascading down to her backside, and captivating violet eyes. When guys meet the two of us for the first time, they invariably look at her first. I suppose I'm pretty enough, and I'm fit, healthy, and toned, but standing next to Eve often makes me feel small and, well, average.

"You should wear skirts more often. They really suit you," Jace compliments.

His words bring me even more joy, and as I look up, locking eyes with him, my heart races twice as fast. The affection and appreciation in his gaze tell me it's the right moment. My heart pounds against my ribcage. We're alone, at least for now—it's the perfect time to confess my feelings.

"Jace, um, I wanted to talk to you about something."

"Is this about your Aunt Ruth's summer invitation? Eve mentioned it earlier, and we've decided you can't leave us for two months. We'd miss you too much."

I smile. I hadn't intended on going, but knowing he doesn't want me to leave gives me that extra boost of confidence I need right now.

"I'm not going to go."

"In that case, what did you want to talk to me about?"

I rub my suddenly damp palms along the length of my skirt. My heart races even faster now, and I start feeling a bit lightheaded. This is worse than when I went for my driver's license. I need to try and relax, or I'll end up freaking him out.

"I've, um, been doing a lot of thinking lately... about you and me... together," I say, my voice wavering.

Beside me, Jace stiffens, and when I steal a quick glance at him, he's motionless, like a statue. His reaction isn't exactly encouraging, far from what I had hoped for. But I've started this now. If I stop, I'll never know if he shares the same feelings. And I need to know. I've built up this moment in my mind for years. If I want to be with him, I have to put myself out there. He's worth the risk.

"I was wondering," I continue, desperately trying to swallow down the doubts swirling inside me. "Now that Eve is seeing someone, would you be interested in going on a double date with them?"

"A double date?" he repeats, his tone laced with surprise.

"Yes."

"With you and me?" he asks, seeking clarification.

"Yes, with Eve and her boyfriend," I affirm.

"You and me... on a date?" Jace repeats, his words hanging in the air.

My heart pounds in my ears as I nod, my mouth feeling dry and parched.

"Wow, Cassie, I..." Jace runs a hand through his hair and exhales heavily. The pained expression on his face tells me everything I need to know.

A wave of humiliation and embarrassment crashes over me as I rapidly process his hesitance. He's not into me. He doesn't want me. He doesn't like me—certainly not the way I had hoped. My feelings for him were merely a figment of my imagination.

The weight of that realization crushes my chest, and right now, I'd do anything to disappear. What have I done to our friendship? I fear I've plunged it into the depths of awkwardness. If I don't try to salvage it, we might both drown in the aftermath.

"Jace, it's fine. Forget—" I begin, my voice trembling.

"You know how much you mean to me, right? How deeply I care about you?" Jace interrupts.

"But only as a friend," I finish for him, slumping forward, feeling sick to my stomach.

"You don't understand. I can't go on a date with you."

God, this is far worse than any outcome I had prepared for. Is there any chance I can laugh this off and get Jace to pretend this incredibly embarrassing conversation never happened?

I force a strained laugh. "It was a stupid idea anyway. Forget it. Remind me never to drink tequila again. They should put a warning on the label—'May ruin friendships.'"

"I'm the one who should be sorry, Cass. I should have told you earlier," Jace says with a sigh, running a hand through his hair—an agitated gesture I know all too well. "The reason I can't go on a date with you is because... I'm actually... seeing someone."

His words hit me like a bowling ball, nearly knocking me off my seat. I struggle to process what he's saying. I always know when he's involved with someone because he tells me everything.

"Who?" I manage to ask, my voice barely a whisper.

It's the second time tonight that I've been left in the dark. Eve is seeing someone, and she's kept it from me. Now Jace is seeing someone too.

The reason for their secrecy hits me like a ton of bricks, leaving me reeling with the sudden realization.

"Oh... my... God."

Jace reaches out a hand to steady me, but I pull away, wrenching my arm from his grasp. Jace and Eve are together. Jace is the guy Eve has been smiling over for the past two months. Jace is Eve's mystery man.

"It's Eve," I say, my voice trembling. "It's Eve, isn't it? And you didn't tell me! How could you not tell me?"

