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Sebastian pulled back, and Ember asked Knox, “Did you see me?”
“You were amazing up there. I’m so proud of you.”
Ember smiled wide.
Knox handed her one of the bouquets. “These are for you.”
Before I could ask who the other one was for, Addy found me. “Mommy, Mommy,” she cried as she grabbed my hand.
I dropped down to her level. “You sounded amazing.”
“It was easier than I thought.”
“Did you see who’s here?” I asked when I straightened.
“Knox?” she asked, looking up at him, her eyes wide with surprise.
“Hey, you were great. I wanted to give you these.”
“You bought me flowers?”
“I brought flowers for Ember, and when I remembered you were in the play, too, I split them. I hope that’s okay.”
“I don’t mind,” Ember said.
Addy took the bouquet and sniffed the petals. “They’re pretty. Thank you.”
I wondered if she was wondering where her father was. “Don’t forget, Grandma and Grandpa are coming to see you on Friday.”
Then Ember grabbed her hand and tugged her over to some kids who were talking and laughing.
“You didn’t have to give her the flowers. She would have been okay.” The emotion was making my throat a little tight.
“I wanted to. She seemed to enjoy them.”
He was being nice to us, showing us attention we didn’t get from other males besides my father. It was nice, and it made me think that Knox was a good guy who had a lot to offer the right woman. I wasn’t sure why he was holding himself back.
“We’re going out to dinner. Do you want to join us?” Sebastian asked.
I shook my head. “Oh, I wouldn’t want to intrude on your family dinner.”
“We’re just going to the Italian restaurant. You’re welcome to join us. I’m sure Ember would prefer Addy’s company to ours.”
“Let me see what Addy wants to do.” When she returned, I asked, “Do you want to go to dinner with Ember and her family?”
“Could we?” Addy asked me.
“If you want to. I wasn’t sure if you wanted to hang out with just me.”
“I want to go with Ember. It will be fun.” Addy smiled at Ember, who seemed enthusiastic about the idea, too.
“I guess it’s settled. As long as you don’t mind?” I asked Knox.
“Not at all. The more the merrier. It’s rare I get an evening off during the season. I intend to enjoy it.”
We met them at the restaurant. The girls sat together on one side of the booth, Sebastian in a chair on the end, which left me next to Knox.
As we perused the menus, his thigh fell against my left leg, the heat searing my bare skin. It was distracting. I wondered whether he noticed or if he’d done it on purpose. We placed our orders and waited for the house salad and breadsticks to arrive.
