Beauty and the Outcast (New Hope)

“Okay. I’m so digging this.” Faith’s smile stretches across her face. I duck my head as my cheeks start to warm. I really have to get control of this blushing thing.

“Don’t make it awkward for her.” Knox gives his sister a pointed look.

“How can it be awkward? It’s only us,” she defends herself. Knox drops his arm across the back of my chair. When the server comes to get our drink order, I don’t even get a chance to tell him what I want because Knox does it first. I can’t help but get a warm fluttery feeling in my chest at the fact that he knows what I like.

“This is so adorable.” Faith can barely sit still at this point. I know she wants to grill us about what is going on. I’m not really sure, to be honest. We’ve shared some kisses. He lets me touch him. I think that makes us a couple. Maybe.

“Knox said he has some ideas for Healing Homes,” I cut in. Ace leans back in his chair. His arm is around Faith’s chair too. They’re so comfortable together. They fit and balance each other out. Could Knox and I have that one day? This all seems too good to be true.

“Oh?” Faith’s eyebrows raise.

Knox goes into detail about the software he put together. I sit and listen to him explain everything. I’ve never heard him talk so much at once.

“You sound so much like Dad,” Faith says.

“He’s the one who taught me.” Knox shrugs like it’s no big deal. Faith rolls her eyes at her brother. I don’t think building a software program is something easily learned. Oz might have helped him, but Knox is clearly a sponge for information, soaking it all in easily.

“That’s really incredible. I was worried how I was going to be able to track and keep up with everything.”

“Just glad I could help.” His fingers play with the ends of my hair.

“That’s really sweet of you. Thank you. It means a lot.” Under all that ink and bad attitude is a sweet man. He leans down, his mouth meeting mine in a soft kiss.

“They’re kissing,” Faith whispers.

“I see that, babe,” Ace responds.

I let out a small laugh. Knox smiles against my lips. I think I love his smile as much as I love his kisses.

16

Knox

I sit up when a knock sounds at my door. “Come in,” I call out, throwing my legs over the side of the bed to get up. Oz steps through the door a second later. I drop back down onto the bed when I see it’s him and not Whitney. She went to her room to get ready for bed an hour ago.

“We need to talk,” he says, closing the door behind him. Shit. How is this about to play out? I thought he was okay with everything after catching us in the gym, but maybe he did that for Whitney’s sake so she wouldn’t get too embarrassed.

“I’m not going to stop seeing her.”

“I didn’t ask you to. When are you going to learn that you don’t always have to be on the defense around here? Name one time I didn’t have your back, Knox.” My mind shuffles through my memories. Even when I was in trouble, Oz was always there helping clean up my messes.

“Fuck me.” I drop my head, my throat growing tight. What is wrong with me lately? Since Whitney came into my life, she’s peeled a layer back off the shield I try to keep up to protect myself from getting hurt. Now I find myself feeling way too much. “I'm sorry.”

“I don’t want you to be sorry.” Oz walks over, sitting down in one of the chairs. “I want you to realize we’re a family. I know you didn’t get a great family to start with, but this is one, and you’re a part of it whether you like it or not.”

“I like it,” I admit.

“A woman will do that to you. Have you thought about the future and what you want to give her?” He’s right. Whitney should have a family. I want her to stay here with us.

“I can’t concentrate since I met her. Every thought I have circles back to her. Am I losing my mind?” I ask. “I crave for her to touch me.” Oz’s eyes drop to my chest for a moment. He’s seen the scars I have there. He’d once taken me to get one of my scars covered with a tattoo.

“You’re not losing your mind. You’re in love. Love has a way of healing you.” I run my hand down my face over this mushy shit right now. I’m starting to get on edge for some reason. Today was a little too perfect, and when you’ve lived a life like mine, you’re always waiting for the other shoe to drop.