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Chapter Twenty

K nox

We’re all sitting at dinner. It’s loud and chaotic. It’s also a tradition after home games with my family. Sometimes, it’s just my parents, and other times, it’s all of them. It’s always a good time, but I can’t help but think that tonight is the best one yet.

I’m positive it has everything to do with the beautiful woman sitting beside me, with her thigh pressed to mine.

I don’t know how we managed to make it happen, but Corie is next to me.

I’ve caught myself more than once, starting to lean in and kiss her temple or toss my arm over the back of her chair to play with the silky strands of her hair.

Thankfully, I caught myself. I have to settle for my leg pressed to hers; it’s small, but it’s something.

Foster stands, and I know he’s going to pay the bill.

Foster, Baker, Reid, Landry, and I always take turns picking up the check.

My dad and uncles moan and groan every single time, but this is something we can all easily afford to do, and we enjoy it.

Besides, not all of the guys have the huge family support system that I have.

Mine make them feel like they’re a part of us, and that’s worth more than the price of a meal here and there.

“Foster, how much do we owe you?” Dad asks when he gets back to the table.

“Come on now, Mr. B, you know better than that,” Foster replies.

“You boys,” Dad grumbles. “We’ll get the tip.”

“Already handsomely taken care of.”

Dad starts to speak, but my mom places her hand on his arm. “Thank you, Foster. We appreciate you boys spoiling us so much.”

“Mom,” I groan. “We’re men. Grown men.”

“To me, you will all always be boys. Especially you,” she says, leaning over the table to look past my dad to me. She gives me her mom look, the one that says don’t mess with me , and it makes me smile.

“Fair enough.” I nod.

“I’m so glad you’re seeing things my way.” She laughs.

We all stand to leave. Corie and Sloane pass out hugs to my mom and sisters.

To my surprise, Dad and Uncle Tyler get in on the action, too.

The guys hug the ladies and offer handshakes to Dad, Matt, and Tyler.

Everyone thanks Foster again for the meal.

I want to tell Corie to wait for me, but I know I can’t do that.

Instead, I manage to snag her hand, giving it a soft, quick squeeze as she passes me to head out the door.

I watch until I can no longer see her, before turning my attention back to my family.

“Thank you for coming.” I pull Everly into a hug and release her before offering my hand to Matt.

“We miss you, brother,” Everly says. “Things are going to be busy with the wedding just a few weeks away. We might not see you again until then,” she says as Matt slides his arm around her waist. She leans into him, and jealousy punches me in the gut.

I want to be able to hold Corie like that and not give a single fuck who's watching.

“How will you survive not seeing this face for that long?” I tease.

“Stop.” Everly laughs. “We’re leaving.” She sticks her tongue out at me, and with a final wave, they turn and walk away, leaving just me and my parents and my younger sister.

“Bring it in,” I tell Emma, opening my arms for a hug. She smiles as she steps into my embrace, before telling my parents she’ll meet them in the car, taking the keys from Dad, and heading out. I’m glad she’s not driving back to Jackson by herself.

“I like her,” Mom says.

“I would hope so. You made her and the bratty one,” I tease, talking about Everly. I know she’s not talking about my sisters, but I can’t help but give her a hard time.

Mom shakes her head. “Corie, I like Corie.”

I nod. “Me, too,” I confess.

“I knew it!” Mom launches at me, wrapping her arms around my waist in a hug, which I happily return.

“Let the boy breathe, sweet girl.” Dad chuckles.

“Tell me everything,” Mom insists, stepping away. As soon as she’s close enough, my dad pulls her into his side, holding her close. Even after all these years, he still needs her next to him. I smile because, finally, I can see the appeal.

“It’s complicated.”

My mom scoffs. “Don’t give me that, Knox Beckett. I’m your mother.”

“It’s true. We fought it,” I tell her, running my hands through my hair. “Until we couldn’t any longer. She’s Landry’s little sister and works for the Rampage. There are rules and codes to follow.”

“What rules? What codes?” Mom asks.

“You don’t mess with your best friend’s little sister, and any relationship needs to be reported to management and human resources immediately,” I explain. I glance around, making sure no one can hear us.

“Oh, Knox.” Mom sighs.

“It will all work out,” Dad assures me. He kisses Mom on the temple. “Life has a funny way of doing that.”

Mom lifts her head to smile at him, and something passes between them. “You’re right,” Mom agrees.

“I love her for you, Knox.”

