Knox takes my hand as we descend the curved staircase. I’ve gotten pretty good over the years at walking in high heels and not stumbling around like a newborn fawn.
“Let’s get you to the ball on time, princess. The guys are waiting for us in the car.” By car, he means SUV limousine.
“Finally,” Prescott says when we get inside.
“I couldn’t find my shoes,” I tell him, getting situated on the long leather bench seat so that my dress doesn’t pull up and I flash everyone.
“You nervous?” Dustin asks me from opposite of where Knox and I are sitting.
“Yes,” I succinctly tell him because I’m nervous as hell. Tonight has to be perfect.
Dustin reaches over to take my hand in a reassuring squeeze. “You got this,” he replies.
“Cam would be so proud of you, Rory,” Prescott adds, giving me that bright smile of his that always seems to make everything better.
Knox wraps his arms around my back and pulls me gently to him.
After graduating from Duke last year with dual degrees in social work and non-profit management, I started working for Fallon. While Trevor runs the business side of Montgomery Pharma, Fallon has been traveling the world building community centers, women’s hospitals, free health clinics, free daycare facilities, women’s shelters—anything to do with helping abused women and their families get the support and care they need. Just like he helped Knox, Devon, Butch, Trevaughn, and their mothers after he met them at a New York City women’s shelter.
“I think he would be too,” I answer Prescott’s comment about Cam.
Today is the grand opening of a new youth community center in Highland. It was the first project I worked on under Fallon’s supervision, and it will bear Cam’s name: the Cameron Bollinger Youth Center of Highland.
“I wish Fallon could be here tonight.” I spoke with him this morning; he’s currently in New Zealand.
Knox uses his hold on me to pull me closer to him and brushes my temple with his nose. “We can call him later tonight, once the event is over,” he says close to my ear, creating an involuntary shiver which catches me off guard.
My body and my heart have felt dead inside the past four years. Even when Knox kisses me, it’s more comforting than anything else. His kisses don’t light me up and set my body on fire like…not going think about that tonight.
To distract myself, I text Shelby.
Me: Just checking your ETA.
Shelby: I’m already here. The center looks phenomenal! Congrats, bestie!
Me: So nervous. How many people are there already?
Shelby: Place is packed. Several news crews and reporters too. You have been forewarned.
Me: Crap! Sick them on Trevor or maybe Austin
Shelby: On it.
I zone out as the guys discuss business. Dustin and Prescott both joined D & D Technology, a technology research company based in Seattle but with a satellite office in Raleigh. Knox is a year younger than I am. Once he graduated from Fallen Brook High, he joined Ryder Cutton’s pro Motocross team under the umbrella of Randy’s Custom Auto. Knox is currently ranked ninth in the standings with two hundred points. He’s usually on tour or at competitions but he is taking the next month off for some much-needed downtime.
Ryder is taking time off as well to be with Elizabeth while she’s on an extended maternity leave from medical school. Their first son, Marcus, was born two months ago and is the cutest thing ever. After stuff went down with the man-who-shall-remain-nameless, Fallon opened up to me about what happened between him and Elizabeth. Talk about a soap opera! Holy hell. But I completely get it now—why he stays away, why he’s always gotten sad whenever Elizabeth’s name comes up, why he works so hard and does what he does. It all leads back to her.
When we pull up to the community center, my stomach rolls at the sight of so many people. Highland isn’t a large city like Charlotte or Raleigh, but you would think the entire state showed up to our little ribbon cutting ceremony based on the numbers already congregated outside. Dustin and Prescott are familiar with my social anxiety, so it doesn’t surprise me that the two of them step out of the stretch SUV first to provide a protective barrier around me. Knox climbs out and reaches for my hand.
“Deep breath, baby. We’ve got you,” he states quietly, the touch of his hand grasping mine, calming my nerves. I plaster on a bright smile and face the camera flashes that are already going off as I exit the vehicle.
Several voices call out my name, stopping me along the way to ask questions for local newspapers and blogs. I answer each person graciously, thanking them for coming out, giving high praise to those who worked so hard to bring my idea of the youth center to life. I gush about the great job Fallon is doing with his nonprofit’s efforts to help women in need but find I choke up whenever I’m asked about Cam and why we named the center after him. I still get asked questions about my past. How did it feel to find out I was the illegitimate child of Phillip Montgomery? What was it like to go from rags to riches? I never publicly discuss that part of my life and I brush aside those types of questions by swiftly changing the subject.
“Miss Montgomery! Who is your escort for tonight’s event?” one reporter questions me, noticing how Knox is holding my arm, with Dustin and Prescott right behind me.
“We all are,” Prescott jumps in with his usual cocky playfulness. “She couldn’t decide which handsome man she wanted on her arm tonight. Personally, I think I should have won hands down, but I don’t mind sharing.” He winks at the reporter.
I turn around, mouth agape, and smack his arm.
