That actually sounds kind of fun, but I don’t say it out loud. “So, Knox is bouncing from girl to girl, huh?” I ask, regrettably pulling the subject back tohim.
“Mhmm,” she hums, crossing her arms. “The latest scandal that his name was involved in had to do with a married woman who just so happened to be our old Calculus teacher. Apparently, she left her husband for him, and he basically told her to get lost. Two weeks later, she packed up her stuff, quit her job, and moved back home. That had the town talking for a while.”
I blink hard, not expectingthat.
I know Knox Cooke is a heartbreaker. I’ve experienced it firsthand. But to hear a story that blows mine out of the water sends a shiver of validation down my spine that I didn’t want nor ask for.
“You’re kidding,” is all I can say.
“I can’t make this shit up.”
“Was it recent?” I ask. More questions pop up in my head, but I restrain myself.
“It was a little over a year ago. But now that I think of it, I haven’t heard much about him until you came into town. Maybe he’s been lying low, or he’s getting better at keeping his exploits private.”
I groan and press my palms into my eyes. “I’m sure. I can’t believe girls are still falling for the whole tortured cowboy routine.”
“Of course,” Marie says with a tight grin. “You know how this town works. Put a flannel on someone halfway decent with cheekbones, and they’re on their way to being crowned prom king or whatever the equivalent to that is for adults.”
I roll my eyes and bend over to grab onto one of the manyboxes that’s been staring me down during my conversation with Marie. I really needed to get this place unpacked.
“Good to know nothing’s changed. It’s like walking into my very own time capsule.”
“That’s not entirely true. Some things have changed,” she says, stepping closer.
“What?” I ask, glancing up at her.
“You’re back, and Honey Grove just got a lot more interesting.”
“Sure,” I say, shaking my head in disbelief. I reach out to open the flaps of the box I’m working on when my phone starts to buzz in my pocket.
I swear, if it’s Eve trying to convince me this move is a bad idea again, I’m going to block her number…for at least a day or until I’m done being annoyed.
But it’s not Eve.
“What’s the area code for Honey Grove?” I ask, my mind drawing a blank.
“716. Why?” she asks with a curious frown.
“Just making sure before I answer this call,” I reply before hitting accept.
“Hello?” I answer.
“Hey, Bambi. It’s Knox. Knox Cooke.”
CHAPTER 4
KNOX
“Iknow who you are, genius. I don’t need a last name,” Emery snipes through the other end of the phone.
A big grin lights up my face as I balance my cellphone between my neck and shoulder. I grab a clean rag and wipe the grease off my hands.
“I’m doing great, thanks for asking! And how are you, Bambi?”
Static fills the other end of the phone, and my smile almost drops. But then I hear her clear her throat and all is well again.
“What do you want?”
