Page 69 of Knox

“Because I don’t want to talk to you.”

“Sloane. Just hear me out.” Tyler took a step, and Knox shifted slightly, positioning himself between us. Tyler stilled. “I made a mistake. I know that. But what we had, what we built together, that was real. You can’t just throw it away because I screwed up once.”

I stared, wholly unmoved. Tyler had cheated multiple times with multiple women. I was just the last one to find out. The thought used to make me irate. Now, I was just immensely thankful it was over. “Go home.”

Tyler winced, but pressed on with the determination of someone who’d never been told no. “I was an idiot. I know that. But I love you, Sloane. I want to fix this. We can go to counseling, work through it.”

“Go. Home.” I kept my voice firm, final. “Do not come back.”

“Is this because of him?” Tyler’s gaze raked over Knox with barely concealed contempt, and I felt my protective instincts flare. “Come on, baby. You’re really choosing him? Over me? Your parents are going to have a field day with this.”

The mention of my parents stung, but I kept my face emotionless, taking a page from Knox’s book.

“Don’t call her baby,” Knox said quietly. “I told you that once already, at the gas station.” His voice carried more threat in its calm than shouting ever could. “And Sloane decides what’s best for her.”

“You don’t know her.” Tyler’s mask was slipping, anger bleeding through the concerned-ex facade. “You’ve been here for what, a few days? I know how she takes her coffee, what she does when she’s stressed, what makes her laugh.”

“How to betray her trust,” Knox interrupted. “How to lose her affection. So, why don’t you do us all a favor, save the sheriff a trip out here, and piss off.”

Tyler’s face flushed red. “You’re calling the sheriff? For what?”

I bristled. “Trespassing. We’ve asked you to leave.”

Tyler blinked, stupefied.

Knox looked from me to Tyler, confused as well. “I thought he’d want to make a report with Nash after I punch his fuc⁠—”

“Whoa!” I threw my arms wide, fighting a smile. No one had ever stuck up for me this way before. And I liked it. A lot.

“Do you hear this guy?” Tyler asked. “Threatening violence? That’s what you’re into now?”

I turned to face Knox and lowered my voice, though not enough to stop Tyler from hearing me. “If he stays, I want to be the one to knock him out.”

One corner of Knox’s mouth twitched. He nodded somberly.

“Should I punch him? Or hit him with something?” I made a show of looking around at the rocks and driftwood near our feet.

“Lady’s choice.”

I nodded. “He’s a lot taller than me.”

“Try the driftwood,” Knox suggested. “Or I can give you a boost.”

Tyler swore. “All right! That’s enough. You’re both ridiculous.”

I tugged at Knox’s bicep. “On second thought, do you want to go inside and make me forget he’s out here?”

“Absolutely.”

As we headed for the door, I felt almost giddy. Maybe it was the absurdity of Tyler showing up after everything else today. Maybe it was the relief of being able to laugh about something, even if it was threats we’d never follow through on. Or maybe it was just Knox, making even the worst day feel manageable.

I didn’t look back as I unlocked the kitchen door, but I saw our reflections in the ultra-clean windows.

Knox feinted in Tyler’s direction, flinching his shoulders as we passed. Tyler fell backward against his car, kicking up loose shells and stones as he hauled himself behind the wheel.

His car spun out of the driveway, leaving only the distant cry of gulls and the lap of water in his wake.

Then I broke into laughter.