I'm aware that my voice is bordering on hysterical, but the sense of betrayal is so intense, so overwhelming. It feels as though someone has ripped out my heart and tossed it against the nearest wall. The two people I love the most are in a relationship—with each other. And they made a conscious decision to keep me in the dark. All this time, Eve has been gushing about her new boyfriend, and she couldn't tell me that Jace is the one she's in love with?

Oh God. We're both in love with Jace.

"Cassie, I wanted to tell you. I really did. But Eve thought we should wait," Jace explains.

I glare at him, the hurt and anger burning within me. "Wait for what?"

"She was worried that our relationship would ruin everything between the three of us."

"And you thought that keeping secrets from each other wouldn't ruin things? I mean, how long have you been together?"

How long have you been hiding this from me?

I search his hazel eyes desperately, hoping to find something that will ease the pain.

"Two months, at most," he admits.

"Two months," I repeat, unable to contain my restlessness. "When? When did this happen?"

"It was during the Grand Final barbecue at my place. You left early with a headache, and Eve and I ended up watching some old movies. I don't even know how it happened. One moment we were watching Casablanca, and the next we were kissing... and you can probably guess the rest," he confesses, looking incredibly uncomfortable as he leans forward, his elbows on his knees.

Yes, I can guess the rest, and it makes me feel sick.

I stop pacing and stare at the guy I've loved for so many years. We're both silent for a moment before I decide that I need to rip off the rest of the Band-Aid.

"So, why now? Why is she finally ready to tell me? Is everything working out between you?" I ask, my voice laced with bitterness.

"Yes," he replies simply.

"And do you love her?"

"Yes."

It's just one word, but it feels like a rusty dagger being plunged into my heart. I place my hand over my chest, trying to cover the gaping hole his words have created. It's nearly impossible to swallow with the lump in my throat.

"Great," I manage to force out. "You love Eve. That's great."

"Cass, about what you said before..." Jace begins, his voice filled with desperation.

"Forget it. Please," I interject, my voice strained.

"I never knew you had thought about us being together," he says desperately. "Why didn't you say something earlier?"

"I didn't mean it."

"You wouldn't have asked if you didn't mean it."

"Okay, maybe I've entertained the idea once or twice, but it was just a result of everything changing around us, including Eve finding someone. It meant nothing. Really."

Jace studies me, weighing his options, and I feel a sense of relief when he finally nods, accepting my words.

"I don't want this to change us, Cassie. You, me, and Eve – we're a trio. No matter what's going on between Eve and me, it's the three of us, and it always will be," Jace insists.

He's trying to convince himself, but deep down, I know this will change everything. Eve and Jace love each other, and our dynamic will never be the same again.

The sound of footsteps catches my attention, and I turn to see Eve approaching. As I take in her stunning face and perfect figure, it becomes clear why Jace wouldn't give me a second glance when he can have Eve. The idea that he could ever be interested in me is laughable.

Eve notices my expression and stops, her eyes filled with nervousness as she addresses me. "I know I should have told you, Cassie-"

"Yes, you should have told me," I interrupt, my gaze shifting between Jace and Eve. "Both of you should have told me."

"We wanted to so many times, but we... we wanted to be sure before we made things complicated. Can you understand that? Can you forgive us?" Eve pleads, taking a step towards me.

So, Eve and Jace are now a "we"? An "us"? And I'm not a part of it. Someone will inevitably be left out, just as Eve had predicted all along. It's the very reason I never confessed my feelings to Jace until now. Eve knew that someone would end up feeling like a third wheel, and she was right.

"You don't think this is already complicated?" I gesture between the three of us. "You two have been keeping a secret from me for months."

"I'm sorry, you're right. I've been selfish. I just didn't want anything to jeopardize my happiness, Cass. I see now how wrong that was. I never meant to hurt you. Please, Cassie," Eve pleads, closing the distance between us. "Please don't hate me."

Hate her? I don't hate her.

Yes, I'm angry with her, but I don't hate my friends. Besides, Eve and Jace aren't the only ones who have been keeping secrets, are they? I've been in love with Jace for years, and I've never had the courage to admit it to either of them. If Eve had known how I felt, she never would have pursued a relationship with Jace. But I stayed silent. Now, Eve is in love with Jace, and my two closest friends in the world have found happiness together.

