I could hear the rustling of paper through the phone, and she sighed teasingly. “I mean, I don’t think so. The note only said ‘To the stars.’ I don’t know why you’d need to worry about that.”
“Yeah. Not threatened by that.” My smile grew. Every month, that note had reminded Harlow I was still waiting for her. Ever since that night earlier this year when I’d tried to convey to Harlow just how much I loved her, the notes on her monthly bouquet had changed. Now I never wanted that note to change.
“Thank you for my beautiful flowers,” she said so softly the words were almost lost in the random noises of the house. “And thank you for loving me the way you do.”
“Always, Low.” My voice deepened as I vowed each word to her.
“You have my heart, Knox Alexander,” she promised. “You have my heart, and in a year, I will finally have you.”
“You already do.”
There was a pause, then her next words rushed out. “I’m about to beg you to come see me if you keep talking to me the way you are, but I know you need tonight. So go hang out with them before I change my mind.”
I huffed, but nodded even though she couldn’t see me. “All right. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
She waited—she always waited, and I loved her more for it—and I could practically see the expectant look on her face and hopefulness in her blue eyes.
“I’m still waiting for you, Low.”
A soft laugh followed by a sigh filled the phone. “And you’re wasting your time.”
“Never.” The smile on my face was massive when I hung up and turned to walk back to my room. I came to a stop, and my smile abruptly fell when I found Grey standing there watching me.
“She’s seventeen?” she asked, but I didn’t respond. Grey jerked her head in the direction of my room. “They gave me a quick rundown. I was also eavesdropping,” she said shamelessly.
I nodded absentmindedly and gestured toward the room. “I’d rather not talk about this out here.”
“I think what you’re doing is the most romantic thing I’ve ever heard of.”
Her admission stopped me again, and I looked at her like I’d heard her wrong. “Romantic,” I stated dully. “I’m not romantic, Grey.”
“Oh, I know. But what you’re doing for her . . . it’s romantic. It’s also the most decent thing any of you guys have ever done for a girl.”
I grunted and looked away.
“Really, though. Most guys wouldn’t care to wait, or they’d make the girl feel bad because she was underage. Then here you are waiting for her until she is of age, not pressuring her into anything, just being there for her until then? That’s amazing, Knox. I heard you tell her you loved her . . . but I could hear how much you loved her. Just because Graham and Deacon don’t get it doesn’t mean you’re doing something wrong.”
Grabbing Grey up in my arms, I hugged her tight. “Thank you.”
Chapter 7
Harlow
Present Day—Richland
“LOOK AT ME, Harlow.”
I distractedly turned my head to face Collin, and waited for whatever speech he had prepared for me.
His eyes roamed over my hair and body before shooting back up to my face, his eyebrows pinched in frustration as he studied it. “How are you feeling?”
“I feel fine.”
“Then why do you look miserable?” he growled as he started driving again, the warning in his question clear. If I didn’t fix whatever he was seeing soon, it wasn’t going to be a good night for me.
But it had been four days since I’d seen Knox, and the memories and dreams of him were plaguing me more than usual. Even though I’d tried to run from him, I was left struggling more than I usually did. I no longer felt like I was drowning because of Collin and this life. I’d already drowned; I was just waiting for someone to find me and bring me back to life.
That, added to the fact Collin and I were on our way to the fund-raiser, was making it nearly impossible to remember how I normally forced my smiles. I sat there trying to smile, and tried not to feel the crushing pressure like I was surrounded by deep water.
“I need you to smile, mingle, and make us look good for my dad. The mayor will be there among other people we need to kiss ass with. I’m sure I don’t need to remind you that saying or doing something stupid would be completely unacceptable?”
“Of course not, Collin.”
He glanced at me and flashed a quick smile before resting his hand on my thigh and giving it a small, loving squeeze. “That’s my girl.”
We walked in with his arm wrapped around my waist as we tried to play the role of the perfect, happy couple. I was introduced to some new people, but mostly socialized with couples we already knew well from years of these things. It should have been so easy to play my part, but there was something nagging at me. My body came alive within minutes of walking in to the fund-raiser. There was a charge in the air, and my entire body tingled from it. I knew it, and I knew I’d felt it before, but I couldn’t place when or where.