Mistaken Identity (Identity 1)

“You do work for a newspaper and possess a freakishly high I.Q.”

“Want to know if I was bitten by a radioactive creature?” she whispered.

Mya snorted. “This town is too boring for anything like that to happen.”

“I don’t know. Look at me. Maybe there’s a change on the wind.”

“I wish you’d pass that luck on.” Mya sighed, her light dimming.

“Come on.” Determined to cheer her up Kansas grabbed her hand and propelled her up.

“What are we doing?” Mya asked.

“Getting you ready to catch Aiden’s eyes. You’re crushing, and he owes me. Let’s see if the convention gods are smiling down on Somerville.”

“He’s too pretty to be into me.”

“Shut up, you’re gorgeous, and he’s just a man like any of the others ones who drool when you walk by. I know you’ve had some rocky relationships, but you will meet Mr. Right.”

“Thank you.” Mya sniffed. “You always make me feel better.”

“That’s my job. Now come on, let’s beautify you for tonight.”

Chapter Four

Jett stood outside the mid-sized house, a bouquet of flowers in his hand, and a duffle bag tossed over his shoulder. He’d caught the last flight in, rented a car, and here he was. Butterflies danced in his stomach. It’d been over a month since he had seen Kansas, though they talked just about every day. At this point he couldn’t imagine life without her, but she was skittish. Something I’ll be asking her about. It was an insurmountable obstacle between them he didn’t know how to move or work around. No matter what she always held a piece of herself back. He wanted to break through, embed himself in her heart so deep she’d never be able to walk away. What they were developing was grown man romance. The past ten years with Lis has been running empty on the fumes of childhood, puppy love.

He knocked on the door, shifting his weight as he waited for a response. She said she was spending the night in. The door swung open, and Kansas stood in front of him, jaw dropped. His stomach shuddered. Her face was drawn and slimmer than he remembered. He drank her in with his eyes from head to toe. In the black tank top and black boxers covered in multi-colored hearts he could see she’d lost body mass all over. His heart hammered in his chest. She never mentioned being sick. Panic blossomed in his brain and spread like an epidemic. Not again. Not with Kansas. She never struck me as the type.

“Oh my God! Jett!” She threw herself at him, and they hugged.

“Hey, I thought I’d surprise you. I hope that’s okay.”

“Of course, of course. Come in,” She stepped back, and he entered her home. The light-blue walls with a bold gray line running down the middle were calm but unique, like their owner. A gray love seat and couch set were placed in the middle of the dark wood floors, ten feet away. The comfortable looking cushions called to his travel weary body.

“I knew you were leaving Eaton, but I had no clue you were headed this way.”

“Yeah, hence the word surprise. Here.” He thrust the bouquet of wildflowers toward her.

“Thank you.” She took the bright colored arrangement from him and lifted them to her nose. “I can’t believe you remembered my favorite flowers.”

“I keep track of everything you tell me, Kansas. Are you feeling okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine.” Her eyes flitted around the room. “Why don’t you take a seat on the couch and let me put this away?”

“Okay.” He removed his duffle bag, dropped it at the end of the couch and lowered his body down. A groan left his lips. It was even softer than he’d imagined. Resting the back of his head against the couch, he closed his eyes and breathed in the scent of fresh linens and sunshine, at least that’s what the candle on the table had been labeled. A cabinet opened and closed to his far right, and water started to run.

“I thought you’d be filming for the show,” she said.

“Not yet, got a few more weeks off.”

“Aaah, you conveniently left that out.”

“You’re too smart for your own good. I didn’t want you to expect this.”

“You’re lucky I keep a clean house.”

“I wouldn’t expect anything less from you. You’re too … structured.”