Page 48 of Unmasked

Knox glanced over at his sister. “I'll be back in just a few hours. If you need anything, don't hesitate to call.” He turned to her. “Same goes for you. Call if you need anything.”

His dark eyes stared into hers for a second, and she nodded. Wrapping one hand around the back of her head, he pulled her in for a quick, hard kiss. Next to her ear, he whispered, “Give her some time. Everything will be fine.”

She nodded and lifted her hand in a little wave as he made his way back to the SUV. She watched as he backed the whole way down the driveway, then disappeared onto the main road.

“Want to come in?” Vivi's voice floated over her shoulder, and she turned to her.

Her words sounded reluctant, like she didn't really mean them, and she rolled her lips together. “Yeah, thanks.”

Vivi closed up behind her, then gestured around the living room. “Make yourself at home.”

“Thanks.” She took a seat on the couch and placed her hands in her lap. Vivi settled in a chair adjacent to her, and an awkward silence fell for several seconds before she finally spoke.

“How are you feeling?”

Her eyes settled on Everleigh's knees, and she waved one hand. “Much better, thank you.”

“Good.”

Everleigh allowed her gaze to rove the living room. “Your house is beautiful.”

“Thank you. There was a fire in the kitchen a couple of months ago, and we just now got the flooring finished up.”

“I'm sorry to hear that,” Everleigh said. Vivi nodded a little but didn't elaborate or offer anything else. Everleigh decided to bite the bullet. “I'm sure you're wondering what's going on between your brother and me.”

Vivi studied her warily. “You could say that.”

“I…” Everleigh didn't even know where to start. Drawing in a deep breath, she decided to just follow her heart and go with it. “I know Knox hasn't told you anything, and I feel like I owe you an explanation.”

Vivi tucked her feet under her as she regarded Everleigh, a troubled expression on her face. “I'm honestly not sure what to think. He seemed so devastated I'm kind of surprised he's even talking to you.”

“I wouldn't blame him if he didn't,” Everleigh said softly. “But a lot of things happened that I never told anyone about.”

Fixing her gaze on the coffee table, Everleigh told Vivi everything. She told her about the pregnancy, the miscarriage, her father's threats. She relayed how she’d found Knox again in the woods and explained what had transpired over the past few days. By the time she was finished, tears slipped down her cheeks, and she brushed them away. She risked a glance up at Vivi and found her wiping away tears of her own.

“I’m sorry,” Everleigh said, her voice breaking. “I…”

Vivi shook her head. “I can’t even imagine. All this time…”

Everleigh knew exactly what she was thinking.

“Crazy how that tree brought you two back together.”

“Well…” Everleigh said slowly and bit her lip. “I kind of left that part out. He, um... chopped it down.”

“What?” Vivi's eyes widened.

“He was mad at me,” Everleigh said in his defense. “I think in his mind he wanted to get rid of every reminder of us and our past together.”

“Idiot,” she seethed. “I can't believe he did that.”

It hurt Everleigh's heart a little, but she was determined not to show it. The symbol of her childhood was gone, but she had Knox instead, and she wouldn't trade a moment with him for anything.

“I was upset at first,” Everleigh said with a little shrug. “But we’re back together, so…”

“True.” Vivi popped up from her seat. “I’ll be right back.”

Less than two minutes later, she returned with a carton of Ben and Jerry’s and two spoons. She held one out to Everleigh, and she took it with a little smile.