Page 136 of Last First Date

Waverly’s expression softened. “I believe you.”

“And about how I acted when I first started in my grandfather’s position? I felt ripped off, like I’d been taken from a life I loved to run an office I never wanted to work at. I see now how self-centered I’ve been.”

She nodded, understanding in her eyes. “It’s a lot to take in, Knox. But we both have our own perspectives and struggles.”

Pulling her closer, I held her as if afraid she might slip away. “This job is the best thing that could have happened to me,” I admitted, my voice earnest. “Because it led me to you.”

Waverly’s gaze met mine, a warmth in her eyes that spoke of shared understanding. “You have a tough exterior, but a soft, gushy interior.”

“I think you’re incredibly smart and bright,” I told her, my words carrying a sincerity that went beyond mere compliments. “I want to promote you, but I need you to know it’s not a sexual favor. If you still want to leave the company, I’ll support you, help you find a job anywhere you want. I just want to take care of you. You have proven you are very capable of taking care of yourself, but I want to be the man in your corner. I want to support you. If that means you take one of the many modeling gigs, so be it.”

Her eyes held a mixture of surprise and gratitude. “Knox, I appreciate that. But I don’t want to take advantage of our situation. If I stay or leave, I want it to be based on merit, not any other factors.”

I nodded, respecting her perspective. “Of course, Waverly. I just want what’s best for you. If that means pursuing opportunities beyond this company, I’ll support you every step of the way.”

“I never expected things to unfold this way,” Waverly admitted, her fingers tracing circles on my chest.

“Neither did I,” I confessed, a genuine smile playing on my lips. “But sometimes, unexpected turns lead us to exactly where we’re meant to be. Trust me, when I got the call my grandfather wanted me back here, I almost quit. I almost told him to give the company to someone else. I was so dead set against this, but now, I know it’s the best thing to ever happen to me.”

“I’m glad you’ve changed your mind.”

“You were a big reason for that,” I said. “Hell, you are the reason for it. You’re a breath of fresh air. You inspire me. I watched you up there tonight and I was thinking, damn, that’s what I want to be. I want to be able to take on a bully and not be the least bit worried about the repercussions.”

“I’m glad I confronted Benjamin,” she said. “And I’m glad it brought us to this moment. I was terrified but determined. I figured the worst that could happen is I get fired and no one likes me. Big deal. At least I was going down swinging.”

I brushed a strand of hair from her face, a gesture of tenderness. “I’m glad you did it too, Waverly.”

The room fell into a peaceful silence, and we lay together, connected in both body and soul. As I held her in my arms, I realized that everything we had been through, all the pain and confusion, had led us to this moment of clarity and understanding.

Our journey was far from over, but we were ready to face it together, supporting each other every step of the way. We may have been played by Benjamin, but we had come out of it stronger and more determined than ever before. And as we lay there, I knew that whatever obstacles we encountered in the future, we would face them as a united front, ready to overcome any challenge that came our way.

“Joke’s on him,” I said into the stillness in the room.

“What?”

“Sorry,” I said, laughing. “I’ve picked up your tendency to speak mid-thought. I was thinking the joke’s on Benjamin. He spouted that bullshit about the bet because he knew I liked you and he wanted to destroy any chance with you. Ultimately, he put us together.”

She smiled, leaning up to kiss my jaw. “You’re right. We won.”

We drifted off to sleep, wrapped in each other’s arms, comforted by the knowledge that we had each other, and that together, we could conquer anything life threw at us. Fuck Benjamin and all the haters.

We had found happiness together despite all the obstacles.

59

WAVERLY

Two weeks had passed since Knox and I had reconciled. Life seemed to have taken on a new rhythm. I loved everything about my days now.

I loved waking up in the morning to the sound of birds chirping outside my window with an early spring on the horizon, knowing that Knox was sleeping peacefully beside me. I loved the way our fingers would intertwine as we walked down the street or went to get coffee. He had practically moved in with me. There was no way I was having sex with him in his house with his mom and grandmother down the hall. He was actively looking for a house where he would have privacy and I would sleep over.

I was on a mission to show him that our little corner of the world wasn’t so bad. We spent our free time exploring the city together, trying new restaurants, and I had even found a few art galleries for him. We hiked Snow Canyon and were making plans to visit the Grand Canyon when things got a little warmer.

We discovered that we shared a love for adventure and spontaneity, and we made it a point to seek out new experiences whenever we could. I didn’t want him to get bored. I wanted him to see that there was more to life than skyscrapers and fine dining.

But it wasn’t just the exciting outings that made me love our life together. It was the small moments, the everyday routines that we had created together. It was cooking dinner together and talking about our day. It was curling up on the couch, wrapped in blankets, binge-watching our favorite TV shows. It was falling asleep in each other’s arms, feeling safe and loved.

I knew life in Utah was very different from his life in New York. I hoped he was getting to see that it could be good. It was nice to slow down and smell the roses. I knew that I had found something truly special and I didn’t want to lose him. With Knox by my side, I felt invincible. I liked the confidence he gave me with just a single look.