“And I want him to be you,” I cut in. “All you can do from this point forward is make choices for your future. And that means doing everything you possibly can to get out on parole.”
He considered this. “And if I do everything I can, but I still don’t make parole? Then what?”
“Then I will be the most well-known visitor in that waiting room at Coldwater Penitentiary until the day you finally walk out of those doors.” I leaned closer. “And when you finally do, I will be there with open arms.”
I ran my knuckles gently across his cheek. And then, as softly as possible, I pressed my lips to his.
I didn’t know what the future held. I didn’t know if our life together would start in eleven years or in two months.
All I knew was that from this day forward, my heart belonged to Knox Blackwood.
45
KNOX
SINNERS AND SAINTS GROUP CHAT
Axel: Scale of 1-10, how much do you still look like raw hamburger?
Me: Healing.
Axel: That’s not a number.
Me: 6.
Axel: Nice. Down from a solid 9. Progress.
Ryker: How are you actually feeling?
Axel: Wait. No lecture about the phone? No “DESTROY THIS IMMEDIATELY”? No caps lock meltdown?
Ryker: Maybe I’ve realized I like being able to check on him.
Axel: CHARACTER GROWTH. Everybody clap for Ryker.
Blake: *Clapping emoji*
Jace: *Clapping emoji*
Axel: I’m so proud. My little worrywart is becoming a real boy.
Ryker: I will end you.
Axel: There he is.
Jace: You scared the shit out of us, Knox.
Blake: Seconded. I don’t want to see you at Mercy Harbor again unless you’re visiting.
Me: No plans to return.
Axel: So, is Harper nursing you back to health? *Winking emoji*
Ryker: Don’t.
Axel: What? It’s a valid medical question.
Ryker: It’s really not.
