“It sounds like there are a lot of moving parts and pieces that you need to figure out, and once you do, contemplate all your options and decide what makes you happiest. If Knox wants you the way Kane wants you, then take some time to figure out how you feel about each of them.”
“At this point, I’d almost be better off flipping a coin and letting the universe decide for me.”
Harper quietly chuckles. “Or you could just choose both.”
I snort. “You’re not the first person who’s told me that today. Why couldn’t one have liked me and the other find me hideous?”
“Because you’re independent, smart, and gorgeous as hell. Guys are attracted to a confident woman who isn’t afraid to go tell them to fuck themselves.”
I chuckle. “Yeah, maybe I’ll do eeny, meeny, miny, moe instead.”
“You’ll figure it out, Hads. You always do.”
I wish I had as much confidence as she sounds because the thought of losing either of them turns my insides around.
CHAPTER FIVE
KNOX
I’ve been dreading this day all week long. Usually, holidays with my family are filled with lots of food and fun, but considering Kane’s still pissed at me, I’m not expecting a lot of conversation at the dinner table. Not to mention, he gave me a black eye, and I’ve been purposely avoiding my family ever since.
After working in the morning, I shower and get dressed for Thanksgiving lunch at my parents' house. I’m shocked to see I’m the first one to arrive. As soon as Mama sees me, she grabs my chin and examines my face.
“What the hell happened now?”
“You should ask your other son.” I lock my jaw firmly in place.
“Kane did this?” she asks in surprise just as Dad enters through the back door.
“He got ya good,” Dad says with a chuckle. “You two need to get along.”
“Kinda like how you and Uncle John did?”
Dad snags a piece of cornbread from the table that’s already set with food dishes. “Pretty sure he never punched me in the face. Wasn’t that stupid.”
Mom glares at him.
“What?” He shrugs. “John knows I would’ve laid him down flat.”
“That’s what I wanted to do!” I defend. “But…”
“But you didn’t,” Kane gloats from the doorway, then sits at the table.
“Why did you do that?” Mom asks him, moving the cranberry sauce to the middle of the table. Dad reaches for another piece of cornbread, but she slaps his hand. “You can wait until Kaitlyn and Payton arrive, and we say grace.” She turns to Kane. “Tell me now before we go for dessert, and I catch wind of what’s goin’ on between you two.”
Kane glares at me, and before he can speak up, Kaitlyn enters. “Shit. Y’all are in trouble, aren’t ya?”
“Manners,” Dad reminds her, then grins at Payton while shaking his hand.
“Someone gonna tell me what’s goin’ on? We aren’t eatin’ until I know,” Mom warns.
“Kane’s pissed because Knox took Hadleigh out last weekend,” Kaitlyn says nonchalantly, but it’s actually a much bigger deal.
“And? What’s wrong with that? She won Knox at the bachelor auction. You knew that was gonna happen.” Mom scolds Kane.
He swallows hard, and I wait for him to explain himself, something that he hasn’t done yet. Instead, he’s been too caught up in his emotions to talk to me and has treated me like I’m his enemy when I’m fucking not.
“He thinks I’m gonna hurt her,” I say.
“Because you hurt everyone you screw,” Kane hisses.
“I don’t wanna hear it.” Mom holds up her hands. “Regardless of what Knox does, Hadleigh’s single, Kane. You have to realize she’s an adult and can do whatever she wants. If you’re jealous, then that’s on you.”
“Thank you!” I say, throwing up my arms. “Finally!”
“But that doesn’t make you innocent.” Mom turns to me. “Your dad was too chickenshit to say how much I meant to him, and I almost married someone else. So if either of you has feelings for her, y’all need to speak up before it’s too late.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Kane and I say at the same time.
“Now, can we have a decent meal without all this?” Mom pops a brow.
“Yes, we can,” Dad states firmly, looking around at everyone. A silent warning that we need to be on our best behavior or else. “Everyone sit.”
We find our places. Dad says grace, then carves the turkey, and we pass around the dishes. While we eat, we make small talk about the ranch and the weather.
“This is so good,” I say around a mouthful of turkey.
“Yeah, it is,” Kaitlyn adds. “I love fried turkey more than how Grandma Bishop makes it.”
“You better never speak those words outside of this house,” Dad warns with a smirk. “Mama would lose it.”
“I’d never,” Kaitlyn says. She talks about all the show horses she’s training right now, and Payton quietly listens to every word. Kane refuses to make eye contact with me, so I pretend he doesn’t exist. I hate that it has to be like this, but it’s not my fault.