Heat flashes over my face. “Why would you assume that?” I ask, crossing my arms.
“I don’t know,” he says, twisting his lips into a straight line. “Based on the huge ass suitcase sitting in the bed of your truck.”
My mouth goes dry and my pulse thrums under my skin. I was 100% running, but I wasn’t willing to admit that to him.
“Listen, Knox, I’m just going to visit my sister and brother for a little bit.”
Knox nods, carefully dissecting every word coming out of my mouth. “How long?” he asks. His voice is softer now, like he’s trying to reel his emotions in.
“I’m not sure,” I lie, knowing damn well I plan to be back early next week. “I’m coming back, though. I wouldn’t leave after—well, I just wouldn’t do that.”
“Are you sure?” he says, stepping closer. “Because youweregoing to leave without telling me. That’s not okay.”
My throat tightens. Dammit, he’s right. I wanted to wait to talk to him until after I decided what to do but standing here in the place where it all started, I can’t keep holding everything inside.
“I know,” I admit, hanging my head in defeat. “I guess I’m the idiot now.”
Knox’s face eases from tense to amused in five seconds. He laughs quietly and shakes his head. “Please don’t do that, Bambi. It’s impossible to be mad at you when you say shit like that.”
“But it’s true,” I defend, shoving my hands deep into my pockets. “I should’ve told you I was leaving for a few days, but I was scared that if I did, I wouldn’t want to go. And I also knew that if I saw you before I left, I’d have to tell you something. Something that isn’t easy to talk about.”
“Why does it sound like we just had this exact conversation?” he asks, leaning against the truck.
“Kind of seems like that, doesn’t it?” I joke, half trying to lighten the mood and half trying to stall.
“Well, don’t keep me waiting,” he says, nudging the words out of my mouth.
“I got a call last night from someone who owns some storefronts near the Hollow Hinge, and they offered to buy my building.”
The color drains from Knox’s face as he stands up straight. “That’s—um—are you going to take the offer?”
“I don’t know,” I answer truthfully. “That’s why I was going to visit my sister. I needed some time to think about everything. That money could help me start up a legit refurbishing business, but I don’t want to see my grandma’s shop get destroyed. Plus, I’ve been working my ass off for the last few weeks to get it ready to reopen. I’d be giving up everything I worked for.”
“Yeah,” he says, pressing his lips into a thin line. “If you sell, does that mean you’d be leaving then? For good?”
Dread claws up the back of my throat. “I don’t know,” I answer with a silent, yet waning laugh. “Can I be honest for a second?”
“Always,” Knox says, those blue eyes shining brightly with a glimmer of hope.
“When you told me how you felt about me, it was terrifying. And not because I don’t feel the same way—well, it’s actually because I do feel the same way. But it’s mostly because I’m worried that if things don’t work out with us, I won’t just be losing you again, I’ll be losing this town. I know we’ve changed a lot since we were kids, but my connection to this place hasn’t. Somewhere deep inside me, I’ve always known this place was my home and I don’t want to give it up.”
“Bambi,” Knox says, stepping forward. “I wouldn’t expect you to do that. But trust me, if you give this a chance,” he says, motioning between us. “I promise I won’t make the mistake of giving you up again. I think—no. I know I’m in love with you.”
And there it is—the words I wished for when I was sixteen. Butterflies swarm the inside of my stomach, and a warm, wanting pressure builds there so big and powerful that I know I’ll never experience it quite like this again.
“You what?” I ask, my heart pounding against my chest. I place a hand there just to steady the chaotic energy crashing through me.
“I love you,” he says, stepping forward. The smell of motor oil and amber overtakes my senses. “And I’m not just saying that to sway your decision or beg you to stay. I’m saying it because it’s the truth, and I’d never forgive myself if you walked away without knowing that.”
My mouth falls open, and then clamps shut again. I’m speechless. Unsure of what to say or do in this moment. Of course, I know what I should do, but I can’t find the words, and I’m having the worst case of Déjà vu. This is all happening so fast.
I bite the inside of my cheek, and the taste of metal fills my mouth. The world feels like it’s spinning around me, and my only anchor is the Honey Grove welcome sign mocking me from afar. My feet are restless and ache to run into his arms, but the weight of everything else presses down harder, holding me in place.
“I’m still going to see my sister, Knox,” I say, my voice faltering, but then I look at my truck, and I realize that statement doesn’t hold much weight without a working vehicle. “Well, I wanted to anyway. I forgive you for not telling me about Henry, but I still need to figure out what I really want.”
“I get it,” he says, surprising me. Then again, he’s been doing that all summer. “You can borrow my truck while I get yours fixed.”
“No,” I say, shaking my head. “That’s kind of you, but I can’t do that. Also, why would you want to help me? You just told me you loved me, and my response is to leave.”
