Page 74 of Captured Love

I’m at peace here and his arms. It’s when I come to the realization that I’m making the right choice by going to meet Knox’s family this weekend.

27

KNOX

The soft sound of Selene’s fingers tapping against the dashboard draws my attention to her briefly before I turn my eyes back to the road. She seems to be intently focused on the landscape out of the window versus anything else. I’m not sure if it’s nerves about meeting my family or something else entirely.

“You’re not second-guessing this, are you?” I ask. I keep my tone light so as not to freak her out.

“Um…no, I’m not second-guessing. Just… thinking.”

I accept that answer instead of pushing for more. The last thing I want is to make her feel cornered, especially when she’s walking into a situation that is as overwhelming as this. It’s only a couple of more minutes before I’m putting my car into park as Willow is walking down the stairs with her phone in hand and a small bag in the other.

“There she is,” I say.

Selene looks up, and the second her eyes land on Willow, she looks back at me with her mouth open wide. “Wait… is that Willow?”

I frown, glancing between the two of them. “Yeah? Why?”

Willow notices us then, shoving her phone into her pocket and heading toward the car. The moment she opens the door and spots Selene, her mouth falls open. “What the hell?”

“Oh shit, I forgot you two met each other…” I can’t remember where it was.

Willow slides into the backseat, still staring at Selene. “Hiking. Hailey, Jade, and Isla were there too.” She pauses for a split second before a smirk appears. “This weekend just got a whole lot more interesting.”

“You could say that again,” Selene mumbles. “Knox didn’t say anything besides that his sister was coming with us.”

“And he mentioned that he was bringing a friend home with us, but I thought it was one of his teammates.” Willow’s eyebrows shoot up as she puts on her seatbelt, and then she bursts out laughing. “You’ve been hanging out with my brother to the point where he invited you to Mamita’s birthday party and you didn’t even know? Oh, this is too good.”

“I didn’t exactly think it was relevant,” I mutter, putting the car back into drive and starting the journey to home.

“Not relevant?” Willow says. “Oh, Selene, you’re in for a treat. This guy is a disaster.”

“I’m sitting right here,” I point out, but it doesn’t matter because they’re already ignoring me.

“Big brother, this was a mistake on your part because I have so many stories that I can tell.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Selene turn in her seat to face Willow. “Oh, do tell. I'm always up for some good Knox stories.”

“Oh my fucking—” I start, but I’m quickly cut off.

“Do you hear something? Maybe it’s just the wind,” Willow says. When I meet her gaze in the rearview mirror, she sticks out her tongue and I return the sentiment by giving her a one finger salute.

Selene giggles, a sound that somehow manages to ease some of the tension in my shoulders over how this whole car ride is going so far. “I think it was just the wind,” she agrees.

I let out a heavy sigh, resigning myself to my fate. “All right, you two, get it out of your system now. Just remember, Willow, I've got plenty of dirt on you too.”

Willow scoffs. “Please, I'm an angel compared to you.”

“An angel? Really? So that time you got caught sneaking out?—”

“Okay, okay!” Willow cuts in. “Let's not get carried away. I'm just saying, Selene, if you want to know anything about Knox, I'm your girl.”

I glance at Selene has her gaze darts between us. “I might just take you up on that.”

I groan, focusing on the road ahead. “I'm starting to think this was a terrible idea.”

“Too late now,” Willow sing-songs from the back seat. “You're stuck with us.”