Page 59 of Juniper Hill (The Edens 2)

The stress of the day was building behind my temples, and I lifted my hands, rubbing at the ache.

“What’s wrong?” I jumped at Knox’s deep voice.

How many shocks could a heart take in one day? I felt like I was in a haunted house with a creepy clown jumping out at me after each corner.

“Nothing.” I waved it off.

“Memphis.” He strode my way, stopping close enough that the scent of his spicy soap hit my nose.

God, he smelled good. Today, there was a hint of lemon too. Maybe he’d been making lemon meringue pie. It was my favorite.

“Talk to me.”

“I’m fine,” I lied. “Just a headache.”

“Close your eyes.”

“Knox, I’m fine.”

“You’re a horrible liar.”

I huffed a dry laugh. How many times had Oliver told me the same? Though he’d been the king of lies, so compared to him, everyone was merely an apprentice.

“You ran away from me earlier.” He inched closer.

“I’ve been thinking,” I said, squaring my shoulders and raising my chin. If I didn’t have confidence, I’d have to fake it. “I think it’s best if we stop this, whatever this is, before it goes any further.”

His eyes narrowed and those blue eyes saw straight through the façade. Damn. “Why?”

“Drake.”

“Look . . .” Knox ran a hand through his hair. “About what I said yesterday. I was just being honest. But I didn’t tell you the truth so you’d push me away.”

“If we tried this and it didn’t work, you’d lose him.”

“Yeah.” He nodded. “I know what’s on the line, Memphis. But I’m standing here anyway.”

“I still don’t think it’s a good idea.” Another lie that made him frown. “Drake has to be my focus.”

“Did I ask you to take him out of focus?”

“Well . . . no.” I couldn’t imagine Knox asking me to forsake my child.

He raised his hands and I tensed, sure that if he kissed me again, I’d crumble. But he didn’t cup my face and lean in like he had on Halloween. He rested the heel of his palms on my cheekbones so that his fingers could rub small circles on my temples.

It was heaven.

And hell.

“I can’t do this,” I whispered, my eyes falling closed so that I didn’t cry.

“Why?”

“I don’t want to let Drake down. I can’t let him down. I’m all he has.” I had no backup plan. Failure was not an option.

And I was scared too. That was the whole truth.

I was hanging on by threads most days. I gave Drake all my extra. If Knox made me fall in love with him and then we fell apart, I would fall apart. I wasn’t sure I had the strength to mend another shattered heart.