“That was…” She struggles to search for the words as we both try to grasp what just happened. “I can see why the girls maul you in hallways. Kisses like that should be illegal.”
“They wouldn’t know. That’s another thing I don’t do.”
“What? Kiss?” She pulls back in shock, staring at me in disbelief. “You don’t kiss? Like ever?”
“It’s not something I do often. It’s too personal, and emotions get involved. Gives them the wrong idea.”
Which is exactly what I’m doing right now to her—again. All because I’m a selfish fuck who can’t stay away.
My fingers come up and touch her soft hair, letting a piece slide through my hand before I drop it to my side and back away.
“I need to get you back to your brothers before they come looking for you.” I avoid her eyes, and she must sense my change in mood.
“Oh no, you don’t, Knox Stone.” She storms over and gets in my face. “You’re not about to shut me out again,” she says, poking me in the chest with her finger. “Whatever it is that youthinkyou’re doing to protect me…you can shove it up your ass. You need to dig real deep and take a look at yourself because maybe…just maybe, it’s you that you’re protecting. You are so afraid of feeling anything good in your life that it’s easier to be an asshole and push me away than to admit you might actually need someone.”
She turns and yanks the door open, walking back inside.
Her words hit me hard and are too close to home as I try to come to blows with what I’m feeling. She’s got me so twisted right now in the head, I don’t know wrong from right.
Frustrated and suddenly feeling like I have no control over my life anymore, I do what I do best and stuff down the emotions to deal with at another time or if ever, before walking back inside.
When I get back to the table, there is no sign of Savi as my eyes dart over her family, expecting to see her sitting here.
“Where did Savi go now? She was headed this way,” I frown, looking around.
“Relax, Knox,” Olivia smiles over the rim of her glass. “She’s right over there talking with your friends. You guys really need to let her breathe a bit. She’s a grown-ass woman.”
“Hey, I’ve been better lately,” Miles cuts in. “Ask Knox. He was there that night when Savi was talking to some guy, and I didn’t butt in or anything. Knox can vouch for me.”
I don’t hear a word of what Miles is yapping about because all my focus is on Savi as she sits at the booth with Hayes and Foxx.A few girls are in the mix, but I can tell from their faces that Savi is putting a dent in their plans as all eyes are on her.
Can you blame them?
Not one single girl here holds a candle to Savi.
“Sit down, Knox,” Sophia giggles, breaking me out of my trance. “Let her have some fun for a change.”
“You’re worse than we are,” Jake chuckles.
“That’s because I know how those two are.” The words squeeze by my painfully locked jaw as I force myself to sit down.
“I’m with the girls on this one,” Ryder says. “She looks like she’s having fun, and it’s not like they can do anything while we are all sitting here.”
She does look like she’s having fun.
Her smile widens as she laughs at something Foxx says.
This is my karma for touching her.
I get to sit here and watch other guys make her happy while I still have the taste of her on my lips and am nowhere near satisfied from the hunger I still feel for her.
As much as it pains me, I keep my distance. I don’t, however, hide the fact that I’m watching every move those two make as I keep a close eye on them.
Somehow, by the grace of God and another bourbon, I make it through the rest of the evening, joining in on the conversations around me when I’m not too distracted by Savi’s laughter a few tables over.
When the guys start reserving Ubers, I take care of the tab and finally walk over to get her.
“Your family is about to leave, and our Uber will be here in ten minutes,” I say, walking up to their table and completely ignoring the two idiots next to her. She meets my eyes briefly before looking away.
