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Chapter Twenty-Five

C orie

After kicking off my shoes, I stroll toward the couch and grab the soft, plush blanket Knox bought for me because I like to snuggle.

He said he would meet me here and should be here any minute.

It gives me a few minutes to read. I started a new small-town romance, and I can’t get enough.

I allow myself to get lost in the story, only to be interrupted by a knock at the door. Surely, Knox didn’t forget his key.

Climbing off the couch, I head toward the door. I don’t bother to look to see who it is, something I immediately regret when I see my brother standing on the other side, with his hands shoved in his pockets.

“Hey, sis,” he says. “Can I come in?”

My gut tightens as guilt washes over me for lying to him.

I hate disappointing my brother after everything he’s done for me.

I nod and step back, giving him room to enter, before closing the door and trailing behind him to the living room.

On instinct, I take my spot on the corner of the couch and pull the blanket over my lap.

“Why don’t you look surprised to find me here?” I ask when I finally find my words.

“Because I’m not. You seem to be comfortable here.” He picks up a corner of the blanket to feel its softness before releasing it.

“That’s because I am.”

“I don’t ever remember seeing that there before now.” He nods toward the blanket. “Knox isn’t really a throw blanket kind of guy.”

“He bought it for me,” I confess. The gig is up, and there’s no point in lying. I can see it written all over his face. He knows. I don’t know how he knows, but he does. I should text Knox and warn him, but his words stop me from reaching for my phone.

“He told me you would be here.” My mouth falls open in shock. “Let me explain.” I nod, and he tells me how he found Knox’s phone and about their conversation.

“I love him,” I blurt. “I’m sorry, Landry.

At first, we weren’t really sure what this was between us.

It was huge and all-consuming, but we didn’t know if it would fizzle out.

He wanted to tell you, but I fought him on it.

Well, there wasn’t much fighting. I said I wanted to wait, and he agreed.

He’s asked to come clean many times now that we’re…

more, but I’ve asked him to wait until the season ends. ”

He nods and is quiet while he processes what I’ve just dumped on him. “Does he love you?” he asks. His tone is soft, almost as if he’s afraid to hear the answer.

“He does.”

“Has he told you?”

“He told me that I own his heart. Has he said the words I love you ? No, but he tells me every day. It’s the way he looks at me, the way he touches me, the way he kisses me.

He worries about me, and even though he wanted to come clean, he agreed not to.

For me. So, no, he hasn’t said the words, but his actions speak louder than any words of love he could scream at me. ”

“He’s the reason you’re smiling all the time.”

I nod. “I’ve never been in a relationship where the guy is all in.

There has never been a concern that he’s cheating on me or even looking at other women.

When you guys are on the road, he returns to his room and eats while on a video call.

He sends me messages the entire time he’s gone about how much he misses me, and yes, I believe him.

Knox is real, Landry. He’s open and honest. He took me to see his family. ”

“I guess that worked out well for you two, didn’t it?” he asks.

“About that.” I go on to tell him what happened, and all he does is shake his head, his lips tipping up in a smile.

“I thought it was weird. He didn’t seem happy at all that Sloane agreed to go with him, and he wasn’t upset.

He tried to look like he was, but it wasn’t crushing disappointment when she called and said she was sick and couldn’t go.

I expected more of a fight from him than the half-assed one he gave when the guys suggested you go with him. Does anyone else know?”

“Just Sloane.”

“We played right into your hand,” he scoffs.

“I’m sorry,” I say as I lose my battle with my tears, and one falls unchecked on my cheek.

“I know we should have told you, but I didn’t see this happening, Landry.

I never could have guessed that I’d be madly in love with him or that he would return that love tenfold.

I know what we did was wrong.” I choke back a sob.

“I’m sorry for lying to you. You’re my brother, my family, and I love you.

You’ve always looked out for me and taken care of me, and I know my deception was wrong, but I couldn’t stop it, Landry.

I tried. We both tried to fight it, but it was impossible to ignore.

I’m so sorry. I love you so much. Please forgive us.

I don’t want this coming between the two of you or the team.

I couldn’t help but fall in love with him, and I do love him, Landry.

You told me to hold out until I found him, and we found each other. ”

“What if I asked you to stop seeing him?”

I shake my head. “I’m sorry,” I say as more tears fall.

