Page 52 of Rocky Top

The look on her face?

Pure panic.

Knoxstepped in then, ushering Emma off to play with Uncle Doug, the bulldog, and giving Eliza a nod like he’d handle me. Then he turned to me, all somber and serious.

“Birdie,” he said, “I think maybe you misunderstood what Eliza said. She’s been goin’ through a lot.”

“I’m… better,” Eliza said. “Sorry about the other day. I was pretty out of it.”

“Well, you were talking about all sorts of bizarre things, about Knox being a…a…”

Eliza laughed, pressing her hand to her forehead. “Yeah, I know. I said some wild stuff, didn’t I? I’ve just been feeling so sick lately, nausea, headaches, the works. I was rambling, Birdie. I’m so sorry if I worried you.”

Who was this act for? Me? More likely she was putting on for the boys. “I guess you did sound… I don’t know, delirious. Are you sure you’re okay now?”

Rocky stepped forward, slipping an arm protectively around my waist. “Eliza’s been under a lot of stress,” he said carefully. “We all have. With everything going on, it’s understandable.”

Knox nodded his agreement, setting a hand lightly on Eliza’s shoulder. “She’s been pushing herself way too hard,” he explained, his voice too calm. “Between raising Emma, the new school term, dealing with Mark’s passing… it’s enough to make anyone say things they don’t mean.”

I struggled to hide my concern. This was a shakedown. They were shaking down my friend because she said they were shifters?

“So, you’re not… serious about the, uh,‘fox’stuff?” I asked, in disbelief.

“No, God no. I—I don’t even remember half of what I said, but it was all nonsense. I promise.”

Holy shit. Were they seriously making her reassure me. Like I would believe such nonsense? Something was up. Something smelled. “Alright, if you say so. We were just worried you’d really lost it there for a minute.”

“I appreciate it,” Eliza said. Just following orders. “I’m sorry for scaring you.”

Rocky cleared his throat. “So,” he began, looking from my best friend to me. “I hear you two ladies had a talk about more than just that. Maybe about you needing some time off, or… something else you might need?”

Or maybe they were afraid she told me some club business?

“Just typical friend stuff,” Eliza peeped like she was a different person. “Girl talk and all.”

“Right,” I said, agreeing. “Eliza and I talk about everything, her weird dreams, nightmares, all that drama with Mark… but I guess not everything, right?” I gave her a look that said I had her back. No matter what was going on. “Next time, just let me know when you’re about to spin me some wild story. I’ll bring whiskey and chocolate.”

“Deal. Promise.”

Knox let out a long breath and shared a subtle look with Rocky, both men seemed satisfied that I now believed Knox didn’tchange into a shifter. Emma chose that moment to dash over, clutching a coloring page decorated with neon crayons.

“Look!” she announced, holding it up proudly. “Uncle Doug said I did a good job!”

As I cooed over Emma’s artwork, Rocky whispered to Knox and Eliza. “We’ve got that officer meeting soon. Eliza, you’re welcome to come, but if you’d rather stay out here, we get it.”

“I’ll hang with Birdie,” she said. “We’ll keep Emma busy.”

I reached out and patted her hand.

“You sure you’re okay?” I asked again.

But it was clear Eliza was spooked. She wouldn’t be talking. Not here. “I’m… trying to be,” she said. “It’s just been a lot, Mark’s death, the stress with the trial that never happened, and now all this wedding stuff. My body’s not handling it well.”

She patted her stomach, reminding me about her talk of being pregnant. We had a lot to discuss, but I wouldn’t broach it here. Not tonight.

“You know I’m here, right?” I reassured her. “For anything.”

“I know,” she said. “Thank you.”

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