39. Larkin

When I wokeup in the morning, Knox was out of my bed but in my phone inbox.

Knox: Do you know how hard it was to leave your bed last night? I missed you the second I walked away.

My heart fluttered at the text, and I shifted my covers up to my chin. I always left the windows open at night to let in the cooler air. I loved this time of the morning. When the kids were still sleeping and the house was quiet. It felt like I had the whole world to myself. And now, I could share it with Knox.

My fingers tapped over the screen as I sent him a response.

Larkin: Think you can handle it another night? ;)

I bit my bottom lip, smiling like a lovestruck fool at my phone as the three dots appeared at the bottom of the screen.

Knox: Wouldn’t miss it for anything.

So Knox and I continued our routine throughout the next several weeks. We both went to work, the kids had a great time staying at Liv’s house, from going swimming to playing in the backyard. Every day Emily had something fun to tell me about her time with the Madigans. And then at night, he came over and showed me every way he could make me come. Once we finished, I’d fall asleep in his arms, and he’d leave the house before the children could find him in my bed in the morning.

I’d complain about the loss of sleep, but I’d never slept better than I had lying in Knox’s arms. It was like we were in our own little bubble. Everyone in town knew we were seeing each other, thanks to the Dallas Diamonds game, but that was as far as it went.

Until Knox asked me to go on a date, just the two of us, on Friday night. I told him yes, if I could find a sitter, but of course he told me Tyler and Henrietta were already excited to watch the kids at their place. And some of the seniors who lived at their schoolhouse-turned-apartment building were eager to see the children as well.

But on Friday night, I still didn’t know where we were going because, of course, Knox wanted it to be a surprise. So I put on a simple cotton dress and sandals while Knox watched the children in the living room.

Once I was ready, we drove to The Hen House. Knox said to the kids, “Are you excited to spend some time with some new friends tonight?”

Emily said, “I know Hen. We hang out with her sometimes with Liv. Yesterday, we picked tomatoes from their garden, and the ladies there showed us how to make fried green tomatoes!”

I squeezed Knox’s hand. I hadn’t gotten around to telling him that bit because last night, my mouth had been otherwise occupied.

“That’s my favorite,” Knox said. “Did you like them?”

Jackson babbled while Emily said, “Yes, especially with ranch.”

“That’s my girl,” I said with a laugh. Anything tasted better with a little ranch dressing on it.

Knox ran his thumb over the back of my hand, asking Emily, “What do you think you’ll do tonight?”

“Mama packed board games, so maybe that?”

I smiled back at her. “Which one is your favorite?”

“Maybe Chutes and Ladders... or Candyland... or Connect Four, or...”

“You like them all, huh?” Knox teased.

Emily said, “Yeah.” And we were already at The Hen House, so we got out, walking toward the cute brick building. I held Jackson on my hip, and I watched as Emily reached for Knox’s hand, holding it on the way up the stairs.

My heart did its balancing act, walking on the tightrope between happiness that I was with a man my daughter loved and utter terror that he’d someday break all our hearts. But I knew Knox, I reminded myself. He was a good man. He wouldn’t do that to us. He couldn’t.

We reached the door and knocked, and pretty soon, Tyler and Henrietta were letting us inside. I stared at the grand entrance and the lobby area. They had it all set up with a giant projector screen, a cute old-timey popcorn machine, and big inflatable cushions. Some of the residents were sitting in folding chairs or milling about. And there was even a little ball pit in the corner for the kids to play in.

I went to hug Henrietta. “Oh my gosh, this looks amazing!”

She grinned at me and then gave Jackson a little wave. “We do a community activity every Friday and decided to make this week a family movie night! We’re watching Shrek.”

“Oh my gosh, I love that one,” I told her.

Jackson cooed like he agreed. He still hadn’t added more than “dada” and “Em” to his vocabulary, but I swore he was getting more expressive by the day.

She held her hands out to Jackson, “Can I hold you, sweetie?”

He wasn’t so sure at first, but he let her hold him, and soon she had him giggling by making silly faces at him. It warmed my heart to see my new friend be so sweet with my baby. With Jackson happy with Hen, I looked over to see Tyler Griffen, a guy around the same height as Knox with tattoos up and down both his arms and dark brown hair, showing Emily the popcorn machine while Knox watched. He plucked a piece of popcorn out and tossed it in the air before catching it in his mouth. Then he let Emily try. It bounced off her forehead, making all of them laugh. I smiled at the sight.

Was this what it felt like to live around family? To have more than just you loving your children, adding to your life?

I knew Tyler wasn’t technically related to Knox, but they grew up together as neighbors and felt as close as brothers.

Knox turned to me and walked my way. “I think we lost the kids to the party,” he said.

I smiled at the way he talked about my children.

“What?” he asked.

I reached for his hand, lacing my fingers through his. “I just love the way you talk about my children. It means a lot to see you so sweet with them.”

He dipped his head to kiss my temple. “They’re part you,” he said as if that was all the explanation he needed. “Ready to go?”

“Let me say goodbye to the kids, and we can head out.” I went and told them goodbye, although it seemed like they hardly noticed I was there at all, and then Knox and I walked out to his truck. He went to my side, reaching for the handle. He looked so amazing in tan pants and a button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled, showing the tattoos on his forearms.

“Knox Madigan, are you holding the door open for me?” I asked, smiling at him.

His gaze heated as he pulled the door open. “Of course I am. But only so I can make out with you when you get in.”

I giggled, all breathy and filled with butterflies. He made me feel so young. So whole.

He held my hand as I got into the vehicle, and once I was buckled up, he held true to his promise, kissing me right there in the parking lot until I forgot anyone inside could see us and could only remember the way his lips felt on mine.

When he broke our embrace, I asked, “Are you sure you don’t want to go back to your place and have sex without worrying about being quiet?”

He closed his eyes like it took all his willpower to remember we had a date. “There will be time for that. On another date.”

My heart skipped a beat. I loved when he so casually dropped little hints at the future like that—like he wanted to keep taking me out—like it was a given.

He squeezed my thigh with his large hand and then carefully shut the door and walked around to his side of the truck.

Once he got in, I said, “Now will you tell me where we’re going?”

He glanced my way, a crooked grin on his lips. “Somewhere I think you’ll love.”