I nod and smile. “Yes,” I answer, squeezing Knox’s hand. “He’s been a huge help with everything. I’m thinking about doing a grand opening event next month. You both should come.”
“We’d love to,” Knox’s mom says with a warm smile.
“I can’t wait until you see some of the pieces she’s working on. She even refinished the desk sitting in my office,” he says. His entire face lights up with pride, making my skin feel tight. I guess he’s not the only one who hates being praised.
“The mahogany one?” Crystal asks.
“Yes,” I nod. “It was Sal’s desk when he first started the shop, and all it needed was a good sanding and some stain. I wanted Knox to have something to remind him where it all started.”
He looks over at me with a love-drunk daze across his face. It’s a look I’ve found myself beginning to mirror moreand more. It makes me nostalgic for our younger days and even more grateful that we made it here.
The night slowly melds into laughter, bad karaoke, and an empty bowl of Marie’s punch that she practically finishes herself. She was going to have a rough morning at the coffee shop tomorrow.
At some point, Knox catches my hand and pulls me onto the dance floor. He spins me around effortlessly like we’ve been doing this forever. And maybe, in one way or another, we have. It’s felt like an eternity dancing around the idea of us. Of this.
I used to think he would forever be the boy who broke my heart. But now, it feels like he’s rebuilding it, piece by piece. And I’m rebuilding him, too.
I think those are the best kind of relationships. Not the ones where we chase perfection, but the ones where we look for someone who’s willing to work and grow with us. I spent a long time believing I would never find a love that was this forgiving and all-consuming. But that’s what happens when you don’t think you deserve it.
Now I know I do. We both do.
Knox pulls me in close, brushing his lips against my ear. “Do you remember the night we got our tattoos?”
I pull my head back and send him a questioning glance. “Yeah, but why are you bringing it up now?”
“Just reminiscing. I’m allowed to do that, right?”
I give him a dirty look, earning a laugh in exchange. “I almost got it covered a long time ago.”
“Really?” I ask, my stomach sinking. I thought about covering mine up a few times too. But every time I tried to find a tattoo I liked more, I always came up empty. Now, I know there was a part of me that didn’t want to cover it up. I liked the idea that even if we were hundreds of miles apart, we were still connected.
“Yes,” he answers, the corners of his lips tilting down. “Ihad it scheduled and everything, but right before my appointment, my truck broke down, and I missed it.”
I blink softly. “Please don’t feed me some bullshit about fate saving your tattoo.”
“I would never,” Knox laughs, keeping our bodies swaying to the slow country song filling the air. “After that happened, I never rescheduled the appointment. I realized that if I covered up the tattoo, it would be like saying I regretted that time we spent together. But I didn’t. Even after everything went to shit.”
A familiar ache settles in my chest. “I’m glad I kept mine, too. No matter how badly I wanted to run you over, I never regretted that summer either.”
Knox’s body shakes with more laughter. “That’s the nicest death threat I’ve ever gotten.”
“Well, it’s not like we got each other’s names tattooed. That would be a whole other story,” I laugh, laying my head on his chest.
Knox catches my chin with his hand and pulls my face to his. “Are you saying you wouldn’t get my name tattooed on you?”
“Hell no,” I say smugly. “We’ve only been dating for a few weeks. Calm down.”
His mouth quirks. “Don’t worry, Bambi. I plan on keeping you around for a long time. As long as you’ll have me.”
“Don’t press your luck,” I tease, sticking out my tongue.
“I think I’m feeling pretty lucky,” he says, rubbing his thumb in circles along my hip.
I roll my eyes. “You’re awfully confident, Cooke.”
“Yup,” he agrees. “I thought that’s what you love about me?”
I laugh, feeling lightheaded. “I consider it more cockiness than confidence. But yeah, I guess if I technically love all of you, I have to love those parts too.”
