Chapter Chapter Twenty Five
Knox
“Uncle Knox, you’re the best player,” Jeremy said.
“Huh.” I pointed at Finn. “Hear that?”
“I’ll gladly agree if it means we’re stopping for today,” he puffed.
The dude was spent. I, on the other hand, had a lot of energy to burn off. Since Jeremy’s love for basketball seemed more than just a phase, Finn came up with the idea of signing him up at a sports club near his school. They’d already come here twice, but it was the first time I’d joined them.
“I’m going to change,” Jeremy announced as Finn and I sat down on a bench, both gulping down water.
After he left, Finn turned to me. “What’s gotten into you?”
“What do you mean?”
“Usually, you’re laid-back. But just now, you were playing for gold.”
“I was in the mood to kick your ass.”
“Something’s off with you. Amy finally came to her senses and give you the boot?”
His comment hit too close to home.
“Oh shit, did that actually happen?” Finn asked, probably noticing my expression change. “Sorry, man, it was just a joke.”
“I figured. Never mind.” I shook my head. “I don’t want to talk about it.” Plus, there wasn’t a lot to talk about anyway. “She was my friend, and we’d gotten carried away,” I said, though more to myself than him.
“Right,” Finn said, as if he didn’t believe me. I didn’t really believe myself either.
I looked at the clock. “All right. I’m going to take Jeremy to Mom and Dad’s.”
“Thanks for doing that.” Finn grinned. “I’m on the prowl tonight. Want to join me for drinks in the city? You were always my best wingman.”
“No, I’m not in the mood.”
He cocked a brow. “I’ll let it slide this time, but not the next.”
I gave a noncommittal shrug as we both went to the locker rooms. As I showered, I thought about my usual plans with him on Fridays.
He wasn’t lying—I was his wingman, and he’d been mine just as often.
But the thought of doing that again gave me no pleasure at all.
I couldn’t see myself picking up a woman or having a one-night stand.
All I could see was Amy.
I wondered if she told her friend that she was looking forward to the date. Fuck, what if she was on that date already? My blood boiled at the thought.
After stepping out of the shower, I dressed quickly. Jeremy was right in front of the locker rooms where they served the drinks. He gulped down his orange juice, then set the empty glass on the table.
“I’m ready to go, Uncle Knox.”
“Perfect.”
On the drive to my parents’, he talked about a new teacher at his school. Even hearing the word "teachers" made me think of Amy. I’d made a gigantic mistake. I was sure of it.
I parked in front of their house and brought Jeremy to the door. He knocked a few times, then said, “They never lock it,” before opening the door. Damn, my parents were something else.
“Gran, I’m here,” he yelled.
Mom was on the couch, watching her show.
“Hey, Jeremy. Grandpa is outside. He’s making burgers for you. Want to go help him?”
“Yes!” He skidded right outside.
She turned to me, eyes wide. “Oh, goodness. I love that boy, but he’s full of energy, isn’t he? He just played basketball with you, so I figured he’d be exhausted. But look at him. He can just keep going.”
I laughed. “Oh yeah.”
“You guys were all the same. And there were six of you.”
“But we weren’t the same age at the same time,” I reminded her.
“True. So, how are you doing? Do you have plans with Amy tonight?”
I shook my head. “No.”
Mom frowned. “What’s wrong? What did you do?”
I stared at her. “Why are you assuming I did something?”
“You made a face when I mentioned Amy. I don’t like it.” She patted the couch, and I sat down next to her. “So, I’m asking again, what did you do?”
“Mom, I don’t like this implication that I’m the one in the wrong.”
“You’re right. That’s not fair of me. What happened? I heard rumors on Monday that you and Amy are going to move in together.”
I blinked at her. “My assistant is the only one who knows that.”
“Is he, though?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, maybe he’s the only one you told. That doesn’t mean that no one else knows.”
“That doesn’t make any sense.”
“Oh, goodness. One of your brothers, and I’m not going to say a name, saw you sending a message to your assistant about moving companies for Amy.”
I thought for a second. “The only one who was in my office this week was Finn.”
“Bingo.”
“He didn’t say anything to me.”
“Yes, I believe he was too stunned to react.”
“Well, look at that. I managed to stun my little brother into not teasing me.”
“Don’t beat about the bush. What’s wrong?” Mom insisted.
I sighed. “Amy’s always had this very romantic notion of life.”
“I know. She’s told me a few times that she wants three kids and all the rest.”
“Right.”
“I had a feeling that things between the two of you were getting serious.”
I nodded. “They were.” Until I fucked it all up!
“Moving in is a big step. So, what happened?”
“Today, I went to surprise her at school. She was talking to one of her colleagues, who suggested she could set Amy up with her brother on a date.”
Mom didn’t say anything.
“I waited for Amy to shut her down, and she didn’t.”
“Maybe she was figuring out how to tell the other woman that she’s already seeing you.”
“But that’s the thing. Why didn’t she already know? She’s Amy’s friend, not just a colleague. She told me that a while ago.”
Mom just nodded.
“Our whole family knows about Amy,” I said. “I took her to a charity event and introduced her to everyone as my girlfriend. Yet her school friend didn’t know about me at all?”
