Page 43 of Demo
“I always have, kiddo.” He lets go of my shoulder and steps back. After I hop into the truck and roll down the window, resting my elbow on the sill, Monty adds one last comment. One that shocks me.
“Stop dragging yourself over the hot coals, Knox. If you don’t forgive yourself, she can’t forgive you, either.” He walks away, and I have this weird prickly feeling in the back of my throat.
I decide not to reach out to Lizzie. If she needs space, I’ll try to give her space. Besides, we have always found our way back to each other. Maybe we just need a little more time.
Chapter 13
Ten years ago …
LYZBETH
“Hungry?”Knoxaskedashe tucked me under his arm.
“Yes!” I answered as we began strolling down a city street. “I think they have food trucks down here,” I pointed ahead of us. I had just whooped his ass in a game of laser tag and was famished.
“You sure you don’t want something a little more … formal?” he asked, looking down at me. “’Cuz I don’t want to hear about how this isn’t a real date because we ate off paper plates. I am willing to take you to the finest two-star restaurant we can find.”
I laughed and shook my head. “I want quick,” I said, hoping he would take the hint in my voice. What I wanted was to be alone with him.
Pulling me in and kissing my temple, Knox breathed in my ear, “I prefer to take my time.”
We giggled our way down the sidewalk, then heard a voice ring out. “Knox!”
We both stopped in our tracks and looked over at a small group of tables clustered outside a little Mexican restaurant. Two of the tables were pushed together and two couples were enjoying chips and salsa.
My eyes immediately narrowed in on an older man that looked like Knox at about age fifty-five. He was flanked by a woman who looked the same age, and a younger couple, and they were all waving animatedly at us. I pointed toward the crowd. “Uh, is that—”
“My entire fucking family.”
“Oh! Wow.”
“Lyzbeth?” One of the women called out, her strawberry-blonde-with-a-kiss-of-silver, shoulder-length hair bobbing side to side as she waved her arm. “Is that you?” She put her hand over her eyebrows, as if she were blocking the sun, even though it was nighttime.
“Well, if it’s not, shit’s about to get real awkward,” said the guy standing next to her. He got an elbow in the gut from yet another woman standing on his other side.
“Come join us, little brother!” said the guy, rubbing his side.
“Oh, I don’t know, man, we’re kind of doing our own thing tonight,” Knox said awkwardly.
“Oh, come on! We just put our drink order in. Come at least have one with us,” said the older woman.
“That would be great!” I said before Knox could decline again. He looked at me, uncertain. “It’s your family, Knox. I don’t want to be that chick who won’t spare a minute for your family.”
Pulling me in for a quick kiss—which got an “aww” from the younger chick—before leading me toward the tables, Knox mumbled under his breath, “Just a quick stop.”
As we approached, Knox’s mother came barreling toward us, completely bypassing her son, and gathered me up in her arms. “Oh sweetheart, it’s so nice to meet you!” She nearly squeezed the life out of me as she embraced me and swayed side to side. “I’m Monica.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” I said and hugged her back. Since my mom moved, I hadn’t received a hug like that very often. It was nice.
“And I’m Clyde,” the man announced as his arm sliced down between Monica and me, effectively inserting himself. When I took his hand, he grasped it between his large palms and shook it with enthusiasm. “We’ve been dying to meet you.”
“Fuck’s sake,” I heard Knox mumble beside me.
The other guy and girl came around the table. “Lyzbeth, I’m Bram. Knox’s older and more handsome brother,” he said, leaning over and kissing me on the cheek. Bram’s hair was lighter than Knox’s, and he wasn’t as tall, but I could still see the resemblance.
Knox rolled his eyes.
“And this is my girlfriend, Emily.” Bram reached to his side and put his hand on the back of a beautiful, makeup-free brunette with bright eyes and an electrifying smile who stood beside him. She took my hand in both of hers. “Ohmygod, I just love what you have done to Knox,” she said. “Can we be best friends, please?”
