“What about them?” I exhale in exasperation.
“They make me—they—” He’s too flustered to form a complete sentence, but I’m not letting him off easy.
“They what?”
“They make me ugly!” he shouts.
My heart cracks. I wanted him to admit it out loud because it needed to be released. But it hurt.
“If your scars make you ugly, then what does that say about Noah?”
Knox’s eyes blow wide. “It’s not the same.”
“How?” My lips thin into a hard line.
“Because it’s not!”
My voice hardens. “You’re wrong. It’s exactly the same. Neither of you asked for someone to take a knife to your face. Neither of you had a choice in the matter. You both were young and innocent and have to carry the weight of someone else’s cruelty for the rest of your lives.”
Knox’s mouth opens and closes, unable to come up with the words.
He breathes heavily as I frame his face with my hands and force him to look at me. “Your scars are not ugly. They’re part of you. They’re proof of your strength, your resilience, and your life. I don’t want you any other way.”
He grabs my cheeks, his gaze searching my face. “You’re perfect.”
My tears spill from my eyes.
Knox opens his mouth to say something else, but he holds his words back. Instead, he pulls me into him, wrapping me in his embrace and refusing to let go. My chest permeates with a sense so strong and unfamiliar that I freeze.
Is this what it feels like to be loved by someone?
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
GRIFFIN
“Can I take the blind fold off now?” Raven huffs in the middle seat of my truck between Knox and me.
“Nope,” Knox answers with a shit-eating grin.
Raven crosses her arms and pouts.
Yesterday, Knox and I decided that we needed to take Raven on a proper date. Especially after the shitty one she had with “Jed.” So, we arranged for Kat to babysit and surprised Raven. We put on the blindfold and wouldn’t tell her where we’re going.
“I’m not a big fan of surprises.”
I snort at the little tantrum she’s throwing. “You’ll get over it.”
I pull up to the spot Knox and I picked out, and I throw the car in park, shutting off the engine.
“Wait here,” Knox orders Raven.
Raven gestures to the fabric covering her eyes. “Not like I can go anywhere.”
Knox chuckles, and we climb out of the cab together. We rush to put everything together. We’re halfway done when Raven opens the passenger door.
“Are y’all almost done?”
“No,” we respond in unison.
