16. Larkin

I was eatinglunch alone in the employee break room, watching a video about yoga for seniors, when the call from Nancy came through. Worry immediately hit me because she usually didn’t call throughout the day, only sent a text or two to let me know if something happened out of the usual or if I needed to restock diapers or something like that.

“Hello?” I answered. “Is everything okay?”

I could hear the choppy, robotic sound of music from a child’s toy in the background as she replied, “We’re fine here, but I just realized I can’t keep the kids overnight for your date tonight.”

I waited for her to explain further, but then it hit me. She said date. And I hadn’t told her the reason for the sleepover was a date—I’d just said I needed some time to myself.

What they said about small towns was true. Everyone knew everything about everyone here. There was no such thing as a secret.

My heart sank, because even though I’d been nervous to go out with Bennett, I’d been looking forward to going on my first date since the divorce. And getting some distance from Knox, since our text conversation the night before had my heart even more involved than it should have been. Everything about him screamed tenderness and care, two things I desperately desired and yet had no business dreaming about getting from him.

“That’s too bad,” I said, my voice coming out a whisper.

“It’s really too soon for you to be dating anyway,” Nancy said. “Especially with two small children at home. You know some men target single moms because of their children?”

My lips parted in shock, and the familiar sting of anger hit my veins. Was she really questioning my judgement as a mother, telling me it was too soon to date? I wanted to tell her that her son hadn’t thought it was too soon when we were still married, but I bit my tongue. She and Jerald were doing me a huge favor by watching the kids for free while I worked. So I simply said, “Thanks for letting me know. I’ll pick them up after work.”

Hot, angry tears stung my eyes as I hung up the phone. I set it down on the table and got up, irately pacing the break room.

It wasn’t fair. Seth was off doing whatever he wanted with whomever he wanted. He didn’t have to do anything more than write a check. Meanwhile, I was watching the children, making a new home, working full-time, staying up with Jackson at night, comforting Emily when he wouldn’t call. It was all so much.

I needed a break. And a lot more coffee.

I shoved my meal aside and decided to walk to the diner to get some space and a fresh coffee. As soon as I was out of the building and on the sidewalk, the hot midday sun beat down on me. I wished my sister was here to talk with me, but I did the next best thing, taking out my phone and calling her. I put my earbuds in and listened to the phone ring. At least I knew she would be there for me no matter what.

After a few rings, she answered, “Hello, gorgeous.”

“Hey.” My voice broke.

“What’s going on?” Her concern nearly broke me, but I held my head high, walking along the wide sidewalks.

“My in-laws found out about my date, so they won’t babysit anymore. I think I’ll have to cancel.” I wiped at my eyes, the tears mingling with fresh beads of perspiration.

“Damn it,” she muttered. I could hear her turn off the TV in the background. “There has to be another person in town who will babysit. What about—”

“Don’t say it,” I muttered.

“Your sexy, tatted neighbor?” I could hear the Cheshire grin in her voice.

That definitely distracted me from the tears. Because he had said I could ask him anytime. But this last minute? For a date? Would that be awkward?

Only if he actually had feelings for me, I thought.

But judging by how happy he acted about my date, he didn’t have feelings for me like I did for him. And then I remembered the text Bennett sent me earlier today.

Bennett: Can’t wait for our date tonight. *rose emoji*

Taylee said, “The worst Knox can say is no. The best he can say is, ‘Let’s skip your date and do it on the kitchen floor.’”

I snorted so hard I nearly choked on my spit. “You’re terrible.”

She smiled. “I’m here for you always. And I’m buying those tickets for you to come visit over Thanksgiving, okay? I want to see you and hug you and squish Em and Jack’s little cheeks.”

“You mean it? I know they’re not cheap.”

“Bitch, I’m a single professor. I can afford it.”

I smiled, shaking my head. “We’ll be there.” It hit me how great it felt to be able to make Thanksgiving plans all on my own. In the past, Seth always insisted we go to his parents’ for every holiday, but he hadn’t called me or the kids since we moved here. As far as I was concerned, this was my decision, one I was happy to make.

I got closer to the diner, seeing Knox’s cop car out front. “I’ve gotta go.”

“Au revoir,” she replied in her flawless French accent.

“Au revoir.”

I took a deep breath and walked up the cement ramp into the building. Through the heavy glass door up front, I saw quite a few people inside, enjoying meals together. It made me miss lunches with my sister when she was getting her doctorate in Dallas. Maybe I could invite my new girlfriends out for a meal sometime.

When I walked inside, a wave of air-conditioning coming over me, I immediately scanned the place for Knox. It was like some masochistic part of me had to know where he was, had to see his smile, especially when I was feeling low.

I found him sitting a few booths away from the entrance, across from an older man I assumed was his dad. His eyes glanced up and landed on me. And then he gave me one of those smiles. The kind that made everything feel better.

I walked toward him, a moth drawn to a flame.

They both smiled up at me, so much alike, but different at the same time. Knox was like an echo of his father. Same blue eyes, blond hair instead of gray, similar broad shoulders and easy smile.

“Nice to see you again, Larkin,” his dad said, seeming to mean it.

Knox nodded, something behind his expression that I couldn’t quite read. “Care to sit with us?”

“I’d love to, but I’m just ordering coffee before I get back to work.”

Knox moved over. “You can order here as good as anywhere else.”

My heart beat quickly as I realized Knox was inviting me to sit by him in this diner booth. And even if I wanted to, it would have been rude to turn him down. So I sat next to him, our arms brushing. My body instantly reacted, like simply touching his arm was the thrill of my lifetime. When would I stop reacting like this to him?

Gray took a sip of his tea, then said, “Knox told me your daughter’s interested in horseback riding?”

I nodded, thankful to him for starting the conversation. But I was also hyperaware of Knox next to me, of the view he had of me. What did I look like to him wearing scrubs, my brown hair up in a ponytail, only foundation and mascara for makeup? I tried to bury those self-conscious thoughts as I said, “Every girl I know Emily’s age is obsessed. I think it’s something about that age.”

Gray nodded. “Any time you want to come out, we’ll saddle up the horses and take her for a ride.”

“You mean it?” I asked. I was used to people making “someday” promises that they never planned to follow through on.

“Of course. I can’t this weekend, but what about next Saturday? Hell, I can have Fletcher and Liv bring over the girls too. I’m sure they’d have tons of fun riding together. We could get some steaks on the grill and make it a day.”

My heart warmed. It was exactly what I imagined life would be like if I had a big family all in the same place. “I’d love that. Thank you.”

Gray dipped his head in a nod. “Knox here could give you directions to the home place.”

“Of course.” Knox’s low voice hummed through my body.

I gave him a grateful smile, trying not to show how every bit of him captured my attention. Just his voice made butterfly wings tickle my stomach.

But then I remembered my predicament, what brought me to the diner in the first place, and my stomach dropped. “Actually, there was one more favor I’ve been meaning to ask.”

“Anything,” Knox replied. I felt the movement of boots under the table, probably Gray adjusting his legs.

I bit my lip, glancing at Gray before turning back to Knox. “Can you watch the kids tonight?”

A thousand emotions flickered over his face before he settled on a smile and dipped his head in a nod. “I’d love to.”