Page 83 of One Last Thing Before You Go

I had stared at my hands in my lap, wondering what to say or do. All I could think of was how much I needed to get out of there. So I did. I got to my feet and without another glance in his direction, I walked away, vowing never to seriously date another man again. What was the point?

He wanted it all and I had nothing to give.

Jason, being the good guy that he is, called and messaged, asking whether I was okay—but I left every attempt at communication unanswered. It wasn’t until I Venmoed him for my part of dinner that he got his answer: I was through with him. And I was through with everyone else, too.

Until Knox.

“It wasn’t going to work. Ever. So I’m really happy he got his family. I promise you my expression had nothing to do with any sort of remaining feelings for him—of which, to be clear, there are none—and more about my shock of running into him.”

I watch Knox grind his teeth, biting back questions he deserves answers to he knows he’d never get.

“Okay,” he says after a bit with a single nod.

“Okay?”

“I mean, not okay. You know you’ve left me with more questions than answers. But okay. I’m going to respect your privacy. Trust you.”

“Okay,” I whisper before pressing a soft kiss on his cheek. “Thank you.”

He sighs heavily and brings a shaking hand to mine. “Let’s get the stupid paint and go.”

Guilt weighs on me as I follow Knox to the check-out counter, fully aware the tension in his shoulders isn’t from carrying the heavy cans. But it’s casual, I remind myself. And I can’t have kids is not a casual conversation to be had. Or relevant to our relationship. Because, again: CASUAL.

“Lottie-pie!”

I look up to find my parents’ old neighbor, manning the cash register. “Mr. Pierce. How are you?”

His smile lines deepen as he reaches over the counter to pat my cheek. “Good now that you’re here. Haven’t seen you in a while, my girl.”

Knox smiles, so I don’t even bother pulling away. Let him be distracted.

“I know Mr. Pierce, I’m sorry I haven’t visited more often.” And I mean it. He and his wife used to babysit us whenever our parents needed help and were there for us when they passed.

“You know, Molly and I were talking about setting you up with our daughter’s brother-in-law. But then I heard you were with this guy now!” Mr. Pierce throws a thumb in Knox’s direction.

I choke, but Knox bursts out laughing.

“Mr. Pierce, have you even met Knox yet?” I ask, embarrassed for the man. He’s pushing eighty, but still.

“No,” he says with an easy shrug, looking Knox over. “But I don’t need to in this town. I’m pretty sure I know all about him, now.”

“I’m honored to be such a widespread topic of discussion, sir,” Knox says with his lopsided grin. “But how about I introduce myself just the same?”

Mr. Pierce looks down at his hand, then at me, then back at his hand before shaking it.

“He’s a nice man, Lottie. Good lookin’, too.”

“Oh my god,” I whisper, putting my face in my hands.

“I’ll tell Molly we should put off introducing you to other men for the time being, okay?”

“I would greatly appreciate that, sir,” Knox says. “I’m not one to share.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

KNOX

“Okay, let’s do this thing.” I pull out the final box from the back of Walter’s closet, handing it to Lottie to place next to the others.