Page 40 of Wild for the Knight

I want to laugh, but I let the past few years replay in my mind. I’ve been a pretty big asshole to her, and to Hannah too. But damn if I don’t want to make up for it now. She steps back and heads to the driver's side of the car, my hands falling down to my sides.

Yeah, I’m going to make up for it. I’m going to make her fall in love with me so hard she forgets all the times I was less than desirable. Starting right now. “Hold on a sec!” I yell as I dart to the field next to the gas station.

One thing about being in the country where there are copious amounts of land is that there’s usually some type of flower on said land. There just so happens to be purple Azaleas here, they’re one of the first flowers I learned how to draw. I grab a handful and jog back to the car.

As I slide into the front seat, I hold the bunch of flowers out to her. “For you, my lady.” I try my hardest to sound playful. Her lips part slightly, eyes dancing between me and the handful of flowers like she can’t believe I’d do such a thing. Her hand slowly wraps around the stems, her pinky brushes against my hand, sending a spark of heat through me. She brings the wildflowers to her nose, inhaling deeply. They don’t have the same delicate fragrance you think of when flowers are involved. They’re spicy, lemony, and earthy, but judging by the look on her face, she couldn’t care less.

Her grip tightens around the stems, knuckles slowly turning white. My eyes trail up her arms, only stopping when I notice her eyes are glistening.

Panic courses through my veins as I jump to the worst-case scenario. Kicking myself for not asking if she was allergic to anything before I picked roadside flowers. “A-are you allergic?” I quickly reach across the car to take them back, ready to toss them out the window before I have to slather her in calamine lotion or whatever it is you do when someone breaks out in hives.

But before I can grab them, she turns her entire body, making herself into a human shield, protecting the flowers like they’re the most precious thing she's ever held. “NO!” The word is sharp.

She looks at me over her shoulder as a single tear slides down her cheek. She blinks quickly as if she’s trying to make it disappear. “Thank you.” Her voice is thick with an emotion I can’t quite pin down. “No one’s ever gotten me flowers before. Let alone picked them from the side of the road themselves.”

She stares at them like they’re sacred, like she doesn’t quite know what to do with the fact that someone thought about her. And somehow, that messes with my head more than anything else. How? How has no one ever gotten her flowers? How has no one realized how much of a dream she is?

Chapter 20 - Abby

My bedroom door creaks open, and a red bun appears before Hannah’s sheepish face. “What’s wrong?” I ask as I put my book down on the bedside table. She takes a few steps into my room, playing with the skin on her thumbnail, her nervous tell that Greyson’s been trying, unsuccessfully, to get her to stop.

She exhales harsher than normal before sitting down on the edge of my bed. “Grey comes home today.”

“I’m aware. Why are you nervous about that?” Color me confused, because one, I work for the team. I know their travel schedule. And two, she’s usually jumping up and down with excitement hours before the plane lands. “Did you guys get in a fight? Is he having a hard time?”

Her eyes widen, and she quickly shakes her head. “It’s you I’m worried about.”

My head tilts to the side as I study her. Have I given her signals that I’m not okay? Have I done something to make her think that? “I want to go see him, spend the night.”

“Han, you do that after every away game. I’m lost here, so if you could help me out, that’d be great.” Her hand gently comes to rest on my ankle as she looks up at me through her lashes. Her eyes welling with tears, as she takes a deep breath.

“I move in with him in a few days. I don’t want you to feel like I’m trying to leave you early,” she sniffles as she wipes the tears from her face. “I just miss him. But I know the second I leave here, I’ll miss you, too.”

Moving to sit next to her, I wrap my arms around her shoulders. Her head falls to mine as her breathing steadies. “He literally lives five minutes from here. You’ll always have a key. You can come over anytime you want.” She doesn’t know that his apartment won't be where they’re living when they get back from their honeymoon, but I’m not about to ruin that surprise for her.

“Look, you know I’m not big on change. But if anyone deserves this, it’s you.” Leaning my cheek against the top of her head, I continue. “Please don’t think I’m here plotting your death for leaving me. I’ll go to the gym, grab some dinner, and read until I pass out. It’ll be great.” I pat her back before pushing her off my bed.

She stumbles a bit, looking at me through narrowed eyes, her finger points in my direction, and she smiles. “Love you, sister.”

“Love you too! Now, go get your man,” I call as she saunters out of the room, ready to do just that.

Since I was already planning on her leaving, my gym clothes were stacked neatly on my desk. As soon as I hear the front door close, I get dressed and head out. No sense in hanging here by myself where my thoughts wander to not so nice places. Maybe I’ll see if a certain storm cloud wants to come over after I’m done.

Wiping the sweat off my brow, I grab my protein shake from the smoothie place attached to the gym. It was leg day today: squats, deadlifts, sled pushes, and my least favorite, lunges. They’re good for the booty, so I do them anyway. Plus, I punch harder when my legs are strong, considering that's where you get most of your power from. I take a sip as I pull out my phone and open my text thread with Tate.

––––––––

Abby: Hannah’s at your brother's. Wanna have dinner?

Tate: Be there in twenty. Need anything?

Abby: Hmm, we might be out of ice cream. And butt rubs, definitely, butt rubs.

Tate: Anything for you, Tink. See you in a bit.

I smile at my phone, re-reading our brief conversation like it’s going to change. It doesn’t, but it does make me all warm and fuzzy inside. I start to pull my keys out of my bag when I’m knocked to the ground. “Oh my gosh, I am so sorry. I wasn’t paying attention! Are you okay?” A woman’s voice calls from above.

Looking up at her, I immediately notice how pretty she is. She has long black hair pulled into a sleek ponytail, a black and gray pinstripe pencil skirt, and a long-sleeved black blouse. Her oversized bag and tortoise cat-eye glasses round out a look that screams “lawyer.” She offers me her hand, helping me off the ground. “I’m sorry again. I’m Maria.”