Page 268 of Knot What I Expected

How the hell am I supposed to deny the man anything after that?

I check the clock again. Almost four.

Rowan’s picking me up, and then we’re both going to get Matteo. He has soccer right after school, which is why we’re picking him up so late.

Then we’ll grab the last few boxes from Mrs. Donnelly’s place and head home.

Home.

Funny how fast a place can become that.

I lived in my apartment for more than a year, and I don’t think I ever once called it home without having to think about it first.

Rowan’s cabin? Home.

Just like that.

The mountain.

The trees.

Those three ridiculous Alpha males.

Gia.

My son running around the clearing like he’s lived there forever.

Rowan’s arms around me every night.

I can’t imagine wanting to live anywhere else.

“Gabby! There’s a phone order. You take it, will ya?” Frank yells from the kitchen.

I roll my eyes.

“Yeah, yeah. I got it.”

Look at me. I’m too damn happy to even fight with that miserable fucker.

I walk over to the phone and pick it up.

“The Joint. This is Gabriella. What can I get started for you?”

Silence.

Something crawls across my skin. My smile disappears.

“Hello?”

A breath, followed by the clicking of someone’s teeth.

“Well, well, Gabs. Looks like you landed on your feet, didn’t you, whore?”

Everything inside me stops.

No.

My fingers tighten around the receiver.