Chapter 12
CHAPTER TWELVE
PRESENT
Butterflies battered the inside of her stomach as Everleigh turned into the driveway and parked in front of a pretty ranch. She knew she was in the right place because trucks were parked in the grass, crowding the front yard.
Her gaze roved over them eagerly, wondering if Knox was there already. Just the thought had her heart beating faster. She was torn between desperately wanting to talk to him and being terrified at the same time of potentially seeing him with someone else.
She wiped a sweaty palm on the leg of her shorts as she stepped from the car. The cupcakes she had made with Lettie the night before rested on the floor in the backseat, and she grabbed the container before making her way to the front door. Her stomach clenched as she lifted her hand to knock.
God. What was she doing? What if Knox was there with another woman?
It would rip her apart. She knew she had no room to be upset, but she couldn’t help it.
So much of her wanted to go to him, to tell him the truth—all of it.
She had lost his trust that day, and he had avoided her ever since.
Even when she had to stop in to Vantage, he had sequestered himself in his office or been conspicuously absent.
Mason never said anything, but she had a feeling he knew she had been watching for Knox.
Laughter and the sound of voices lilted on the air, and she dropped her hand to her side. Deciding to follow them instead, she made her way around the house to the backyard. Immediately several sets of eyes fell on her, and the men pinned her with wary gazes, assessing her for threats.
Offering a shaky smile, she allowed her gaze to rove the sea of faces, searching for anyone familiar. But the one person she really wanted to see wasn’t there. A twinge of despair rocketed through her, and she forced it down as she continued her sweep of the yard.
Up on the porch, Mason lifted a hand her way from the grill he was manning. He shut the lid and hopped down the steps to make his way over to her. “Hey, glad you came.”
“I brought cupcakes,” she offered.
“Cool, thanks. Can’t have too many desserts.”
She returned his smile as he took them from her hands and led her toward the group. Her stomach churned with nervousness and anxiety as they all studied her curiously.
“I want you guys to meet Everleigh.” Mason gestured to her. “She's new to town and I'm working detail for her right now. Thought she could use some good vibes.”
A pretty, petite brunette peeled herself away from a towering man and smiled as she held out a hand. “Hi, Everleigh, I’m Hannah.”
Her quiet voice and sweet demeanor began to put Everleigh at ease. “Thanks for inviting me.”
The man, who she assumed was her boyfriend, turned to her next. “Luke.”
She shook his hand. “Nice to meet you.”
The next couple of minutes were a whirlwind of faces and names she tried to commit to memory: Jaxon, Adalyn, and their little girl, Jaclyn; Audrey and Carter; Maya and Aiden; two other operatives, Noah Sheffield and Zane Callahan.
“Hey, beautiful.” A handsome man with whiskey-colored eyes threw her a flirtatious smile.
Something about him seemed vaguely familiar, and she grinned as the pieces fell into place. “You must be Miles.”
His smile widened. “You know who I am?”
“Yeah,” Mason said wryly. “I already warned her about you, so leave her alone.”
Mason flicked an I-told-you-so look her way, and she had to laugh. A broad man with colorful tattoos stuck out his hand next. “Ink.”
“Glad to be here,” she said.
The young blonde tucked against his side ducked out from under his arm and approached her. Her bright blue eyes sparkled as she greeted her with a hug. “I'm Irina.”
Everleigh recognized her from her press pictures and realized she hadn't used her stage name, Rina. The fangirl inside her was jumping up and down screaming excitedly, but she fought to play it cool. Though they’d had the occasional celebrity sighting in New York, she’d never actually spoken to a music star. “Nice to meet you. I'm Everleigh.”
For a second, she studied the two of them, so perfectly content together.
She wasn’t quite sure what she’d pictured in her head, but this wasn’t it.
It was a strange combination for sure—Ink was huge and covered in tattoos while Irina was the epitome of the clean-cut All-American girl.
Despite their differences, they just fit.
Once introductions were complete, she turned to Mason. “Where is Vivi?”
“In the house. I'll let her know you're here.”
She nodded and forced a smile. Mason left, and she turned back to the group, a little unsure. “Let's grab you a drink,” the pretty redhead named Audrey said. “What's your poison?”
“Just water, thanks.” She watched as Audrey grabbed a bottle from a cooler and passed it her way.
“Thank you.”
“So, where are you from, Everleigh?” Adalyn asked.
“I was born here, but for the past ten years I lived in New York.”
Her eyes widened. “Like, the city?”
Everleigh nodded. “Manhattan.”
“Ooh, that’s exciting. I’ve never been there before,” Hannah added. “Was it fun?”
“For a while.” She shrugged. “It sounds terrible to say, but after so long you just kind of get used to it. Honestly…” She glanced around. “I’d take this any day over the city.”
“I can understand that,” Adalyn said sympathetically. “It’s a whole different world.”
“It is.” Everleigh was transfixed by the beautiful toddler Adalyn bounced on her hip, and she gestured to the baby. “Jaclyn, right? How old is she?”
“Just turned one a couple months ago.”
“She's beautiful.”
“Thanks.” Adalyn smiled at her. “Want to hold her?”
Was it that obvious? Everleigh loved kids, and all she’d ever wanted was one of her own. She felt a phantom flutter in her belly as she stared at the tiny blonde girl. “Um... If she won't mind.”
“Of course not.” Adalyn grinned, then sighed with relief as she passed her to Everleigh. “I need a break anyway. My back is killing me.”
Everleigh situated Jaclyn on her hip as she studied Adalyn.
Her stomach was slightly rounded, and she couldn’t figure out if it was from her first pregnancy or if she was expecting again.
Adalyn seemed to read her mind, because she let out a little chuckle as she rubbed her belly.
“In case you’re wondering, yes—we’ve got a second one on the way. ”
Adalyn tipped her head up to her husband as Jaxon moved forward and slid an arm around her shoulders. “Yep. Wasn’t letting her get away from me this time.”
It was a curious statement, but Everleigh didn’t dare ask. Emotion crackled in the air as something passed between them that only they understood. A soft smile curved Adalyn’s face as Jaxon squeezed her shoulder.
“Congratulations,” Everleigh said quietly. “I’m happy for you both.”
Jaxon’s gaze flicked back to her, and he grinned. “There’s about to be a whole lot of hormones flying around here, so be careful. Maya’s pregnant”—he pointed at the blue-eyed blonde next to Aiden—“and if I haven’t missed my guess, I’d say Audrey is too.”
Adalyn and Everleigh both glanced over at the willowy redhead.
“Really?” Adalyn asked.
“Mhmm… Definitely something in the water around here. Better watch out.” Jaxon grinned down at Everleigh.
She forced a smile, glancing down at Jaclyn to hide the sudden blur of tears filling her eyes. “I don’t think I’ll have to worry about that.”
Her heart ached as she shifted Jaclyn the slightest bit.
The little girl tipped her head up to study her, and Everleigh looked into her gray eyes, so much like her mother’s.
As she peered up at her, Everleigh imagined them a dark, chocolatey brown, her hair the color of cocoa.
In another lifetime, had everything not gone so wrong between her and Knox, this could have been their little girl.
The sound of welcome cheers filled the air, drawing her attention to the corner of the house by the driveway.
She turned, and her gaze clashed with a pair of dark eyes that she knew as well as her own, yet were as unfamiliar as a stranger’s.
From his place across the yard, Knox stared at her, face white like he'd seen a ghost.