Page 72 of Knot A Chance

“I know,” I said, eyes filling again. “I genuinely know he wants to be mated to me. I can feel it every time I’m near him. I can see it in his eyes, on his face. I can smell it in his scent. I can taste his desire to be bonded to me on his fucking skin for fuck’s sake. But he still has a right to say it for himself and he’s never done that.”

I wiped my eyes and stood up, staring down at my best friend and my sister.

“We’ll be here, man. We’re not going to leave you,” Reid said.

Oakley gave him a quick glance before looking back at me. “You realize that might be the most serious thing he’s ever said?”

I chuckled and hugged each of them. “Thank you for coming.”

I took a deep breath and straightened my spine. I was going to go back into that room and do the one thing I promised I never would, because I’d rather have Felix alive and healthy, hating me forever, than live in a world where he didn’t exist because Ryder made stupid, selfish decisions on his behalf.

“I’m going to do it,” I said. “I need you to come with me and make sure no one walks into his room for the next ten minutes.”

I’m coming for you, Felix.

Chapter Twenty

Felix

May: One Month Ago

Clara’s car pulled up next to where I sat at the café, sipping a mocha latte. I got up and walked to the car while Bennett reached across the front seat to open the door for me as I ended our phone call.

“I thought you might want to just go home,” he said as he saw my face light up at Benny curled up in the front seat. “Clara said we could take the car for the week and come back and get my truck next weekend. I did warn her Benny pees in vehicles.”

A smile spread across my face. Fuck, I love this man.

“That sounds perfect, Bennett. Thank you.” Bennett picked up the puppy while I sat down and then passed him back to me. Benny rubbed his head against my stomach and settled.

Bennett reached across the center console and squeezed my knee. “You want to talk about it?”

“No,” I whispered, shaking my head as I focused on petting Benny. “I don’t want to lie to you about where I was, but I don’t want to get into the details right now.”

“Did he hurt you?” My head snapped up to meet Bennett’s eyes, and he cupped my face in one hand. “I trust you completely. I just need to know that you’re okay, handsome.”

“I am now,” I said, giving him a sad smile. “Being around him brought up old shit and feelings that I didn’t know how to process. There were too many triggers, and then the cravings felt intense and I didn’t trust myself.”

“You should have,” he said. “You knew exactly how to help yourself and I’ll always come when you call. You can continue to fight this battle, but you’ll never have to do it alone again.”

“I know.” I looked down and pet Benny before meeting Bennett’s eyes, my own full of tears. “I love you so much, Bennett. It amazes me how much I feel for you already and I’m sorry I didn’t tell you that this morning.”

“Hey.” He put his arms around me and pulled me against his chest, kissing my head softly. “Don’t apologize for that.”

“I just thought—” I shook my head and swallowed the lump in my throat. “It doesn’t matter what I thought. All that matters is moving forward together. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Whatever that looks like and whatever it takes for us to be together.”

Bennett smiled proudly and looked at his watch. “Fifty-four days.”

“Excuse me?”

“That’s how long it took me to make you fall in love with me.” He sighed contentedly. “That’s half as long as I was expecting.”

I laughed and grabbed the collar of his shirt, pulling his mouth to mine. “You’re still very charming, you know.”

“Obviously, or it would have probably taken longer.” He smiled against my lips as he kissed me again. “Seriously though, I would have spent fifty-four years pursuing you if that’s what it took.”

I kissed his cheek and sat back in my seat, petting Benny again. “That’s ridiculous, you would have been wrinkly and old. If I didn’t want you in your prime, why would I want you at the end of your life?” I joked.

“Wow.” He laughed, running a hand through his hair. “Harsh.”