Chapter 42
Knox
I’ve got the windows down and the music blaring as I drive to the grocery store first. I barely recognize the man I am today versus the one I was six months ago. Farrah’s turned me into a much better version of myself that I didn’t know I was capable of being.
I doubt the grumpiness will ever truly go away, but I’m no longer the bitter man I used to be. Case in point, the parking lot of the grocery store is packed since it’s a Saturday. This is the worst time to get groceries. Instead of being pissed, I’m only mildly annoyed.
I have to park at the back of the lot, and it takes me a dumb amount of time to pick up several kinds of juice boxes for the kids.
I get stopped by no less than three people asking me how Finn’s doing or where he and Farrah are today.
The small talk is annoying, and I swear I will growl at the next person who stops me, although I have to admit that I do get a small thrill of pleasure when I get to say Farrah’s at home with Finn.
We’ve only been together a couple of months, so I know it’s too early to truly be thinking about her moving in, but the idea has taken root.
It should scare the shit out of me. I spent years vehemently disparaging the institution of love.
I’d never experience what true, unconditional love could look like between partners.
Every one of my friends has a sad story about falling for the people who hurt them the most. On purpose or by cosmic design, it doesn’t really matter—the end result was the same.
Holt’s parents are the only people in my life who’ve had a successful relationship, and that felt more like anomaly than fact.
Until Farrah.
She is love incarnate.
The thought makes me cringe a little, but there’s no other way to describe her. She’s been through hell and back, yet still has the capacity to show more love to the people in her life than the happiest person in the world.
I didn’t stand a chance. I might’ve tried, but I’d never have succeeded, even without my friends’ intervention. She’s exactly the person I’ve always wanted but never believed I could find.
So maybe, after everything we’ve both been through, our timeline should be our own—not what society deems acceptable.
When I finally make it back to my truck, I send a quick text to Farrah.
Knox
Juice boxes have been acquired. And no one got punched for making small talk. It was a close call though.
Farrah
Poor baby, having to socialize.
I should get a reward for being nice.
Oh, you think so?
Definitely.
Then I should get one too, for the exceptional party we’re about to host.
That was always a given, Princess. You did a wonderful job.
She doesn’t respond immediately, so I get back to my tasks. My next stop is to grab the balloons from Gwen’s house. She created a massive arch that I am terrified of putting in the back of my truck. I put the cover over the bed to keep them in there, but I really don’t want any of them to pop.
She assuages my fears, letting me know she’ll bring over extra supplies if we need to replace any of them.
Then I’m off to Gage’s bakery to pick up the cake.
The dude is fucking talented, just like his dad.
None of us were surprised when he went to culinary school, but we imagined he’d work in some fancy restaurant or something.
He always dreamed of going out into the world and exploring what it had to offer.
Instead, he graduated from school and opened his bakery in town the second a space became available.
All of Holt’s brothers came back to Pine Creek Falls to live and work here.
Holt was fucking ecstatic about it. I, on the other hand, was baffled.
They had plenty of money to send their kids off into the world to live happy lives, and yet all six of them settled back home.
I guess I can’t fault them for wanting to be surrounded by the people they love.
And Pine Creek Falls isn’t too bad a place to live if you can get past everyone sticking their noses in your business.
I manage to snag a parking space in front of Gage’s bakery and head straight inside. The sign over the door looks like it’s been dusted with powdered sugar. Nix most likely created that logo for Gage. Get Baked is a local staple at this point. I can’t imagine it ever not being on Main Street.
Inside is just as busy as the grocery store. The tables scattered around the front are almost full, making the space feel even smaller. Thankfully, there isn’t much of a line, so I’m able to head straight to the checkout counter.
Gage grins at me. “Hello, big daddy!”
I roll my eyes, ignoring him. He’s been like this since he was knee-high to a grasshopper. “You got the cake ready?”
“Yep. And I threw in some chocolate cupcakes too ’cause I know those are Finn’s favorite.”
And there’s the reason we all put up with Gage’s bullshit. “Thanks, man. He’ll love that.”
“I’ll be right back.” He disappears behind the swinging doors to the kitchen. Ten seconds after he leaves, Nix saunters out to the front. I grit my teeth to keep from scowling at him, but it must not do any good.
“What’s that sourpuss face for?”
I grunt. The smirk on his face tells me he knows exactly why I’m not his biggest fan.
“How’s Farrah? We haven’t hung out in a while. I should bring her lunch one day at school.”
“You little shit.”
He laughs before growing serious. “You know we’ve only ever been friends, right? She’s a good girl and wouldn’t have touched me with a ten-foot pole.”
“Wouldn’t want to get any diseases.”
He grabs his chest like he’s wounded. “Ouch. I’ll have you know I’m up-to-date on all my shots.”
Much to my annoyance, I can’t fight the snort that comes out. Nix has always been good at getting me to laugh.
“You’ll treat her right? She’s been through more than any person should, and I don’t even know all the details. I can recognize trauma when it’s staring back at me though.”
The Basil boys rarely talk about how they got into the foster system. Holt was a baby when Muriel and Stan adopted him, but the rest of the guys came at different ages with varying degrees of trauma behind them.
“She’ll get everything I have to give her,” I say solemnly.
Nix nods in understanding. Before he can say anything else, Gage comes out with two boxes stacked on top of each other.
My phone rings as I’m paying him for the baked goods. The unknown number makes me pause, but then I see it’s from Wyoming, and I gesture at the guys to wait a second while I answer.
“This is Knox.”
“Knox, this is Detective Sanchez from the Ulrich County police department. I’m sorry to bother you, but I couldn’t get a hold of Farrah.
I wanted to let you guys know that Mr. Tiernan is in custody for a parole violation.
I’ve been swamped with this murder investigation, so it took a bit to check on him.
Looks like he’s been in custody for the last three weeks. ”
“That’s good to know. Glad he’s… Wait. Three weeks?”
“Yeah, he got picked up in early August, right after he was released, for assault, attempted murder, and possession of a firearm. He almost killed the guy, but he was too drunk to aim accurately. Looks like he’ll be going away for a while.”
“Then who the fuck has been following Farrah?”
“She’s being followed? I didn’t realize that. She just asked if I could get Mr. Tiernan’s location.”
“Fuck. I have to go.” My gut is rolling right now.
Something isn’t right. Farrah would have answered that call no matter what she was doing.
There’s no reason for her to miss it unless something’s happened.
I dart back to the guys who are giving me twin looks of concern. “I gotta go check on Farrah and Finn.”
I’m walking out the door with Nix’s words at my back. “We’ll bring the cake out later.”
I should never have left them alone at the house. I could’ve had Holt or Grayson bring the cake out. Why did I think everything would be fine?
I have the exact same feeling I had almost seven years ago when Leona nearly killed Finn.
Please, for the love of God, keep them safe.