Page 81 of One Last Thing Before You Go

“Right. No, you’re right. Let’s—” I clear my throat once, leading her out of this aisle and toward the paint one. “Let’s go. We need to start painting soon. No more dilly-dallying.”

For the next fifteen minutes I watch Jenn review each paint sample available, comparing pricing and quality. And I watch her in fascination, loving how this teensy bit of responsibility has caused her to blossom into this… adult. Or maybe she’s always been this way. And I just haven’t been able to see it.

“Okay, so, like, I feel like we should go for more of a cream, you know?” she says, her brows creased in concentration. “This white is giving asylum, and no thanks, no one’s gonna want to buy one and dove grey is boring AF.”

I snort and take the paint samples from her, comparing them side by side. “Absolutely. I agree with you.”

“Where’s Knox? Shouldn’t he be here to approve this?”

“Why are you asking me?”

Jenn scoffs. “Puh-lease. You two have been attached at the hip.”

I don’t because I know it’s all over my face. Instead, I own it. Laugh about it. Because I love it.

“Knox is⁠—”

“Right here! I’m right here. Sorry I’m late.” He plants a quick kiss on my cheek as if on instinct leaving me stunned. A huge grin spreads across Jenn’s smug face while Knox catches his breath. “What’re we looking at?”

“Uh, the reason why we’re supposed to be meeting here in the first place?” Jenn rolls her eyes.

He laughs. “Right. Paint. Sorry. Is this what you guys got it down to?”

“Yes.” She takes the samples from my hands and passes them to him. “We were between these three. You’re a dude, so I don’t expect you to know the difference, but⁠—”

“The cream, right? The white is too clinical. Wouldn’t work for the sale. And the grey is just… Meh.”

Jenn’s jaw slackens but I smile, unsurprised. Knox is all about attention to detail—in work and in his relationships.

“Am I right or what?”

Jenn smiles. “Right. Good job, Riddick! Making me proud.”

“Thanks?” he laughs.

“Okay, so let’s get a couple of gallons—you carry them. I’m gonna go check out doorknobs and stuff. We still need to replace essential hardware. And that way you guys can have some alone time and Lottie can go back to that gross happy expression she had on her face when she was fantasizing about you five minutes ago.”

“I—”

But she holds a hand up to stop me. “Ah-ah! Don’t try to deny it, babe. See you at the cash register.”

Knox winds his arms around my waist as soon as Jenn walks away, placing an openmouthed kiss on my neck.

“I missed you,” he murmurs in my hair.

My chest tightens, and I want more than anything to admit that I missed him too. But casual. Need to keep it casual.

I place a soft kiss on his lips and dig my fingers into his hair, pulling back just enough to look him in the eye. “What took you so long?”

He laughs. “So long? I was only like five minutes late, Pretty Girl.” I raise a brow in reproach, but it only makes him smile wider. “Was at the park, getting to know the rest of the town. Ceres Cove is kinda idyllic.”

I make a face, ready to tell him all the ways in which he’s wrong but decide against it. No need to bring this vibe down.

“It is. I took some pretty sick pictures of it. One day, I’ll show them to you.”

I snort and pull away from him. “Okay, Helmut Newton.”

He inhales sharply, hand to his chest. “You did not just call me by his name. I don’t think I’ve wanted to fuck you more,” he says with a growl.