I’m trying to decide if I’m excited that my friends are on board this train, or if I was really hoping they’d help me shut this down. Suddenly, my phone dings in Hudson’s hand, and instinctively, he looks down at the screen, a wide smile spreading across his lips as he holds the phone out for me. “Looks like maybe you’re not telling us the whole truth about the fireable offenses there, Knoxy.”
I read the message on the screen.
Taylor
I can’t stop thinking about that kiss, but I’m sorry if I pushed last night too far.
I glance back upat Hudson to find him smirking at me. “Care to tell us the rest of the story?”
In for a penny, in for a pound, I suppose.
But before I dish the dirty details, I reply to Taylor because being on the waiting end of a text message that never comes, isn’t a position I want to put him in.
Knox
You didn’t. It’s just a lot to work through.
Thank you again for coming over.
Sorry, I passed out. Not my finest moment.
But I took your advice, and I’m talking about it with some friends.
I’m uncomfortable as hell,but at least I’m finally working through it.
By the time I’ve laid it all out there, including the part about meeting Karen on Saturday, Jake blows out a breath and says, “Fuck, man, why don’t we take the boat out tomorrow afternoon? Sounds like you could use a day on the lake.”
We’ve solved many problems out on my boat, and I’m a little surprised the thought hadn’t already occurred to me.
“Yeah, sounds good.”
Chapter 16
Taylor
“Ohmygod, Tay, just text him already!” Livvy yells even though she’s sitting right next to me on the couch. I declared an S.O.S. after getting Knox’s message that he wouldn’t be coming to work today, and Livvy skipped her afternoon lab to talk me off the ledge.
“I did!” I yell back at the same volume.
“Then give it a rest! He’ll either text you back or he’ll ignore you. Jesus, Bird. I’ve never known you to be so neurotic over a guy.”
I give her a pointed look because being neurotic over guys is my specialty. I’m very excitable. I love this about myself, but it does mean I have a tendency to fall hard and fast. I also tend to get more excited about my relationships than my partners do, and I allow them to bleed me dry. Patrick was the worst example, but there were others before him.
Now that Livvy’s done with her chips and salsa, she pulls my feet into her lap and reaches for the bottle of coral-colored nail polish on the end table. It’s an age-old tradition for us. Mom used to get so pissed when we’d ruin yet another couch pillow with nail polish stains.
“Rude. I don’t like your tone,” I tell my sister.
She sighs. “We’ve been over this, Tay. Feels like history is repeating itself.”
I don’t know how to explain that this is different. And even if I could, I’m not sure she’d believe me. I think back to last night and the way I pulled my hand back before I touched Knox’s skin uninvited—although admittedly, he didn’t seem to mind me feasting on his neck. After all, hedidkiss me after that.
Livvy cuts her eyes to me then studies my face like she can see right through me. Hell, she usually can.
“What aren’t you telling me?” she asks, beginning to paint my big toenail.
“I went to his house last night.”
Her head jerks up so fast, we almost have our first pillow casualty.
