Lauren and Leah cuddle between Holt and Gia. All four of them look exhausted, and we make excuses to start getting ready to leave. Stan brings out the hot dish he’d prepared for them. Gia takes it with a grateful smile, and then they head out, leaving the rest of us to finish saying our goodbyes.
Gwen comes over to me, wrapping her arm around my shoulder for a cuddle. I hug her back, needing the comfort more than I thought I did.
“I was so worried for them,” she whispers, her voice catching.
“Me too. I can’t even think about the other outcomes today could have had.”
“Thank god we don’t have to.”
I nod, pulling away from our embrace. “You ready to go?”
“Would you be against spending the night at my house? This sounds silly, but I don’t really want to be by myself tonight.”
“That sounds perfect.” I let out a relieved breath. I was feeling the same way. “Let me go grab my bag from the kitchen.”
“I’ll meet you at your car.”
We head off in different directions, Gwen saying goodbye to a couple of Holt’s brothers while I make my way to my stuff. I freeze in the doorway when I notice Knox leaning against the counter with his chin dropped to his chest. I must’ve made a sound because he whips his head toward me.
“Sorry, I just need to grab my bag.” I point at the tote sitting on the kitchen table.
He responds with a nod, looking back at the floor while I hastily pick up my things. His voice stops me before I can make my retreat. “Thank you.”
I look over my shoulder at him, my eyebrows scrunched together.
“For entertaining the kids. I… I’m glad Finn was distracted.”
Shock makes my eyes widen. “Oh, um. It was no big deal.”
Knox nods again before turning his back to me. I stand there for half a second, trying to figure out what the heck just happened.
Knox Waters just said something nice to me.
Have we made a turn for the better, or was this just a one-time thing?
CHAPTER 12
Knox
The saddle creaks with every one of Sir’s steps. I wipe another track of sweat off my face with my shoulder. The summer sun is out in full force. I much prefer the snow over this shit. I hate sweating through every layer of my clothes. People always say you can take clothes off, but I’d rather not cut off a nipple because I’m working shirtless in the heat.
I’m riding the back half of my land, checking fences to ensure it’s safe to move the cattle out here. Normally, Finn would be here with me now that school’s out, but he went to a pool party with Leah and Lauren today. I’m missing my buddy. He makes these trips a whole lot more fun.
As I ride over the hill, I do a double take.
The house is fucking pink.
Farrah painted her goddamn house bubblegum pink.
Who does shit like that?
Without realizing it, I’m halfway to her property. Sir begins to trot, moving toward Farrah’s house at a quicker pace than I’d prompted. I have no idea what we’re going to do once we get there, but he hasn’t given me much of a choice in thematter. It’s not lost on me that I could turn him around, that I’m the one in charge here. I just…can’t seem to help myself. Maybe I’ve turned into a masochist now that I’ve rounded the corner on forty.
Grayson’s words filter through my brain as we approach her front porch. He’d likely remind me that she’s allowed to paint her house whatever color she wants. I don’t get a say in the matter, even if I think she’s batshit crazy for choosing that specific color.
I tie Sir’s reins to Farrah’s front porch railing and walk up the freshly painted wooden steps. Did she have the porch redone? The steps aren’t sagging anymore.
I rap my knuckles on her front door. She got rid of the sagging screen door too. Jesus, she’s been fucking busy in the past two months.
