ELEVEN
KNIGHT
My skin prickles from the distance between us, but I manage to allow her to walk away, keeping her in my peripheral vision as Betty leads her to the massive sectional couch.
“Congrats, bro,” Huck says, slapping me on the shoulder before leaning down and scooping a child off the floor and into his arms.
“Thank you.”
“When the fuck did you two even meet?” Bay asks.
“We met here,” I inform him.
“I know you were introduced, but I don’t remember you talking. Did you exchange phone numbers and stay in touch once she left for Rapid City?” he asks curiously.
“No.”
“So how did…” He gestures from me to Octavia and back again. “It happen?”
“I recognized her as mine.”
“Ohhhh,” Penn and Teddy say in unison, a matching knowing look appearing on their faces.
“I’m happy for you both,” Beau says. “When you know, you know, and I think pure instinct makes more sense than meeting someone and hoping for the best.”
“How did things go after you carried Octy out of here over your shoulder the other day?” Cody asks.
“I won’t apologize—” I start.
“I don’t expect you to. Octy’s your woman, and Betty crossed a line. She might be a little salty with you for a while, but I’d have done the exact same thing if someone tried to take her from me,” Cody says.
Nodding, I press my lips together and stay quiet, because there isn’t anything more to say. Bringing her here isn’t about clearing the air with Betty and Cody Barnett. It’s about making sure that everyone knows she’s my wife, and the quickest way to broadcast our news to everyone in Rockhead Point is to start with the Barnetts. Gossip travels faster than email here, and now that all seven Barnett brothers and their wives know, it won’t be long until mine and Doll’s marriage is common knowledge across the entire town.
And I want that. I want the entire world to know that I’m hers and she’s mine.
For the first time, I’m glad no one expects me to be chatty or make more than polite conversation, because my attention is focused on my doll and the conversation she’s having with Betty on the other side of the room. My body keeps turning toward her, urging me to go to her, to pull her onto my lap, band my arms around her, and hold her close. The desire to pin her to me and make sure she can’t escape is almost impossible to ignore, but I try, because no matter how much I want to go to her, I can’t.
After this morning and her reaction to me bringing her down to the gym, I know she needs this. She needs the illusion of space, even if it’s only across the room. My heart hurts, andevery inch of me hates her being this far away, but I know I need to give her this—for now.
When the sound of Betty’s loud laughter cuts through the conversations happening around me, I allow my body to turn more fully toward her, just in time to catch Betty’s eye.
“Knight,” she calls, beckoning me over.
Striding across the room, I circle the couch, then pick Octavia up and take her seat, positioning her on my lap.
“Octy says you plan to come to the studio with her,” Betty says.
I nod. “Yes.”
“Perfect. How do you feel about becoming the new security guard?”
“Fuck yes,” Cody says, taking the seat beside Betty and curving his hand around her pregnant belly. “I’m at the studio as often as I can be, and I know Oz has been going with Etta when she’s had to be on site to work, but we can’t always be there, and I don’t want Betty there at night on her own. Having you there to make sure she and Octy are safe would be fucking perfect. Maybe we could ask if any of the jumpers on the other team wanted to cover the time when you’re on shift.”
“That won’t be necessary,” I tell him.
“But I can’t guarantee I can be there—” Cody starts.
“I’ve taken a six-month leave of absence from the smoke jumpers, but I have no intention of returning to the team, so I’d be happy to act as security. Do you have a system in place for the studio at the moment?”