I chuckle. “Me too, Mom, me too.”

She hugs me again, then kisses Dad on his cheek. “I’ll be in the truck.”

“How does she do that?”

“Do what?” Dad asks, watching her until she’s safely inside the truck.

“Know when I need to talk to you, man to man.”

“Mother’s instinct,” he says.

I nod. “I don’t want to keep hiding this,” I tell him.

“Talk to her.”

“I have. She’s scared, and if I push her, I’m afraid I’ll lose her.”

“You don’t want that.” Dad smiles knowingly.

“Not at all. I didn’t expect her, Dad. This wasn’t my plan, but now that she’s in my life, I can’t picture it without her.”

“The best things in life are the unexpected, son. You take it one breath, one second, one minute, one hour, and one day at a time. If you and Corie are meant to be, it will all work out.”

He’s right. I know he’s right, but I’m not used to sitting on the sidelines. Being with her tonight and not being able to show everyone at the table how important she is to me burns like a hot fire in my gut.

“Bring it in, kid.” Dad pulls me into a hug. I don’t care that I’m a twenty-seven-year-old man. Nothing beats the comfort of a hug from your parents. “Drive safe,” he tells me.

“Thanks, Dad. You, too.” He walks off toward his truck, and I do the same. It’s time to head home to see my girl.

When the elevator opens to the top floor, I exit and see Corie sitting on the ground by my door.

“We need to get you a key,” I tell her. The thought of her sitting out here alone pisses me off.

My condo is the only one on this floor, so unless someone is coming to see me, which could be a risk since we’re hiding this relationship, no one should be up here, but I still hate it.

She’s getting that spare key as soon as we get inside.

I don’t know why I didn’t think to give it to her sooner.

“I haven’t been here long,” she says, taking my offered hand as I help her stand. I pull her into my chest and wrap my arms around her.

“Missed you.”

“You just saw me,” she tells me.

“Not the same, and you know it.”

That has her pulling away just enough to tilt her head back and smile up at me. “I missed you, too.”

“Let’s get you inside.” I pick up her overnight bag, push open the door, and hold it open for her. Dropping her bag on the couch, I stalk toward the kitchen and open the junk drawer, finding my spare key. “Take this.” I hand it to her.

“You don’t have to give me a key, Knox.”

“Corie, take the damn key. I want you to have twenty-four-hour access to me at all times. Use it whenever you want. Stay here whenever you want.” Grabbing her hand, I place the key in her palm, and she wraps her hand into a fist.

“This feels huge,” she mumbles. “A big step.”

“You want to know what else feels huge?” I ask her.

She rolls her beautiful green eyes. “That’s old news.” She chuckles.

“Not that—well, yes, that, but that’s not what I meant,” I say, gripping her hips and lifting her to sit on the kitchen island. She opens her thighs for me, and I settle between them, where I belong.

“I’m sorry.” She smiles. “Tell me what you were going to say.”

One hand cups the nape of her neck while the other cradles her cheek.

“The way I feel about you feels huge. The way my heart swells inside my chest every time I look at you. That’s huge.

So, no, Corie girl, you taking a key to my home is small in comparison.

We might not be telling the world that you’re mine, but here, in my home, that’s what you are.

You’re my queen, baby, and you deserve the keys to the castle. ”

Her eyes shimmer with tears. “I feel it, too,” she says, smiling. “All of it.”

“Good.” I move in close, my lips hovering over hers.

“Then don’t fight me on this. Take the key.

Use it.” Closing the last breath of distance, I kiss her.

I try to show her what I’m not saying. I need her to understand that she’s stolen my heart.

I almost told her. I nearly confessed, but she needs more time.

Not because I don’t think she feels it, too, but she’s still rattled with guilt, and until she’s ready for us to be out in the open, I have to hold that one tiny piece of our story.

I have to keep it locked up tightly, just for me, until I know she’s ready to hear it.

I’ve never told a woman I’m not related to that I love them.

I want Corie to be my first and my last.

Big words.

Huge feelings.

All for her.

Her hands move to the hem of my shirt, and she tugs, breaking the kiss. “Off.”

“Anything you want,” I tell her, ripping my shirt over my head and letting it fall to the floor. “Come here.” I grip the backs of her thighs and lift her from the counter. She knows the drill as she wraps her arms and legs around me, and I take us to my bedroom.

“Strip for me.”

“I need the restroom,” she whispers against my lips.