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I sent a message in the group chat with Jasper, Nate, and Graham.
Can you guys watch out for Jude?
After a few minutes had passed and no one texted back, I added.
Please.
Nate: Don’t worry. We’ll take care of your boy.
Your boy.
I breathed out a sigh of relief. Jude might hate me at the moment, but at least he had family looking out for him. He wasn’t alone.
CHAPTERTWENTY-TWO
Istared out at the water, though I couldn’t see much. The lights from a few boats. The homes and businesses dotting the coast of Catalina in the distance.
Jude had made it to shore; he had several people who loved him and were looking out for him. Based on how angry he’d been, I had a feeling he wouldn’t be coming back tonight, or maybe ever.
“You hungry?” Knox asked, rubbing my shoulders.
I frowned. “Not really.”
I was too busy replaying the fight with Jude. The shock on his face, the confusion. And then the anger and pain.
When had I become this person? A woman who would cause such destruction? A woman who put her needs and wants above everyone else’s?
“Me either,” Knox said but steered me inside toward the dining table anyway.
As always, the table was laid beautifully. It felt as if we were on a floating five-star restaurant. But even the sight of a delicious, dairy-free meal couldn’t tempt me.
“Come,” Knox said, pulling out a chair for me. “Sit.”
I did as he asked, but I didn’t know how I could possibly eat. My stomach was in knots after our blowup with Jude. I kept sneaking glances at Knox, wondering how he was coping. Wondering if he regretted it. Regretted us.
“Drink?” he asked, going over to the wet bar.
I nodded. “Definitely.”
He poured us each a whiskey and returned to the table, setting the glass before me as one of the staff arrived with food. There was no toast. No clink of the glasses in celebration. There was silence, and it was glaring.
Knox kept staring at Catalina, as if he could somehow see what Jude was doing if he concentrated hard enough. I hated seeing him like this.
They’d always been close. I knew how much Jude respected his dad. I knew how much Knox loved his son. This was tearing them apart, and it was all my fault.
I pushed the food around my plate, my mind trying to catch up with everything that had happened. Spinning with ideas of what would happen next.
“I’m sorry,” I finally said, trying not to cry again.
“What?” Knox peered up at me with tenderness and confusion, taking my hand in his. “Kendall, you have nothing to be sorry for.”
“Yes. I do.” I squeezed my eyes shut briefly, willing the tears not to fall. “I’m sorry, Knox. I, this—” I gestured between us. “This is all my fault.”
“What?” He jerked his head back and beckoned me to him. “Come on.” He tugged on my hand.
I stood and climbed in his lap, feeling safe in his arms. He took my face in his hands and used his thumbs to dry my tears. “Kendall,mi cielo.We fell in love. It’s no one’s fault.”
I shook my head with a defeated sigh. “I know, but maybe we should’ve fought it harder. Maybe I should’ve…”
