Knox’s jaw twitches, sending a rock plunking into my stomach.
Oakley releases the sigh of a longsuffering saint. “I warned you, Knox. You’ve had all kinds of time to come clean, but you haven’t, have you?”
“Come clean?” My mouth dries out in an instant. I’m vaguely aware of Mom and Dad looking on as I turn my full attention to Knox across the table.
Something has whipped up a storm in his eyes.
He pushes his palms down the length of his thighs. I believe his flat smile for me is meant to reassure, but it enacts the opposite effect. My heart pounds.
“It’s nothing, Everly. Promise. You see…”
“Oh brother. Spit it out already. Just say the words, Herd.” She rolls her hand, prompting. “I. Own. The. Company. Everly.” She slaps both hands to her sides. “See. Not hard at all.”
It takes a second to add my sister’s broken words into a complete, whole thought. I gasp and stare. “You’re theownerof LHS Construction?”
“Um…” His Adam’s apple dips. “I’m one of them, yes.”
“Yep. Knox, his brother, and their dad. Equal owners. I looked it up—which, by the way, I am beyond shocked you haven’t. What kind of self-respecting Gen Z-er doesn’t stalk their prey?”
My head tilts completely off balance.
Oakley smirks. “Offices in three states and planning the opening of a fourth next year in Texas. Currently valued at almost $500 million dollars.” She rolls her eyes toward the ceiling, tapping fingertips together like she’s calculating. “Let’s see, that makes the value of Knox’s third—”
“Oakley Marie, that is enough!” Mom blurts. She wears a pressed-lip expression of pleased shock. Dad seems thoughtful.
“What…” That’s it.What.That’s all my useless mouth can sputter. “Why didn’t you say something?”
Oakley drops into achair and sets her chin on her fist. “Yes, Knox, why? Hmm?”
“I, uh.” He clears his throat. “I just didn’t.”
That’s all he’s got? “Yeah, I’m noticing that.”
He winces. “What I’m saying is…well.” He rubs his chin. “Is this really a problem?”
How dare he. “That you own a multimillion dollar company? No. That you didn’t bother mentioning it to me? Yes.”
“I was planning to tell you and your mom tonight.”
That draws a snort from the cheap seats where, tsking, Oakley watches us like we’re characters in a movie. “I warned you, Knox.”
I shoot my sister a scowl I wish had thorns attached to poke her in her smart mouth. I’ll deal with her later.
Another glimpse at Knox’s worried face makes me want to hold him, tell him everything is fine, but… “I wish you’d told me. This feels like a subject that should have come up by now.” Why would he keep this secret?
My response feels weak, and that’s exactly how I feel. The rock in my gut has been joined by another, and now my entire middle aches. Lance sat on his true feelings for months before bothering to tell me. Ethan—
I study my feet covered in fuzzy Christmas socks. I was so comfortable with Knox I didn’t even put on shoes. Why would family bother with spiky heels on a cozy Christmas Eve with loved ones?
But Knox and I are far from family.
I don’t chance a direct look at him or at any of the eyes fixed on me. “Excuse me a moment.”
Knox reaches for my hand, but I make my escape. Tears burn my eyes.
The feeling of failure, repeated failure, tracks me up the stairs.
Knox