Despite the heartbreak it causes me, I'm genuinely happy for Eve. And, in a way, it's for the best that I kept my feelings hidden. Confessing my love for Jace could have stood in the way of their happiness.

"You know I don't hate you," I tell Eve, mustering the strength to move closer and embrace her. "If you're happy, then I'm happy for you."

"Thank God," Eve breathes, holding onto me as if her life depends on it. "For a moment, I was afraid you'd never forgive me."

"Don't be silly."

After giving Eve one final squeeze, I gather my strength and turn to hug Jace, who has risen from his seat. I want him to believe that I'm completely okay with the situation, that he doesn't need to dwell on anything I said before discovering his relationship with Eve.

"Now that I've had time to process it, I think it's great news," I assure him.

As his arms encircle me and he returns the hug, every hope and dream I've ever harboured about being with Jace crumbles. It wilts, curling inward and dying in the most agonizing way. The time Jace has spent with me lately, the attention he's shown me—it was all an attempt to ensure I didn't feel left out. And perhaps he was compensating for keeping this secret from me. I misunderstood his gestures as something more. I feel like such a fool.

I've told them that I'm happy for them, but beneath the surface, the pain, betrayal, heartbreak, and disappointment are tearing me apart. All I want to do is cry, and I'm unsure how much longer I can keep the tears at bay. There's no way I can plaster a smile on my face and pretend everything is fine, at least not tonight.

"I think I might head home," I announce.

Eve looks horrified. "You can't leave yet! It's my birthday; we haven't even cut the cake."

"I know, but I'm not feeling too well. I don't think the tequila agrees with me."

Jace interjects quickly, "I'll walk you back to your place."

"No, no, you stay. I'll be okay walking home."

"Cassie, you've been drinking," Eve protests.

"I believe I can manage the short walk down the street by myself."

Jace steps closer, and I instinctively take a step back. It's something I've never done before, and he stares at me as though I've just struck him. "I'm not letting you walk home alone, Cass."

"I'll be fine."

"Cassie—"

"But if you really insist…" I trail off weakly.

If Eve and Jace are determined, it's easier to give in than to keep pushing back.

Eve reaches out and squeezes my arm. "Feel better."

"I will. I'll call you tomorrow."

After a nod of agreement from Eve, I move briskly, hoping Jace won't attempt to put his arm around me or make any physical contact as I exit through the back gate and onto the sidewalk. I've eagerly seized every opportunity to spend time with Jace for as long as I can remember, but now he's my best friend's boyfriend—a person who is forever off-limits to me. There will never, ever be a future for us. That door has been slammed shut for good, and its reverberations still echo through me, ringing in my ears.

There are merely ten houses between Eve's place and mine, but this one-minute walk feels like a lifetime as we traverse the distance in uncomfortable silence.

"Home sweet home," I say, forcing a smile as we finally ascend the small incline of my driveway.

"Tell me we're okay," Jace murmurs softly, his hazel gaze penetrating mine.

"We're fine, Jace."

He nods, but a hint of uncertainty lingers in his expression. "I meant what I said, Cass. We're a trio."

No. We were a trio, but not anymore. A threesome works for friendship, but not for romantic relationships. There are certain boundaries I can't cross. Overnight, I've become the third wheel. I need to create some distance between us. They may not realize it now, but they won't want me constantly hovering around. Maybe I should consider spending some time with my aunt in Queensland after all.

"Goodnight, Jace."

Before I can step away, he leans in and softly kisses my cheek, sending waves of tingling energy throughout my entire body. He has no idea how challenging it will be for me to witness him with Eve. And that's the way it must remain. My friends are happy, and I want them to stay that way. Given enough time, I'll move on from Jace and find love with someone else. Won't I?

Episode 3

Cassie

I was just ten years old when Jace O'Connell planted a kiss on my lips. In that instant, my entire being ignited, like a burst of fireworks within me. I saw stars, heard melodies dancing in the air. I witnessed my entire life unfold before my eyes—an existence where I grew up and found myself married to Jace.

