10. Larkin

Touching Knox’sarm had been a mistake. It was firm, warm, and far too apparent just how much I enjoyed it. When his family arrived, I quickly pulled away like a kid caught with my hand in the cookie jar. Which meant he was far too tempting, and I had to get better at controlling myself. Even when I was overcome by the kind way he treated me and my children.

How sad was it that the simplest gesture of kindness brought on such strong emotions? I think I got so used to Seth and how he slowly withdrew affection that I didn’t fully realize how much I’d missed the love and attention he used to shower me with.

Knox’s gaze slid over me before he stepped away, giving no hint that we’d been even remotely close to touching. When Maya burst into the room, followed by a cute brown, black, and white dog, she had a gallon of ice cream hooked over one arm. “We’re doing an ice cream bar tonight!”

Emily crawled out of the tent, clinging Marshall to her chest. “Can I have some, Mommy?”

I brushed back her soft brown hair. “Sure, baby.”

She went over to Maya like she was approaching an old friend. “Did you hear about the prank I did?”

“With the plastic wrap? Classic. Tell me more.” Maya took Emily under her free arm, walking with her toward the living room.

I went to pick up Jackson, but he’d crawled out of the tent to Knox’s leg. Like it was the most natural thing in the world, Knox scooped him up, holding him in tanned arms decorated in swirling black tattoos. I noticed a turtle amongst the designs and had to wonder what it meant, if it had any meaning at all.

When I glanced back up his way, he hadn’t even noticed me staring. He was looking into my baby’s eyes, a warm smile on his lips as he spoke softly. “Hey, little guy. You are just the cutest thing. I can’t wait for you to start talking so I can hear what’s going on behind those big brown eyes.”

I blinked quickly, ducking my head to follow the girls out of the room where I could hear them playing some kind of game in the living room. When I got there, I saw Maya and Emily on the couch, sitting cross-legged and facing each other, doing some activity where they slapped their hands in a pattern while little Leah sat in front of them in awe. Liv and Fletcher came in from the kitchen, Liv wearing an adorable floral romper with cowboy boots, and suddenly, I felt insecure about the denim shorts, plain blue T-shirt I thought brought out my eyes, and a pair of sandals.

Not wanting Emily to see me get down on myself for my appearance, I pasted a smile on my lips and said, “Wow, Liv, you look amazing.”

She grinned and tugged at the flowy shorts of her romper. “Thank you! It’s new, and I wasn’t sure how I felt about it.”

“Maybe you can help me pick something too?” I replied. “I’m not used to the going-out part.”

“Of course.” She walked to me, putting her arm around my shoulders. “Let’s get going,” Liv said, brushing dark brown curls back over her shoulder. “Let me tell the girls goodbye.”

A sudden worried ache formed in my chest. Leaving my children with their grandparents every day was hard, but I could justify it, saying I needed to earn a living to keep a roof over our heads. But saying goodbye to them now, when I was doing something purely for my enjoyment? It was totally foreign.

But I thought of Emily being a mom someday, and I didn’t want her to have to sacrifice the way I had for the sake of a man who couldn’t even be bothered to call his own children.

I drew in a steadying breath and went to kiss the top of Emily’s head. Then I went to Jackson, still in Knox’s arms. I reached out to hold him, but he squirmed, clinging to Knox. I tried to hide my hurt as I kissed the top of his head. “Bye, Jacks,” I said.

“We’ll take great care of them,” Knox said. “And I’ll send you pictures every hour.”

I tilted my head in gratitude. Why did it feel like this man could read my every thought? “Every other hour will do,” I only half-teased.

He chuckled. “Sounds great. Have fun.”

“She will,” Liv promised, looping her arm through mine and walking with me out of the house. As we walked down the steps, she told me, “He and Fletcher are really amazing with kids. You don’t need to worry about a thing.”

“It’s good he’s had practice with his nieces,” I commented.

“He always comes over to our house when we need help with the girls,” Liv said. “They have a great time together.”

And as we walked around the sidewalk toward my house, I noticed something I hadn’t before...

The stack of cardboard boxes beside his trash can. Brand new from a bunk bed and several of the toys I’d seen inside.

I glanced back toward his house, seeing them silhouetted through his living room curtains.

Knox hadn’t had all of those items on hand... Had he gotten them... for us?

The question ran through my mind as Liv and I went to my house, going through my closet until we found a summery cotton dress I could wear with a pair of cute cowgirl boots. “You’ll want your toes covered up when we go dancing,” Liv said with a wink.

“Dancing?” I asked.

“It’s a girls’ night staple,” she said, and then we walked out of my house and to her truck, which she introduced as Bernice.

“That’s my boss’s name.” I laughed.

“Oh my gosh, it is.” She laughed along with me. “Maybe don’t tell your boss I’ve been riding her all over town.”

I giggled, feeling like a dorky teenager with an indent in my hair from wearing my braces headgear at night. Liv seemed so cool and confident, effortless in a way that I never possessed. “I feel out of my league,” I admitted. “I think the last time I went dancing I was still in college.”

“When did you meet Seth?” Liv asked.

My lips twisted to the side, my mind immediately taken back to that day eight years prior. “I’d just graduated from nursing school and passed my exams, so a group of friends took me out to celebrate. He was schmoozing potential clients at the bar that night, and before they left, he pulled me aside and convinced me to call him.”

Sometimes I wondered what my life might look like if I’d gone to a different bar that night. If I’d missed one too many questions on the exam or hadn’t called the number on the business card he slipped me. But I couldn’t go down that path.

