I’m saved from answering any more questions when Austin makes his way over. “Sorry. I was stuck talking to the mayor inside. I can rescue you now. Come on.” He takes my arm from Knox, who reluctantly lets me go, and escorts me inside the community center. “You look beautiful, Rory.”
“Thank you. So do you. Handsome and dashing, I mean,” I amend.
If you told me five years ago that Austin and I would become good friends, I would have laughed in your face, then recommended a good psychiatrist for you to see for your delusions. But Austin stepped up for me in the biggest of ways when I needed it the most, and now I honestly don’t know what I would do without his support. He also played an instrumental part in helping me get the funding we needed to build the new youth center. Austin works with me for Fallon’s nonprofit and handles all the financial and fundraising efforts.
“I hate to talk business tonight, but I need your approval on some things.”
I wave at a few people I know and look around for Shelby, Renee, and Trevor as I walk with Austin to the back office.
As soon as we step inside, he rounds the desk and hands me a folder. I quickly scan through the papers and sign.
“How long is Knox back in town for?” he asks, propping his hip on the desk.
“A few weeks, then he has an event in California.”
“I know you must be happy to have him back. It must be hard to do the long-distance thing.”
I lean against the desk, twirling the pen around my fingers. “You know I’m perfectly happy with the long-distance thing. Being in a relationship again is stressful enough, and Knox and I are still new, so...I still don’t think I’m ready,” I honestly tell him.
Austin chuckles. “More like he wore you down. That guy has been drooling over you for years. Got to give him points for persistence. Besides, it’s beenfive years, Rory.”
“Don’t you think I know that!” I clip each word out, then sigh. “Sorry.”
Austin comes around to where I’m standing and hugs me. “Hey, no apologies. You know that I’ll always be here for you to yell at. It’s my job as best friend,” he teases.
“There you guys are!” Shelby screeches as she rushes into the office and pulls me out of Austin’s hug, Renee following closely behind her. “You look hot, girl. Hi, Austin,” Shelby greets him over my shoulder.
“Hey douche canoe,” Renee says, and Austin gives her the middle finger. Renee and Austin have this love-hate relationship going with one another.
“I would love to stay and chat, but there’s only so much of Renee’s voice I can stand in any given minute,” Austin says.
Renee cups herself at him through her dress in the universal language for “suck my dick.”
“Such class,” he tells her.
“Would you two just fuck and be done with it?” Shelby announces, like having sex is the cure-all for everything, even bickering. I point my finger at my friends in a way that tells them to knock it off.
Austin nudges my lower back by applying pressure with his hand. “We need to get out there anyway and mingle before the ribbon cutting, and I’m sure Knox wants his girl back. Trevor will meet us in the lobby. Ready?”
I’m as ready as I’ll ever be. Tonight is for you, Cam.
Chapter 29
Islowly wake to find a pair of soft green eyes watching me. “Hey,” I sleepily mumble.
Knox reaches out and threads the fingers of his left hand into my hair, brushing a few strands away from my face. “Now I can see that beautiful face better,” he whispers, causing a small smile to bloom at the corners of my mouth.
He shifts and leans in to press a light kiss to my temple, then brushes his nose across the area where his lips vacated. “You made the front page of theHerald Sunthis morning.”
Last night’s event at the new youth community center was a great success. I can’t believe we actually pulled it off. All throughout the evening, I was inJurassic Parkmentality, thinking that no matter how hard we worked and how much we planned, something was going to happen to make everything go off the rails. By the time midnight rolled around, I was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief. Everything went perfectly.
Knox tugs on my earlobe to get my attention. “What do you say I make us some breakfast and we take the bikes to the Fields for the day?”
Knox and I go riding often; me on Cam’s bike, him on his KTM. I have the next few days off and have been looking forward to some quality alone-time with him. Before I said yes to a relationship between us a few months ago, Knox was first and foremost my friend. Just like Austin, Knox was there for me when I broke and was lost. It took a village to help put me back together—him, Austin, Trevor, Fallon, Dustin, Prescott, Shelby, Renee, and my other five siblings—even though those put-together pieces have more gaping cracks between them than a reconstructed Humpty Dumpty.
“I like that idea,” I tell him, scooching closer to him on the bed, cuddling against his warm, mocha skin as he buries his nose against the crook of my shoulder.
I haven’t been ready yet for total intimacy with Knox, with any man for that matter, but Knox hasn’t complained or tried to pressure me for more. He’s been letting me set the pace, and last night was the first night we slept in the same bed together, albeit fully clothed. I must admit, it was nice waking up to him beside me. Baby steps, but important ones for me.
