“She said if I wanted to keep seeing her, I had to actually show up for her, too.”
“Did you?” I ask quietly.
He nods. “Scared the fucking hell out of me.”
I fold my arms across my chest. “You?”
“Yeah, me.” He meets my eyes. “Turns out, caring about someone, and having them care about you in return, is actually kinda worth it.”
This isn’t the Knox I’m used to, the carefree flirt who collects phone numbers like they’re rodeo programs.
“How serious are we talking?” I ask.
He rubs his jaw. “She’s met Dad.”
I choke on air. “What?”
“I know.”
“You don’t let girls meet Dad,” I exclaim, unable to hide my disbelief.
“I know.”
I stare at him like he’s grown a second head. “Does Deacon know?”
“Yeah.”
“And you didn’t tell me?”
He winces. “You’ve been fragile.”
“I havenotbeen fragile.”
“You cry in the tack room.”
“That was one time.”
“It was three.”
I narrow my eyes. “You’re enjoying this.”
“A little.”
I shake my head slowly, still stunned. “So, this whole time, while I’ve been spiraling, you’ve been… what? In a stable relationship?”
He smirks. “Define stable.”
“Months, Knox.”
“I know.” The pride in his voice isunmistakable.
“You love her?” I ask, the question softer.
He hesitates. Then nods once. “Yeah,” he says simply.
My chest tightens unexpectedly. “Wow… That’s…” I swallow. “… big.”
“I’m aware.”
