Chapter 37

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Knox

I’m unpacking the bags of groceries and starting to put them away when Ella sweeps into the kitchen with Evie.

“My little Evie needs more glitter,” she announces, snagging her purse from the counter and slinging it over her shoulder. “Ivy’s sleeping.”

“Uh…”

But I don’t get the chance to finish that because just as abruptly as they’d come into the kitchen, they both bustle from the room.

More glitter—yeah, right. I’ve seen Ivy’s craft cupboard. There’s no possible way Evie could need more glitter.

Still, I don’t bother arguing.

My sister is a force amongst giants; if she’s declared that Evie’s getting glitter then Evie’s getting glitter.

Shaking my head and smiling, I listen to them gather their stuff and head out the front door. I move down the hall, lock up behind them, and then finish putting the groceries away.

Sometimes it’s just better to let the ladies do their thing.

Smirking, I shove the reusable bags into each other then do what I’ve been itching to do from the moment I left her?—

I walk down the hall to Ivy’s room.

I have a game tonight, so I’ll need to head out soon for the rink.

Before then, though, I need my Ivy fix.

Only she’s not in bed when I push the door open and slip into her room.

Frowning, but figuring she’s probably using the toilet, I sit on the edge of the mattress and wait.

And wait some more.

Worry twisting my insides, I move to the bathroom and cautiously poke my head in. She’s sitting on the counter, staring at me as though she’s been waiting for exactly this.

“Um…” I begin, heart suddenly in my throat.

“Knox,” she says, hopping off and moving toward me.

“You okay, lioness?” I ask, getting my shit together and meeting her halfway. She’s pale, her eyes a little wild, but instead of stepping into my outstretched arms like I expect, she shifts and steps by me, going to the door?—

Slam!

“Um,” I say again, spinning to face her, that worry transforming into a tornado. “Ella took Evie to get some glitter from the craft store.”

Ivy stills, dropping her head against the door. “Heaven help me. More glitter?”

“Kind of what I said, but nothing was going to stop those two.” I chuckle, expecting her to turn toward me, to show me that beautiful face and laugh along with me at the intractability of the dynamic duo. When she doesn’t, I go back to frowning. “Um, baby, are you going to look at me?”

“I—” She shifts, grunting as she messes with something.

“Ivy,” I say, my patience giving way. “What the hell is going on?”

“Noth”—another grunt—“ ing . I’m—” There’s a groan, a crunch . “This seemed a lot easier the other time,” she mutters, her shoulders shaking, her body straining and?—

Creak!

“There,” she sighs, finally spinning to face me with…

The door knob in her hand.

“Um…” I know, I know, it seems to be a reoccurring theme for me today, but…

What the actual fuck is going on?

“Right,” she says, with a chagrined smile. “This seemed so much easier in my head.”

I take the knob from her hand, look from it to the door and back to her. “Are you going to clue me into what you thought would be easier?”

Her mouth ticks up. “Breaking that.” Her smile fades. “Saying this.”

My heart sinks.

And that worry explodes out of me in the form of word vomit.

“Lioness, I know that things are moving quickly, but if you need us to slow them down, need me to back off a bit, I can?—”

I mean, I won’t, because I’m fucking addicted and I love her and need to claim her as mine, forever, but I can move at her pace, can do whatever I need to do in order to make sure she’s comfortable and safe, to make certain that Evie’s equally as safe and as comfortable.

“No,” she says, settling her hand on my chest, above where my heart is pounding. “It’s not that.”

My brows drag together. “Then what is it, lioness? Is it about me sleeping over? I know Evie has probably asked questions, but I made it clear to her when you were out of it, that I was just sleeping on the couch while you need some extra help?—”

Her hand moves, lifting, and she presses a finger to my lips. “It’s not that either.”

“The job?” I ask, peeling that finger free. “Working together creating a conflict of interest?”

She shakes her head, whispers, “No. Not that either.”

“My traveling?” I touch her cheek. “I know it’s a drag. But I also get to be home a lot?—”

“No.”

“Is it?—”

“I love you!”

I freeze, every cell in my body going still, my heart spasming, my pulse skittering, my knees going a little weak. “What did you say?” I rasp.

Her shoulders rise and fall on a breath, and then her head comes up, eyes locking with mine.

The air in my lungs freezes.

