Chapter 25 #3
She nods, quickly doing as instructed, and I mentally note how I’m such a responsible caregiver. I’m sure they’ll see what a good dad I’d be tomorrow.
I need to wrap it up here and get home and get some sleep, so I don’t look like I’ve been drowning my sorrows all night.
“Is it good tapping?” Gina nudges me with her elbow, seemingly recovered. “You like her?”
I glance down, thinking of Melody’s pretty blue eyes. I think of curling my fingers in her soft, golden-brown hair, and the way her full lips swell after I’ve spent all that time kissing her. The way her ass turns pink when I slap it.
Our FaceTime check-in really made me feel how much I miss her, how disappointed I am not to have her here with me this week.
My brow furrows, and I consider just how good it is to be with her. “She really showed up for me. And I don’t know, maybe her critiques were right.”
Gina’s eyes widen, and she shakes my arm harder. “You’re in love with her!”
“We’ve only known each other a few months. That’s fast.”
“When you know you know.” Her shoulders rise as she takes a slurp of frozen purple Kool-Aid, and I seem to recall she and Owen fell pretty hard and fast… Then they fought it for months. “I think she’s proven to be a good one—with all she’s done for you.”
“She’s really beautiful,” I say. “And she’s really, really smart. And she loves football.”
“And you?” Gina tilts her head, doing her best to catch my eyes.
I can’t stop my smile. “I think so.”
“Knoxey!” She jumps forward, giving me a tight, sideways hug. “I’m so happy for you.”
“Yeah.” I chuckle, patting her arm and thinking about when we met, what she said to me. “She’s not all caught up in the name, either. She says I’m my own thing, something special.”
Gina’s lips tighten, and she blinks fast. “I think I love her now, too!”
I’m about to reply when Kim charges up to where we’re standing, looping her arms around our necks. “I’m crashing this party! What are you two talking about?”
“Knoxey is in luuuv,” Gina says, drawing out the word and giving it some extra syllables. “He was just telling me the Quarterback Princess thinks he’s something special.”
“I’m glad to hear she’s smart!” Kim bends her elbow, scrubbing my head. “Now somebody get me a purple drink!”
“Take mine.” I hand her my cup. “I can’t have any more or I won’t get out of bed in the morning.”
My sister nods, taking the drink from my hand and a long pull from the straw. Gina says something to me about finding the perfect dog for Cricket, and I notice my sister’s eyes drift to the right, past my shoulder, in the direction where Austin is standing with Edward.
“Where’s Callie tonight?” I ask her, causing her to jump.
“What?”
“Callie?” I repeat a little louder. “Mom said you’re helping Austin with her.”
“Oh.” Her cheeks flush, and she shakes her head. “Haddy wanted her and Maddie to have a cousin slumber party with Lucy. They’re watching the Charlie Brown Thanksgiving show and Free Birds.”
“Wouldn’t that be fun, Knoxey?” Gina says to me.
“What?” I step to the side, around my sister and closer to Gina, so she can repeat the question.
Gina’s talking, but I’m not listening again.
I’m watching as Austin looks down at Kim and asks her, “Is Callie all set?”
“She’s spending the night with her cousins,” she answers him. “I told Haddy to call me if things get too crazy for her.”
He lifts his chin, and his lips pull into a half-smile. “Haddy always wanted to be here with you guys growing up.”
“She wanted to be with Gigi and the boys. They were all the same age.” Kim’s voice has a touch of defiance. “I was ten years older than them.”
Austin’s eyes drift to hers, and they share a look that feels like a silent argument they’ve had before. I feel like I’m seeing something I have never seen before.
I do a quick sweep and realize she’s wearing a short red dress that dips low in the front and has thin spaghetti straps. Her curly brown hair hangs long down her back with a little over her shoulder, and her lips are painted red. My sister looks really pretty, and really… holy shit.
Edward stands on the other side of Austin with his back to the bar not saying a word, but also not looking at them. Does he know about this?
My brother looks down, his eyes also sweep her body, then he clears his throat. “I’d better head home.” He punches Edward on the arm. “See you tomorrow?”
Edward nods, but doesn’t answer. His expression is unreadable, and I don’t know if he’s keeping a secret or trying not to know something he can’t talk about.
I’m still reeling when Austin looks at me, and his brow lowers. “You good, Knox?”
His tone is stern, almost like he’s sending me a message, and it takes me a beat to figure out how to reply. Is he trying to tell me there’s nothing to see here?
Kim lifts her chin, turning away from him and walking around me to where Gina is still waiting for an answer to whatever the hell question she posed. She is clearly not seeing what’s going on here.
“I think I’m a little drunk,” I say, and my brother’s brow relaxes.
“My work here is done.” He holds up a hand, and I clasp it.
He pulls me in for a brief hug, a slap on the back, and I watch as he heads for the door.