She leans on the doorframe. “You know, if you’d just answered your phone, Knox, this whole thing could have been avoided.”
“My phone?” I feel my brows dip in the middle.
“You’ve had an unusually high number of unknown calls on your phone lately, haven’t you?”
“Why, yes, yes I have.”
She shrugs. “I got your number off paperwork at the bank. I tried half a dozen times to give you a heads up.”
“A heads up?”
“About the lawyer sleazebag.” She snorts, sending a sister-smirk to Everly. “Synonyms, am I right?”
Everly, arms crossed, gets in her sister’s face. “Are you telling me you’ve been harassing poor Knox all this time?”
“Poor Knox? Good one, sis.” She laughs at her own joke, and I’m at a point where I could either strangle her…or laugh along.
Eh, why choose negativity? She was watching out for her sister, a goal I am one hundred percent behind and a mission I am taking over as soon as Everly will let me.
“Anyway, I didn’t get the chance to harass him. He never would answer the silly phone.”
“You didn’t leave a message,” I point out.
“Some matters require a delicate touch. But don’t say I didn’t warn you before I left. I did my best.” She shows her palms. “My hands are clean.”
Hardly. But in the greater scheme of things…yeah. She gets a pass this time.
A copious amount of eyerolling takes place between the sisters. Finally, Everly places her hands on Oakley’s shoulders and turns her for the door. “You’re free to go now.”
“Oh no, I’m not. Dad wouldn’t like that, especially after I tell him what I walked in on.”
“Oh, stuff it, Oakley. I’m a grown woman.”
Remind me I owe Oak a thank you for making Everly’s cheeks flare from blush to hot pink.Beautiful.
“Don’t Oakley me. Besides, I was sent on a mission other than to play chaperone. Mom says she didn’t work on dinner all day just for everyone to eat it stone cold.”
Sounds like something Honey would say in the Herd household.
Under Oakley’s satisfied smirk, I deliver a quick kiss to Everly’s cheek, then hold out my hand. She takes it and holds on tight, down the hall and down the stairs, all the way to the table.
I’m not letting this one get away, ever.
Chapter 28
Everly
It’s a tough call who is more joyful during dinner, Mom or me. The food is delicious but pales in comparison to the lightness in my spirit. A new chapter in my life is dawning,
Oakley has settled into the least annoying version of herself. Now that her beef with Knox is resolved, I get the feeling she genuinely likes him. But as I said to Mom, how could she not? I don’t need her approval, but the stamp of approval from a loved one never hurts.
The only downside of my present bliss is the unsettled vibe my big-sis meter is registering. First chance I get, I’ll do a sisterly welfare check.
We all work jointly to clear the table and store leftovers away once the meal is complete, then return to our places for pumpkin pie, pecan pie, coffee, and chocolate chip cookies. Side by side, Knox and I lock pinkies under the table.
After a while, Oakley drifts from the room, phone in hand, mumbling about needing to charge it. Mom and Dad huddle at the end of the table. I catch Knox’s eye and incline my head toward the living room.
“Would your dad mind if I stoke this fire?” he asks, eyeing the dying flames.
