Page 42 of Knot Going Down

“Well, I can’t argue with that, but she does.” Emily takes Declan’s hand like it’s nothing, like it’s everything. Something knots in my throat. That easy affection, the automatic inclusion. I want that. I want someone to reach for me like that without thinking.

“You really don’t need to worry,” Emily says. “What’s Knox gonna do? It’s not like he has pills to sell to her, does he?”

“Of course not,” Declan scoffs. “I took everything from him.”

“You have the suppressants?” Emily says with a little too much interest.

“Safe and sound.” Declan’s voice is smooth, but his eyes search her face.

She tries to smooth her features into indifference, but doesn’t quite manage. Now, I’m even more curious what’s going on with my littledocinho.

“Well, good. Yep. All good. That’s great. Let’s go play mini golf.” Emily gives a little excited hop and takes both our hands.Her fingers squeeze mine like an anchor, and I let myself lean into that feeling as she rushes us out of the club.

23

EMILY

The wind lifts my hair just enough to make me regret not bringing a hair tie. Moonlight glints off the ridiculous flamingo-topped golf club in my hands as I line up my shot. Lucas is facing me from the other end of the little green, waiting for us to catch up. Declan stands beside me, shoes on fake turf, and I wonder why the man didn't wear sandals. I haven’t worn anything but flip flops since we were welcomed aboard.

“You’ve got terrible form,” he says, nudging my elbow with his.

I raise an eyebrow, aiming for a flirty look I’m not sure I execute properly. “I’m literally three over par.” I’m ad-libbing wildly. I don’t know how to keep score in golf. But I think par is the goal.

His laugh is deep and easy. “Underpar would mean you’re winning. And we’re not keeping score because I’ve already won.”

Declan’s sultry look has something pittering in my chest.

“If we were keeping score,” he continues, “You’ve tripped over two fake rocks, sent a ball overboard by accident, and somehow managed to knock your club into your own foot four times, baby.”

Baby.I file away every little term of endearment.

“I was distracted by your forearms,” I offer in defense of myself.

He grins and comes to stand behind me. Reaching around to adjust my hands on the club, his chest brushing my back. It’s the kind of move that would be cliché if he weren’t so annoyingly warm and good at smelling like cedar and possibilities.

My eyes catch on Lucas, just far enough that he probably can’t hear us, but he’s watching every move like he’s memorizing the look of us. He licks his lips, and my pulse leaps.

“Relax,” Declan murmurs. “You’re gripping the club like it owes you money.”

“I’m gripping it like it’s hiding drugs,” I say before I can stop myself.

His arms tense a little. Blink and you’d miss it.

I am so bad at this! Subtle, Em. Real subtle. I still can’t believe he admitted to having the drugs. Now, I just need to get him to tell me where they are.

“Kidding.” I laugh quickly to cover my blunt slip. “Unless this flamingo is full of suppressants and cocaine, in which case—points for creativity.”

He laughs too, but his smile is tighter now.

The need to turn this around is counterbalanced by the desire to find out where those drugs are. Ava was so distraught over it all. I need to help her. Seems like that’s what I was put on this earth to do—help my omega friends keep their designation a secret. I can do this.

Spinning in his arms, I kiss Declan’s neck, savoring the strength of his scent. “I bet you thought of a much better place to hide Knox’s pills. No flamingos. They’re probably…” I wrack my brain trying to think where he might have put them. “In a safe or something, right?”

He grips my chin gently between his fingers and guides my head up. “Why are you asking about the suppressants, Emily?”

Emily. Nobabynow.

I swallow thickly. “No reason. I was just trying to compliment you.”