Page 10 of Wild for the Knight

“I don’t particularly like spending time with Terrifying Pixies,” he says, shrugging like I asked him his favorite color. “But hate is a strong word, don’t you think?” His eyes trace my face before the corner of his mouth twitches. “I'd say more like annoyed by your existence, impossible to ignore, borderline infuriating, but not worth the energy it would require to actually hate you. But this is important to me too, Greyson doesn’t ask me for much.”

I yank my arm from his grip and storm back toward the table. My butt hits the seat at the same time an exasperated sigh meets my ears, making my irritation flare all over again.

“Abby,” he says softly. My head pops up as my eyes meet his. I quickly realize there’s no teasing, no aggravation. Just Tatum—raw and unguarded.

“I’m sorry,” he continues. I watch as he peels back a layer of himself that he doesn’t let anyone see. “I don’t mean to make this hard for you. I just don’t, people in general.”

“Really?” I cock my head to the side as I study him. “I couldn’t tell past your vibrant personality.” Wiping my hands on my napkin, I put it on my empty plate.

“Look, I get it. I’m a lot.” I force the words out. “But this means a lot to Greyson, and Hannah means a lot to me. So, I’d like to put our differences aside and get through this. We can go back to ignoring each other's existence after this trip is over.”

He doesn’t say anything at first; he just stares like what I said is the most outlandish thing under the sun. Whatever, I tried. I push my chair back, ready to throw my trash away, but before I can even stand, he’s already grabbed it. When he returns to the table, his hands are shoved in his front pockets, looking every bit the GQ soccer star he is.

“Well,” he says as he arches his perfectly manicured eyebrows in my direction, “Where to, Tink?”

I glare at him. “We need to go pick up the printed bingo cards. And bear spray.”

I pull out my phone, putting the address into Maps to avoid looking at him any longer. I hear him shuffle his feet and glance up just in time to see him watching me with that all-knowing look, like he knows I’m one minor inconvenience away from snapping.

“Well, let’s go then,” he says with a jerk of his chin toward the door.

I stare at his back as he walks away, but he somehow knows I’m not moving and throws a wink at me over his shoulder.

I wonder if Greyson would be mad if I pushed him out of the car on the highway somewhere.

Chapter 5 - Tatum

Another Wednesday, another book club. We're reading a book about a billionaire with a dog who ran into a woman on the streets of New York, and now they’re dating. Abby and Hannah are doing their usual back-and-forth, ridiculous voices, and even more ridiculous hand gestures as they read the different points of view in the book. It’s entertaining, to say the least.

I watch as they get to a part they think is cute, and both of their eyes widen. Abby’s hand flies to her chest, and Hannah rests hers on my brother's thigh. In unison, they look at each other and let out an “Awww!” The room erupts in laughter.

My eyes are drawn to Abby, her guard is down tonight. I’ve never seen her like this, docile almost. She glances over at Hannah, something that looks a bit like longing crosses her face, but it disappears a second later when she gets up and walks into the kitchen. I’m sitting in my usual spot at their kitchen island, so I have a front-row seat as she opens the fridge, takes out an apple, washes it, cuts it into eight pieces, and then proceeds to take the skin off.

Her face is blank, yet you can tell she’s deep in thought by the way she chews on her bottom lip. I watch as she moves to the cabinet next to their microwave and pulls out some peanut butter. Natural creamy. Excellent choice. Chunky peanut butter can go straight to the trash can.

Once she’s done loading her plate, she takes her normal spot on the couch between Reed and Monroe. Reed's arm is slung across the back of the cushion, he smiles down at her as she gets settled.

Something bubbles in my gut at the gesture, I look away to keep from making some comment that would not go over well for anyone. That’s twice in the past few weeks his interactions with her have pissed me off. I don’t understand it; I don’t care to. So, like I do with everything else, I just brush it under the rug.

“Does he even want a girlfriend? Isn’t he a player?” I ask as they finish the chapters for this week. That’s kind of a jab at Reed, but also a genuine question. The man has had more girlfriends over the past year than I can count. Where it came from all of a sudden, I don’t know, but it sounds like a PR nightmare. Not to mention, having to be in close proximity to that many women sounds... awful.

Hannah looks at me and smiles; her acceptance of me despite everything I put her through means the world. “He was, but when the right person comes along... ” She winks over her shoulder at Greyson. “It makes you want to be better. Not only for them but for yourself, too.”

My brother looks at her like she hung the moon and all the stars. To him, I guess she did; she’s the light that guides him out of the darkness. I sometimes find myself wishing I had what they do. And then, like a bullet train with no brakes, a thought slams into me, my eyes tracking to the woman who makes my blood boil.

Then I start to laugh, out loud. I’m sure I look like an idiot. All the eyes in the room are now pointed at me. “You okay, Tater Tot?” Hannah asks as concern coats her face.

“Yeah, I’m good. Just had a thought—a very silly thought,” I say as I shake my head, bringing my breathing back to normal.

“Care to share?” my brother adds. I shake my head, but his stare lets me know he isn’t going to let this go.

“Dr. Williams thinks I need to start dating again. Says I need to work on letting people in.” I lean back against the island. Greyson’s growing smile matches the one on Hannah’s face. But it’s the sudden rigidity of Abby that catches me off guard. My eyes snag on hers, like a game of tug-of-war; we’re both willing the other to let go first. She scoffs, breaking the trance we’re in.

“It’ll be a cold day in hell before that happens,” she says under her breath.

“No, it won't,” Hannah says. She glares at Abby before her eyes meet mine. “I think that's great. I know you think your past is a roadblock, but Tate, the right woman will help you through all that.” She has this uncanny ability to see straight through me, her eyes shine with love and acceptance. “I know Nikki messed with your head, making you think you have to be gruff and tough. But under all those protective layers, any woman would be lucky to be on the receiving end of your love.”

She’s up and walking across the room before I have the chance to respond. She wraps me up in a hug that, from anyone else, would be annoying, but from her, it’s a sisterly embrace. One that lets me know she believes every word she says. She pulls away but doesn’t go back to her spot. She tilts her head to the side, a mischievous smile taking over her face. “Can I set you up with Chelsea?! She works with me, and she’s the cutest little thing.”