For a brief seven seconds, heaven replaced the backdrop of the grimy, dilapidated bike shed where we stood. But then, Jace released me and turned to kiss Eve—our shared best friend. The vision of me walking down the aisle toward Jace came crashing down, consumed by raging flames.

"I love both of you," Jace declared, enfolding Eve with one arm and me with the other. "I won't let anything come between us. It's the three of us, forever. Promise me."

Eve and I exchanged glances, then directed our gaze back to Jace. "We promise."

Even at the age of ten, I knew it was impossible for both Eve and me to marry Jace. Yet, that didn't diminish the profound impact of that kiss. In that moment, my best friend engraved his name on my heart. I yearned to witness celestial wonders once again, to feel the earth tremble beneath my feet, and to hear the enchanting melodies of flutes, even if it meant sharing him with my closest companion.

It wasn't until high school began that I realized I might have to share Jace with Eve and every other girl our age. Jace embarked on a personal mission to kiss as many of our classmates as possible. Every time I saw him with someone else, it felt disconcerting—like being trapped in a nightmarish haze where I endured recurring blows to my stomach, unable to escape.

"Doesn't it bother you that he's constantly kissing everyone else?" I asked Eve when we turned fourteen.

"Guys enjoy spreading their affection, Cass. Seriously. It's their biological urge to sow their seeds," Eve replied, her tone gently condescending. Although her words pricked my ego, I chose not to challenge her. Eve possessed beauty, popularity, and regularly engaged in dating. She considered herself my guide in navigating the realm of romantic relationships. Little did she realize that I abstained from dating because there was only one person who held my heart in their hands. And I wasn't prepared to enlighten her just yet.

"Why doesn't he treat us the same way, then?" I inquired.

"He probably sees us as sisters. We've been best friends since we were four. Besides, can you imagine how strange it would be if he started treating us like all the other girls in school? Not to mention, it would ruin everything once it inevitably ended. We're a trio, Cass. Someone would inevitably feel left out."

Eve was right; we were an inseparable trio. Our bond formed when my father and Jace's father established a private investigative agency together. At the time, my mother ran a daycare from home, making it convenient for her to care for both Jace and me. Eve lived nearby and had already become a familiar playmate. When Eve's mother decided to return to work, she seamlessly joined our group. From that moment on, the three of us were inseparable.

I held onto the hope that our friendship would endure indefinitely.

That's why, after my conversation with Eve, I made a concerted effort to conceal my feelings for Jace. It didn't matter that the glimpse of heavenly bliss in Jace's embrace propelled me into a crush that evolved into something much deeper and all-consuming—love. I became the clichéd girl I had read about, the girl in love with her best friend, too apprehensive to confess my emotions for fear of jeopardizing everything. As dreadful as it was to embody that stereotype and as much as I despised Jace kissing other girls, I wasn't willing to risk our friendship or exclude Eve.

No matter how profound my love for Jace, I convinced myself that the sacrifices were worthwhile. I believed that keeping my feelings hidden would ensure that Eve, Jace, and I remained best friends forever—united against the world.

Then everything changed. Eve started dating a guy who captivated her, and I saw my opportunity to finally reveal everything to Jace—to express my feelings without compromising our trio.

Instead, a single secret shattered my heart into countless fragments and forever placed Jace beyond my reach.

Episode 2

Introduction

Hi everyone, I’m so excited to bring you the new and improved version of this story about best friends falling in love. It marries two of my most popular stories: Kiss Me, Break My Heart (now titled Game of Hearts) and Bet Me. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

All my love,

Description

Cassie Strand thought she’d buried her feelings for Jace O'Connell when she left him—and their friendship—behind. But now she’s back, ready to dive into their shared dream of running a detective agency, even if it means facing the unrequited love she’s spent years trying to forget.

Thrown together on a high-stakes case inside an exclusive adults-only nightclub, Cassie is forced to confront everything she’s kept hidden. In a world where boundaries blur and the only way to bring down the bad guy is to get up close and personal, can they keep their partnership professional and their friendship intact—or will this case push them past the breaking point?

CONTENT WARNING (CW): Contains voyeurism. Reader discretion is advised. No realism intended. 18+

Episode 1

Episode 2

Episode 3

Episode 4

Episode 5

Episode 6

Episode 7

Episode 8

Episode 9

Episode 10