“He was so charming,” I said. “At least he started out that way.”

“That’s the Seth I knew,” Liv agreed.

“Sometimes I forget everyone knows everyone here.” I said. “Give me the dirt.”

She cast a look my way, illuminated by the dash lights of her truck. “You sure?”

I nodded.

“I’m the messenger, you know,” she said.

“I’m the only Texan who doesn’t own a gun, so you’re safe,” I teased.

She laughed, then sobered. “He was a couple grades behind me, and he moved to Dallas after he graduated, so this is just what I know about him. He was always dating a different girl from a different town, sometimes more than one at a time. But even knowing that, the girls here loved him. He had this charm about him that was hard to resist.”

“That tracks,” I muttered, and I had to wonder if the time I found out about was really his first indiscretion with me or if there had been others before. But I knew I’d never have the truth—I couldn’t trust Seth. Not anymore.

Liv gave me a sad look. “He was popular, all the guys liked him, and he was so persuasive. He could sell a red popsicle to a woman in a white pantsuit.”

That made me laugh. “I can see that.”

“But we don’t need to talk about him. I want to know you.”

What was there to know? I thought about what I enjoyed that was just for me. “Outside of being a mom... I have a lot of fun with my Cricut. I like making shirts, sweaters, things like that for special occasions.”

“So fun,” Liv said.

I nodded. “I love yoga, but don’t ask me to do Zumba. Ever. It’s horrifying.”

She giggled. “Noted. I haven’t done yoga before, but I’d love to try it sometime. There’s a yoga and mimosa class in town the first Saturday of the month,” Liv said. “We should totally do it together.”

“That sounds so fun,” I said, meaning every word.

She stopped in front of a house, the front porch light illuminating a pretty wreath with a D in the middle. Liv leaned on the horn, an ornery grin on her lips. Then a pale redhead came out the door, wild curls bouncing at her bare shoulders. She wore a soft yellow camisole, a denim skirt, and boots, along with a leather purse. When she climbed in the car, Liv said, “Larkin, this is my bestie for the restie, Della. Della, this is Knox’s hot new neighbor, Larkin.”

My cheeks were already heating, and that was before Della let out a low whistle. “You weren’t exaggerating, Liv. Knox is in deep shit with this one next door.” She shut the truck door behind her, and Liv took off. “You’re a total babe, Larkin.”

With heat radiating from my cheeks, ears, and neck, I said, “No need to worry about Knox. It would probably be a bad idea to date him.”

Liv glanced in the mirror at Della, and I felt a silent conversation taking place between the two of them.

“What?” I asked.

“You know what they say about bad ideas,” Liv said.

Della smirked. “They’re the best kind.”

I laughed. I could already tell tonight was going to be fun. Liv pulled up in front of a big brick building with a sign that said The Hen House illuminated out front. She didn’t honk this time, instead getting out her phone and texting.

“This is my brother and sister-in-law’s place,” Liv explained. “They own boutique assisted-living apartments all over Texas, but they live in this one.”

The front door opened, and a curvy woman with glowing bronze skin came out dressed in a sleeveless blue dress. A gold necklace shined on her neck and a gold headband pulled back short, curly hair.

“She’s gorgeous,” I said.

“Agreed,” Della said. “Total bombshell.”

She came to the other side of the truck, getting in the back seat. Liv introduced us, and Henrietta said, “So you’re the famous Larkin. Everyone in town has been talking about fresh meat.”

I laughed. “Not sure I’ll get used to that.”

“You don’t,” Henrietta agreed. “I moved here from California. Years later, and I’m still surprised how much I learn about myself when I go to the grocery store.”

Smiling, I realized I already felt at ease around her. Liv started driving, saying, “We’re meeting my other sister-in-law, Maggie, and her friend Camryn at the bar. It’s not too far from here.”

“Sounds good,” I said.

My phone vibrated, and I glanced down at it to see a new text message from Knox. Inside was a photo of Emily and Maya on the couch with Jackson bundled up in a blanket between them. Emily had her open mouth on Jackson’s forehead while he grinned, all the teeth he had showing. The message said...

I told the girls they could have ice cream, but they made a burrito instead.

I smiled down at my phone, and from the driver’s seat, Liv said, “I recognize that smile. Who’s the guy you’re texting?”

My cheeks instantly heated. “Knox sent me a pic of the kids.”

“Let me see!” Henrietta said.

I showed her the phone, and her lips spread in a smile. “They are so cute, Lark!”

“Thank you.” I knew I liked her. Then I showed Della, and she smiled. “Gosh, I hope I get to have a family someday. They are so adorable.”

“Is it hard to date in a small town?” I asked. Maybe a little bit for personal reasons.

They all exchanged looks, and Liv answered, “I married my brother’s best friend and Henrietta met my brother while he was working in California.”

“So yes,” Della finished. “There aren’t a ton of men to choose from.”

“Just the Madigan family?” I asked. “What about Hayes? He’s got that whole bad-boy-begging-to-be-tamed thing going on.”

Della laughed. “Remember the part where I said I wanted babies one day?”

With her eyebrows waggling, Henrietta said, “You’d have a good time with him though.”

“Worth it,” Liv teased. “So you’ll have spicy memories for when you’re a married old broad like me.” She parked diagonally on Main Street in front of a flickering neon sign reading Twisters. “Ladies, time to make some wild memories.”