There’s no fear in her beautiful brown eyes, no panic or reservation. Just… love.

“Lioness.”

Her mouth kicks up. “You Adlers talk so much, I knew that when I realized how I feel about you”—she settles her hand on my chest again—“when I realized how deeply my emotions for you are, I knew .”

“Knew what, lioness?” I cover her hand with my own.

“Knew I had to beat you to the punch and tell you that I love you first.”

“Dammit, baby.”

She grins. “I know.” Her fingers flex against me, the barest bite of her nails on my flesh.

“Why the door knob?” I ask.

“Ella and I were brainstorming ideas,” she says, her cheeks going pink. “She asked me when the first time I realized we were going to be more was, and it…” Those cheeks go even redder. “It was, well, when we were stuck in the weight room and…”

“The sparks between us could have set the world on fire?”

“Yes,” she whispers. “ That .”

“Fuck, I love you.”

She gasps. “You do?”

“Was there any doubt?”

Stilling, she tilts her head to the side, as though considering that, but it’s that beautiful mischief that sets my heart pounding. “No,” she says, “I suppose not.”

“That’s my girl.” I brush my knuckles along her cheek. “So, who’s going to spring us from bathroom jail if Evie and Ella are at the store?”

“We’ll just call them, and they’ll come home—” She drops her hand, steps back, and pats her pockets.

“What?” I ask when she freezes and she looks up at me in horror.

“I left my phone on the nightstand.”

“That’s okay,” I say, reaching for my own pockets. “I have—” But I still too, realizing that I left my wallet and phone in the kitchen. Cursing softly, I refocus. “We’ll put the knob back on.”

She winces. “I think I broke it. I was trying to loosen the screws and”—she grabs the knob, holds it up—“well, I kind of got nervous, gave it up, and…” She nibbles at her bottom lip. “I broke it.”

I take it from her, examine the bent metal. “Yeah, baby, I think you fucked it.”

Another wince. “I’m sorry. I know you have to go to the rink.”

“Not for a while yet.” I toss the knob to the side, wrap an arm around her and yank her against my chest. “And don’t be sorry.” I slip my hand beneath her shirt, run my fingers along her bare skin. “I can think of plenty of ways to pass the time.”

“Oh really?” she asks, and I feel a hundred feet tall when I see the light in her eyes, the mischief, the love .

“Yup,” I murmur, drawing her closer, lowering my head?—

Right as the door bursts open and Ella and Evie hurry in.

“Did you tell him?!” Evie exclaims, hopping from foot to foot. “Did you tell him?

Ivy grins, presses her hand to that spot on my chest, just over my heart. “Yeah, baby, I did.”

She stills. “And did he say it back?”

Those fingers flex, but I answer for Ivy.

“Yeah, short stuff, I sure did.” I jerk my head toward us. “And if you come here, I’ll tell you too.”

Evie’s expression…

It’s fucking beautiful.

And then she’s running toward us, throwing her arms around our middles. “This is the best day ever!”

“Is it because you got Ella to buy you more glitter?” Ivy asks dryly.

“Yup!” Evie’s arms tighten around us. “But also because we finally have a family!”

“You’ve always had a family, Evs,” I tell her, scooping her up and holding her tight. “Now I’m just lucky enough to be a part of it.”

She hugs me, then wraps her free arm around Ivy’s shoulders. “Knox is going to be my new dad.”

“I sure am, short stuff,” I say. “So long as that’s what you want.”

She nods so energetically she looks like a bobblehead.

I chuckle, tug one of the braids I made that morning. “Then that’s what you get.”

Another hug, this one so tight that she’s almost choking me.

“I love you, Evs,” I murmur.

And just like her mom, the look in her eyes…well, it’s the best gift on the planet.

Or maybe that’s actually the words she gives me next.

“I love you too, Knox.”

Ivy’s free hand finds mine, squeezing hard.

I squeeze back, heart hurting in the best way, but before I can say anything else there’s a sniff from behind us.

Ivy hears it too because she turns to my sister and lifts an arm. “Want to get in on this family group hug action, Ells?”

My sister doesn’t hesitate, just wraps her arms around us and joins in, and for the first time since my mom died, I know?—

I’m not my dad.

I’m not my job.

I’m not the possibility of what might happen.

I’m me.

And that’s just what they need.

Which means it’s just what I need.