“Why? So I can be the designated driver again?”
“I didn’t mean it like that. We were thinking lunch or dinner.”
The look on my brother’s face almost made me cry. I thought back to the day at the airport and how he’d said he wanted to spend more time with me. “I was joking. That sounds really nice. When?”
“Now. Or, um, later. Whatever you want.”
“I am hungry.”
“Get ready and we’ll go. What do you feel like? Or should we just pick something?”
“Pizza.”
“You got it.”
Knox backed out of the room and went downstairs. I could hear him tell Tackle that I’d agreed to go with them, but I didn’t catch his response.
After brushing my teeth, I got dressed, put my hair up in a bun, and sat down to lace up my boots. Was this a good idea? Was Tackle trying to make things seem “normal” between us? Would he treat me like his kid sister the same way Knox did? If so, it would kill me.
I slowly made my way down the stairs, thinking that when I reached the bottom, I’d tell them I wasn’t feeling well enough to go with them after all.
However, when my eyes met Tackle’s, who was standing by the door, I decided not to.
Like at the airfield, I imagined he was imploring me. To do what this time? Forgive him? Tell him I understood, and while my heart was breaking knowing that he and I would never have the kind of relationship I’d longed for in my fantasies, at least when the time came that I met, fell in love, and married another man, I would do so knowing that at least once in my life, I’d had sex with my first crush—my first love?
“Where’s Knox?” I asked.
“Outside, talking to your parents.”
“Oh.” I opened the front hall closet and pulled out a jacket.
“Here, let me,” he said, taking it from my hands and holding it out for me.
“Thanks,” I said, peering over my shoulder. He’d leaned in close, and his eyes were closed.
“You smell so good.” He inhaled as if I were a flower.
“Um, thanks.” I tried to take a step away, but his han
ds remained on my shoulders.
“I know this isn’t ideal, but I’d hoped that, after we eat, I could convince you to meet me somewhere private so we can talk.”
When the front door opened, he removed his hands and I took two quick steps forward. “Ready?” I asked when Knox saw me standing there.
“If you are.”
When we drove up in front of Max & Millie’s, Knox told us to get a table and that he’d park and meet us inside.
“This is your favorite pizza place, right?” Tackle asked, holding the door open for me.
“Can’t beat it.”
“Yeah, it’s my favorite too.”
Millie led us to a booth. Rather than sitting across from me, Tackle sat beside me.
“This is a little awkward,” I mumbled with a nervous laugh.