“Amy’s not like you. She doesn’t like people knowing her business.”
“This is different. And that dude her friend described is exactly what Amy was looking for. So I told her she should go on the date.”
Mom shrieked—honest-to-goodness shrieked. “No, you didn’t!”
“Why not?”
“Was she mad at you?”
“Why would she be? We’re friends, and I want the best for her.”
“Oh, you stubborn, silly man. You’re not friends. You invited her into your home, into your bed. Sorry for being so frank.”
This conversation was awkward as hell. I’ve never had “the talk” with either of my parents. I had way too many older brothers to need it anyway, and I wasn’t enjoying this.
“She must be feeling very, very hurt.”
I jerked my head back, trying to follow my mom’s reasoning. “Why?”
“Oh, Knox... how should I explain this to you?” She thought for a moment. “Oh, I know! In our case, your dad suggested he move in with me. If he’d encouraged me to date someone else a few days later, how would you feel about it?”
“I’d have a very serious talk with my dad!”
“See?”
“But it’s different with me and Amy, Mom.”
“No, it’s not. Deep in your heart, you know it isn’t.”
I hung my head and sighed heavily. “Fuck, I hurt Amy and didn’t even realize it!”
“Why did you even tell her that? You’re building a nice life, you’re taking all the right steps,” Mom added.
“I honestly don’t know. But I don’t want to hurt Amy. I love her.”
“I know that, son, but have you told her that? I would, before she goes out on that date. Let her decide what she wants.”
I felt a vein pulse in my temple.
“You look annoyed just at the thought of her going on a date with anyone else.”
I stood up. “That’s because I am. Fuck, I can’t even imagine that.”
I had no filter today, but neither did Mom, so I didn’t feel guilty.
“Fantastic. Make sure she knows that, son. Just tell her how you feel.”
“I have told her repeatedly. And that pisses me off the most. I welcomed her into my life, but she couldn’t even tell her friend that she was dating me?”
Mom sighed and turned off the TV. “Listen, I know you’ve had your own lifestyle forever.”
“My own lifestyle?” I asked with a laugh.
“Yes. I mean your dating life specifically. And it’s made you happy.
But not anymore. You’ve changed since you started going out with Amy.
Maybe you’re having a hard time accepting that change.
You’re the only one who truly knows what you want for the future.
Don’t be afraid to accept that you no longer want the things you once did.
For example, I figured I’d be single my whole life.
When your father and I started getting along, I thought, ‘Well, he’ll make a good friend.
’ Needless to say, things worked out differently.
It took me a while to even admit to myself that I wanted to give us another chance.
And I’m so happy that I did, that I wasn’t afraid of my own feelings. ”
“I’m not afraid,” I said.
She raised a brow. “Aren’t you? You don’t have to admit it to me. Just ponder things for a bit. But for the love of God, if you don’t want Amy to go out with another man, you should tell her. Because she might take you at face value. Next thing you know, she’s on another guy’s arm, getting marri—”
“Fuck no!” I exclaimed before Mom could finish that thought.
She smiled triumphantly. “See? That’s your answer.”
She was so damn right. That was my answer. When I looked into the future, I couldn’t see myself going out with my brother to pick up a woman ever again. And I definitely couldn’t see Amy on another guy’s arm. What had I been thinking, telling her that?
She was mine, and I needed to tell her right away.
“Crap. I’ve got to go.”
She grinned. “You’re going to pay Amy a visit, aren’t you?”
“Yes.” I was a fucking idiot, and I wanted to rectify that immediately. She needed to know I loved her and that I was the right guy for her. Did I want kids? With Amy, fuck yes. I wanted her—and I was determined to give her everything she desired.
“All right, then, don’t let me keep you.” She smiled and clapped her hands. “Oh, I’m so happy about you and Amy. I’ve known it for years but always felt you weren’t mature enough. But I knew one day you’d see what’s right in front of you. I’m so glad you did. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you.”
“Thanks, Mom. Say hi to Dad for me.”
The corner of her mouth twitched. “You go. Don’t let your dad see you, or he’ll talk to you until the sun goes down.”
“Yep, I’m gone,” I said.
She was right. Dad loved to talk. I didn’t mind—quite the contrary—but tonight, I just wanted to see Amy. Why did I wait so long? Mom was right. I’d hurt her. I was sure of it.
Fuck.
After I left the house, I got an idea. I couldn’t show up empty-handed, so I drove to the nearest convenience store. They didn’t have flowers, but they had something even better—ice cream. They carried Amy’s favorite, and I bought two containers.
On the short drive to her place, I kept thinking about this afternoon. Damn it. I’d handled it all wrong.
I parked in front of her house. As I walked to her front door, I heard music booming from inside and Amy singing at the top of her lungs.
I knocked on the door twice, but she didn’t hear me.
Then I rang the bell. She didn’t hear that either, so I checked to see if it was unlocked. It was, so I just opened the door.
What a sight! She was holding a broom, using it as a makeshift microphone. She was singing as loud as she could, eyes closed, moving her ass from side to side as she held a glass of white wine in her free hand.
“Hello, gorgeous!” I shouted over the music.