Chapter 10
CHAPTER TEN
“Can I come in for a sec?” Instead of waiting for a reply, Vivi stepped inside Knox’s office, closing the door behind her. He bit back a sigh and lifted his head from the contract he was currently reviewing. He never could tell her no, and if he did, she'd just tell him to piss off.
It was one of the things he loved most about her. Vivi was most definitely not a pushover. As much as he worried about her, he knew she could take care of herself. And when she needed help, she had him. And now Mason.
He felt a tiny twinge of jealousy at the thought.
He almost felt like he was being replaced.
It was stupid, he knew, but he couldn't help it.
It was reassuring to know that she was just as stubborn with Mason as she was with him.
The jerk deserved that much, at least, for not being honest with Knox.
He could deal with Vivi's harping because he knew she'd never let him push her around.
He could be overbearing, but she had no problem standing toe-to-toe with him; he'd seen evidence of that firsthand.
They pushed each other, drove each other crazy, but loved hard.
As much as he hated it, he was glad for them.
“What's up?” Vivi sank into the chair across from him, her big brown eyes fixed on his. “I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”
“Me?” He leaned back in his chair. “Why wouldn't I be?”
One dark eyebrow lifted toward her hairline. “I've known you my entire life, so it's safe to say I know how you are.”
He rolled his eyes. “I'm fine. Just stressed.”
“I imagine.” Her eyes softened as she studied him. “Have you talked with—”
He cut off her question with a sharp shake of his head. “No.”
He wasn't going to tell her that he'd run into Everleigh near the house just a few days ago; that would only pique her interest. He swiftly changed topics. “Between the house and everything... I've just had a lot on my mind. Sorry if I’ve been a little distant.”
“It's okay.” She waved away his apology. “I just haven't seen much of you lately and... I don't know. I kind of miss you.”
He smirked. “Did she just admit she missed him out loud?”
“Don't get used to it.” She rolled her eyes. “Things have just been... different between us.”
She wasn't wrong. Though they worked together every single day, the dynamic was different now. They both knew it was more than just the house and business Knox was struggling with. Ever since Mason had entered the picture, he had been holding her at bay.
Somehow he had let almost two months slip by without realizing how it was affecting her.
He needed to get over it. He was happy that she'd found Mason–he was.
But he always thought since he was the oldest he'd be settled down before her.
It felt like everyone else was moving on with their lives while he was stuck in limbo.
He had the business, yes. He had Vivi and his brothers from the military.
But he was missing the one thing he really wanted.
The one thing he wasn't sure he'd ever have.
“Sorry I've been such a jerk.” He let out a little sigh and shook his head. “I know I didn't handle it well.”
“It's fine.” Vivi pushed from her chair and rounded the desk. He stood, instinctively pulling her into a tight hug. A few seconds later she pulled back and sniffed at the air. “Do I smell smoke?”
Heat raced over his neck, and Vivi's eyes widened when she caught his guilty expression. “You’ve been smoking? Since when? God, don't you know how bad those things are for you?”
“Not you, too,” he grumbled.
“I had no idea you… Wait. What do you mean you, too?” she asked, abruptly switching topics mid-sentence. “Did someone else say that to you?”
She studied him for a second, and he stared into her dark eyes so much like his own. He could practically see the wheels turning in her mind, and he watched as the pieces of the puzzle clicked into place. “Someone like... Everleigh?”
The heat licking over his skin intensified, and he fought the urge to squirm like a little kid.
“I—”
She was cut off when the door swung open. His gaze flew over her shoulder to Mason, whose body filled the doorway.
“There you are,” he said to Vivi. “I thought I heard you come in here.”
Vivi disregarded him completely and turned her inquisitive gaze back to Knox. “Am I right? Knox?” she prodded when he remained quiet.
Mason moved alongside Vivi and rested a hand on her hip. “I have a question about something in the Weaver file.”
She tipped her head up to him. “Just a sec. I—”
But he didn’t give her a chance to finish as he slowly drew her toward the door. “I want to make sure I’m reading this correctly, and I need your help. I thought it was supposed to be…”
Mason’s words trailed off as he neatly maneuvered Vivi out of the room, catching Knox’s gaze as he did so.
Knox had never been more thankful for Mason’s interference than he was right that second. He knew his sister’s interrogation wasn't over, but Mason had bought him a short reprieve.
He raked one hand through his hair, tipping his head back to stare at the ceiling.
When had his life become such a mess? He liked things orderly, everything in its place.
It seemed like everything around him for the past three months had been in constant upheaval, and he felt like he couldn’t do anything right anymore.
Just once he wanted things to fall into place.
He yanked open the top drawer of his desk and pulled out the pack of smokes that stared up at him.
He tapped the carton against the heel of his hand, preparing to shake one loose, then halted.
He turned it over slowly, and the image of Everleigh, disappointment creasing her pretty features, flashed in his mind.
Smoking was a crutch—a way to take his mind off the things in his life he didn’t want to deal with. And he was tired of it. He stared at the red and white box then slowly extended his arm and opened his fingers, dropping the package into the trash can beneath his desk.
Strangely enough, a weight seemed to lift off his shoulders as the carton hit the bottom of the metal can with a soft thunk. If only he could cut every bad thing out of his life that easily.