Chapter 20
Chapter twenty
Cam
Knox picks up on the second ring.
“Please tell me this isn’t a ring-shopping call.”
I snort. “Relax. I’m not at that point yet.”
“Yet?” His voice is pure shit-stirring amusement.
I roll my eyes even though he can’t see it. “Can you just let me talk?”
“Okay, okay.” He laughs. “What’s up?”
I lean against the truck, staring at the field like it can hand me answers. “She said yes.”
Silence—then a long exhale. “Well, shit.”
“Yeah.” My thumb taps the edge of the hood. “We’re going to start with the dating thing. Telling Evie tonight.”
A low whistle. “You work fast, Wells.”
“I didn’t expect her to agree so quickly, especially after your wife set Haddie lose on us,” I admit. “And now that she’s agreed to it, I’m trying not to overthink it—but I’m having trouble.”
Knox doesn’t tease this time. “What’s tripping you up?”
“Evie, mostly. And Kate.” I kick at the gravel. “I’m around kids three months out of the year, but I just don’t want to mess this up or confuse her. Evie’s too sweet for that.”
“Step one,” Knox says, “don’t say the word ‘fake’ around Evie. Children know when adults are bullshitting, especially smart ones.”
“Helpful,” I deadpan.
I start pacing along the fence line, kicking at a stray baseball someone left behind.
“I just don’t want to confuse Evie. She’ll see right through it if it feels forced.
And Kate…” I trail off, searching for the right words.
“She’s carrying so much already. I don’t want this to make things heavier. ”
Knox hums thoughtfully. “You know, when Brynn and I got back together, it wasn’t about fixing anything. It was about showing her she didn’t have to hold the world by herself anymore. Sometimes that’s all it takes. Someone who stays, who accepts, who understands and puts in the effort.”
“Yeah,” I say quietly. “I just don’t want her to think I’m doing this for the wrong reasons.”
“She won’t,” he says. “I think she knows you better than that.”
I let that sit for a second. “I keep running through what I’ll say to Evie,” I admit. “Do I tell her it’s pretend? Or do I just…make it sound simple? I don’t want to lie to her.”
Knox’s voice softens. “You’ve got a good heart, man. Trust it. Let Kate lead and make sure that Evie knows you care about her and her mom. Everything else will fall into place.”
For a second, neither of us says anything. The quiet stretches, comfortable. Then Knox clears his throat. “You’re in deep now, you know that right?”
I don’t even hesitate. “Yeah. I do.” There’s something solid in admitting it out loud.
His voice is warm with humor. “Brynn’s gonna lose her damn mind when she hears you’re ‘officially seeing’ Kate Prescott. And Haddie Carmichael’s probably printing ‘Cedar Falls’ Sweethearts’ mugs as we speak.”
I groan. “Great. Exactly what I need.”
He laughs. “Hey, every small-town love story starts with a little gossip.”
I smile despite myself, toeing the baseball at my feet. “Yeah, I guess it does.”
Knox’s tone gentles again. “You’ll be fine, man. You’re doing the right thing.”
I stare out at the empty field, the late sun glinting off the bleachers, and finally say what’s been sitting in my chest since this all started.
“I just want her to realize she doesn’t have to do it all on her own anymore,” I say quietly. “I want to be the man who steps up.”
There’s silence on the line, then Knox’s steady reply. “Then be that man, Wells. Every damn day until she believes you.”