“I love him. I would do anything for you, Landry. You know that, but please don’t ask me to do that.

It’s the only thing I can’t give you.” A sob breaks free of my chest. “Just thinking about losing him tears my heart to shreds,” I say, wiping at my cheeks.

“Come here.” He pulls me close, and I cry into his chest. “I won’t ask you to do that.

I just needed to know how deep this went.

I needed to know what you were willing to do to keep him, because Knox made some pretty big claims. You’re my sister, and I’ll side with you every time, but he’s also my best friend, and I needed to know you were both on the same page. ”

“What did he say?” I ask, lifting my head and wiping at my cheeks once more.

“He’s willing to walk away from all of it. The game, the team, the city, he doesn’t care as long as he still has you.”

I can’t help it. I smile through my tears. “I would never let him or ask him to do that, but I can hear him saying those words in my head.”

“I don’t think you could stop him, Corie. He’s hooked.”

“I feel the same way,” I tell him as the front door opens. Knox enters, carrying a couple of pizza boxes. He immediately sets them down and kneels in front of me.

“Why the tears?” He doesn’t give me time to answer before he turns to glare at my brother. “I told you to come and talk to her, not make her cry.”

“He didn’t.” I place my hand on his cheek, and his gaze is back on me. “It’s just emotional. I promise, it’s all good.”

“I hate your tears,” he mutters, wiping at my cheeks with his thumbs.

“Because you love me,” I say, smiling.

“I love the hell out of you, Corie girl.” He leans forward and kisses me softly.

“Ack!” Landry says, covering his eyes. “New rule. No kissing. In fact, no touching, not while I’m around.”

“Sorry, brother, no can do,” Knox tells him. “One day, you’ll have a woman reach into your chest and steal your heart. Only then will you know what it feels like to love someone more than anything else. You’ll understand that seeing her happy is all you want out of life.”

“I thought you said you wanted to change her last name,” Landry goads him.

“Oh, that’s happening. As soon as we settle all this shit with the team, making her a Beckett is at the top of my priority list.”

“You want to marry me?” I ask. I can feel my face pulling into a smile as my eyes once again well with more tears.

He stands and bends to kiss me. “Be right back.” He rushes down the hall, and I look at my brother.

“You know he has a ring, right?” he asks me.

“What? No, he doesn’t. That’s—we’ve never discussed getting married.” Even as I say the words, my heart is galloping, and I can barely control the giddiness I feel that Knox might really have a ring.

“You’ll see.”

“Did he tell you he was going to propose?” I ask, my heart thundering so hard I feel as though it might beat right out of my chest.

“He didn’t. He did say he wanted to marry you, but I know my best friend. Knox is steady. He’s honest, and he’s disciplined. Watch out when he sets his mind to something because there’s no stopping him. I can’t imagine he’ll be any different with you.” Landry gives me a soft smile.

“Thank you for accepting this. I love him so much, and I was so afraid that we were both going to lose you.”

“I wish you’d been honest with me, but I understand why you didn’t. Knox Beckett is one of the best men I’ve ever met. If it has to be someone who takes my little sister from me, I’m glad that it’s him.”

“I love you.”

“I love you, too.” He pulls me into a hug, and that’s how Knox finds us.

He takes a seat on the coffee table and keeps his eyes locked on my brother. “I love her with every ounce of my soul. I promise I’ll protect her and love her every day of forever.”

“I know you will,” Landry replies.

“As her brother, as her family, I’d like your permission to marry your sister. I need you to know that I'm still asking her, no matter what you say, but I’d love to know that we have your blessing.”

A sob falls from my lips, and Knox reaches out, offering me his hand, but he doesn’t take his eyes off my brother.

I’m crying, and the two most important people in my life, minus Sloane, are in the middle of a stare-off. I’m ready to say something… anything, when my brother thrusts his hand toward Knox.

“Welcome to the family, brother,” he says, and they shake, then stand and hug it out.

“Okay.” Knox sighs. “I’m going to need you to do one more thing for me in just a second.” Reaching into his pocket, he pulls out his phone and taps at the screen. Whoever he’s calling, he places the call on speaker.

“Knox? Is Corie okay?” Sloane answers.

“She’s perfect.”

“Why are you video calling me, and why are you smiling like that?”

“Just watch.” He hands the phone to Landry. “Hold that for me.”