33
Serena stood at the sink, turning on the faucet to wash the dishes as I set them down on the counter. I frowned, second away from stopping her to say that I would gladly wash everything when she turned her head to speak instead.
"He's a nice boy, Annie," Serena smiled. She kept her voice low since Knox was still just in the room over.
I felt a light flush creep up my neck. I knew he was a nice boy, I've known that for a while now, but the relief of Serena seeing it too was warming.
"He likes you - a lot it seems," Serena chuckled, before turning her attention back to the sink.
Red burned my cheeks now. "He makes me feel seen," I choked out, emotion lodging in the back of my throat.
"And that is all that matter - that he treats you well and that you're happy. I couldn't ask for anything more than that, Annie," Serena sent me another warm smile.
Knox walked in a moment later, setting down the rest of the dishes he had cleared from the table.
"I would gladly take over for you," Knox said, gesturing towards the sink that Serena still stood at.
I could see Serena's hesitation - she didn't want to accept his offer since he was a guest - but I wasn't. She had already put so much effort into cooking for us, it didn't feel right that she would do all of the clean-up as well.
"We both will - please Serena, go relax," I urged, taking the sponge away from her.
"Oh, fine - thank you both," Serena laughed, her shoulder's relaxing as she waved 'bye' over her shoulder and headed up stairs.
I smiled at Knox before turning to face the sink and get started on the dishes. Thankfully, he brought the rest of the plates closer so I could reach them easier.
I had barely managed to squirt dish soap onto the sponge and warm the water when Knox's presence loomed behind me. He caged me in, his arms coming around my body as he plucked the sponge right out of my hands.
My brows furrowed but I didn't object as his arms flexed around me, his hands doing the work of properly scrubbing everything clean.
It didn't take long between the two of us - Knox eventually releasing me so that I could dry and put it all away in the cabinets.
By the time we had finished, it was dark outside except for the shine of the full moon and stars that loomed overhead.
"Stargaze with me?" Knox asked, holding out a hand.
I nodded, smiling softly as I placed my hand in his.
He opened the slider for us before we wandered into the grass of the backyard and laid down side by side.
We laid there, unmoving. The only sound between us were our gentle breaths and the distant sound of crickets.
"I've never done this before," I admitted in a whisper - not wanting to disrupt the quiet in the air.
"Looked at the stars?" Knox asked.
I nodded, "I guess I've never had the time to slow down and look up before."
I wasn't sure why I was telling him this. Then again, I never quite knew why I did anything around Knox. When I was around him, I could never think straight. My entire body buzzed at his presence and my mind turned to mush.
I may have been getting too comfortable but it was hard not to be when I'm around Knox. I want him to know me just as much as I want to know him.
"I've lived in foster care almost my entire life," I continued.
I didn't know if now was the right time or if Knox would even want to know this about me, but I just couldn't help myself. The words were leaving me before I could stop them.
"My birth mother was a drug addict who couldn't take care of me. I was taken away from her when I was three. I moved around a lot after that." I didn't look Knox's way, not wanting to see the pity or possible disgust on his face.
Tears burned behind my eyes, a stray slipping down my cheek. Knox brushed his knuckled against my cheek, wiping away the tear. I still didn't look at him.
"Everybody in my life has left me at some point," I swallowed thickly as my throat dried, "I-I don't want to loose you too, Knox - I couldn't bare it," I whispered, finally turning my head to meet his eyes.
His brows were furrowed in thought, his hand now cupped my face as his thumb brushed against my trembling bottom lip. Tears were freely falling down my face now, I couldn't hold them back anymore.
I needed Knox to understand how I felt for him - how badly I needed him in my life.
"You are the only thing in my life that has made sense so far, Annie. How could I ever dream of leaving you?" Knox whispered.
A shaky breath left my lips in the form of relief.
"You have wedged your way into a piece of my heart that I didn't know existed and embedded yourself so deeply inside my mind that I would be empty without you, baby," Knox admitted, moving so now his lips brushed against mine with every word he spoke.
"I don't want you to worry about me every leaving you, Annie, because it's never going to happen. You have been mine since the moment I laid eyes on you and it may be selfish, but I am never giving you up."
I whimpered, melting into his body as his lips met mine.
"I love you," Knox mumbled against my lips.
My body shuttered in his hold, "I love you, too," I whispered back.