Chapter 23
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
She looked so uneasy, so heartbroken, much like the way he felt. He was also furious—but not at her. Never at her. He should have known there was more to it. He should have trusted his instincts, trusted her.
But he’d been young and impulsive back then.
All he could think about at the time was the hurt and betrayal, or what he’d perceived as such.
He was too arrogant and dumb to know better, to look at the bigger picture.
Instead, he’d walked away, cutting her out of his life without giving her a chance to explain.
His jaw cracked, his molars grinding together as he fought to rein in his fury. Knox couldn't believe Conrad had tried to blackmail Everleigh into leaving him. Not tried—did. What would he have done if she hadn't fallen in line with his plans? Would Conrad have followed through with his threat?
Probably, if for no other reason than to prove a point. Knox would have lost Vivi and Everleigh, probably would have gone to jail. She'd risked everything for him. And God, after everything she'd already been through.
Even though he was furious, he tried to put himself in her shoes. She’d been even younger, under her parents’ thumbs. Her father had bullied her into walking away, and she’d done so to protect him. She’d lost everything—his baby, her future, them.
He couldn’t imagine how she’d struggled, and he hated himself for not being there for her.
It was no wonder she’d run as far away as possible once she’d graduated.
It had taken him more than a dozen years to come back here.
After learning everything she’d been through, he was surprised she hadn’t stayed away.
They’d known back then it wouldn't be easy; Conrad wouldn't let her go without a fight. But Knox had hoped that her father would trust her to do the right thing. Instead, he'd bent her to his will and ripped her world right out from under her feet.
Knox hated Conrad for that. He hated even more that he hadn't known, and his rage was compounded by the weight of guilt. He was so angry with himself for not seeing it sooner. She knew that his parents’ deaths left Vivi as his only living family member. And to save them, she’d sacrificed herself.
“Come here, sweetheart.”
Teeth cutting into her bottom lip, she threw a wary glance his way and stood.
Her legs seemed to shake like a newborn colt’s, and he extended one hand to comfort her, wrapping his fingers around hers.
She moved closer, and he widened his knees, drawing her in close.
He released her hand and settled his hands on the curve of her hips as he leaned in close and rested his head against her stomach.
Pain lanced through him at the memory of their baby, of everything they’d lost. He remembered vividly that day in the woods, pressing his palm to the flesh of her still-flat belly.
The news had been terrifying and exhilarating all at the same time.
But fate had taken that away from them. He closed his eyes, remorse and grief welling up inside him.
He should have done a thousand things differently. If he'd even had an inkling of what she was going through... He didn't know what he would have done, but he wouldn't have walked away and left her to deal with it alone.
“I'm sorry,” he whispered against the fabric of her shirt. “I had no idea.”
He wanted to make up for the past, but he’d never been good with words. So he did the only thing he knew. He slid his hands around to her lower back, pulling her in for a hug, and she looped her arms around his neck.
He wanted to touch every inch of her. He wanted to never let her go. But she had enough drama to resolve with her father, and he didn’t want to get between them. A sigh escaped his lips as he reluctantly leaned away. “You should probably go home.”
Her brows drew slightly together as hurt flickered across her features. “What? Why?”
He squeezed her side reassuringly. “I don’t want you to go,” he clarified. “I’d keep you here forever if I could. But I have a feeling your dad is waiting for you.”
“Too bad.” She shrugged one shoulder. “I’m not ready to go home yet.”
“Sweetheart…”
“I don’t want to leave,” she whispered.
The look in her eyes was heartbreakingly vulnerable, and he hated himself for putting it there.
She’d been dealing with so much recently, not to mention everything she’d just revealed to him.
He was tired of trying to always do the right thing.
If he had it his way, he would keep Everleigh with him all day, all night, every day for the rest of his life.
Everleigh had had so many choices stripped from her; he wasn’t going to be responsible for doing the same.
He lifted a hand and cupped her cheek, directing her gaze to his. “What do you want?”
The question seemed to shock her for a second, and she stumbled over a response. “I...”
She trailed off, and he swept a thumb over her cheek. “I have a feeling you've never really been asked this before. What do you want, Everleigh?”
Big blue eyes met his. “I just want to be here—with you. We lost so much time, and I…” She bit her lip. “I’m not ready to go.”
Unable to temper the hope that shot through his chest, he pulled her to him and hugged her fiercely. “You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do.”
He still wasn’t entirely sure what was going to happen, but it didn’t matter. Everleigh was there in his arms, right where she belonged. Everything would sort itself out later.