I heave a giant exhale. “I honestly don’t know, Shelbs.”
“I heard his dad died last week.”
“I know. Austin told me. Austin also thinks JD came back for me. Fallon gave him a job at the youth center.”
“Are you serious right now?” Her voice has gone dog-whistle shrill, and I pull the phone away from my ear for a second time.
“I guess he’s here to stay. Highland isn’t that big of a town, so…” I groan.
“Time to pull up your big girl panties and learn to exist in each other’s space.”
“Guess so. I hate having to be a mature grown up.”
“Me too. That’s why God invented alcohol, or in your case, sweet-iced tea since you don’t drink. That settles it then. Dinner with your fam then I’m treating you to the best Long Island iced tea there is.”
“Still alcoholic, Shelbs.”
“Shit. Really? Too bad.” But I hear her giggling.
A noise behind me has me turning around to see Knox standing in the living room entryway, hands in his pockets, shoulders hunched, face drawn and unsure.
“Shelbs, I need to go. I’ll text you later with dinner details.”
I hang up and pocket my phone. Knox doesn’t say anything. We stand and look at one another in an awkward stare-off. I refuse to be the one who speaks first, so after a few minutes of nothing but silence and penetrating green eyes watching me, I decide I have better things to do. Turning on my heel, I walk out of the living room in the opposite direction of where Knox is standing.
“Aurora.”
“Nope. You had your chance just now and this morning.”
I continue walking down the hall, heading toward the study to ask Fallon where he wants to eat dinner so I can text Shelby and Austin.
Heavy footsteps come down the hallway and Knox grabs my arm to stop me. “You are stubborn as shit, you know that?”
I remove his hand from my arm. “No, what I am is hurt because my boyfriend walked out on me last night and left this morning without trying to talk to me about things. That’s what people do, Knox, when they are in a relationship. Talk about things. Open up to one another. Have a rational discussion.”
Knox gives me the most dubious look. “Rational?” he thunders. “You tried to use me last night to stick it to your ex-boyfriend!”
“And you promised me yesterday morning that you would never hurt me! Your stupid jealousy fucked me into the wall and then you left me naked and alone! I have the bruises to prove it!” I shout back, getting up in his face.
Knox and I realize at the same time that Fallon is standing at the end of the hall outside the study, his ice blue eyes murdering Knox where he stands. He must have heard us shouting.
“Knox, I think it’s best for you to step away from Aurora before I do something I’ll regret.”
I’ve never heard Fallon sound so menacing before.
“Fallon, it’s alright.” I try to calm the situation.
Knox and I were both in the wrong last night. We both did things we regret, and I need to explain everything to Fallon, so he doesn’t get the wrong idea and go after Knox.
I touch Knox’s hand. “Hey. I’ll speak with him. We can talk later tonight.”
“Knox. Get away from her,right now,” Fallon commands and Knox backs away from me. “Aurora, come here.”
I swear, sometimes I think Fallon forgets I’m a person and not a pet. Knox hastily retreats down the hall, and I hear the slamming of the front door. Fucking fantastic. He left again.
“Fallon, it’s not what you think.”
“It is if what you said was true.”
