Ari stands too.“Absolutely.We have provided snacks, wisdom, and a safe amount of meddling.”
“There’s no such thing as a safe amount of meddling,” Knox says.
“Spoken like a man who needs more of it.”Ari grabs Akasha’s hand and drags her toward the door.She pauses beside Knox and points at him.“Don’t make me regret leaving.”
His eyes remain on mine.“I won’t.”The promise is quiet.
Then they are gone, and Knox is still in my doorway, several feet away, always giving me distance like an offering.I hate how much it matters.
“You can come in,” I say.
He steps inside but leaves the door open.
“Close it,” I say.
His gaze sharpens.“Are you sure?”
No.Yes.Both.
“I want it closed.”
He closes the door.The click is soft, but my pulse is not.
Knox turns to face me, back near the door, hands visible.He looks like a man awaiting sentencing, and maybe he is.
“I’m still angry,” I say.
“I wouldn’t expect you not to be.”
“You should have told me.”My tone is accusing.
“Yes.”His tone is repentant.
“I hate that everyone looked at me and knew something was happening in my life that I didn’t know.”
His jaw tightens.“I know.”
“I might still yell.”
“And I’ll still take it.”
The words shouldn’t warm me, but they do.
I look down at my cup.“I talked to Ari and Akasha.”
“I know.”
“Were you listening at the door?”
“No.”
“Liar.”
His mouth twitches.“I heard Ari threaten me from the hall.It was hard to miss.”
That almost makes me smile before silence settles.
I set the tea on the table because my hands need to be empty.“I don’t accept fate making choices for me.”
