Page 131 of Never Sleep with the Enemy

Logan’s smug smirk stays locked on Knox and Jonah, like he’s waiting to see who snaps first.

Knox turns to Jonah. “What’s he talking about, Jo?”

Jonah hesitates. “I have no idea, man.”

Logan chuckles, a low, humorless sound. “Oh, you didn’t know, Knox?”

“Logan, stop!” I beg.

Tesla’s worried eyes flit between us. “What are you doing, Logan?” she whispers to him.

“No,” Knox mutters, shaking his head. “What’s he talking about?”

“Nothing,” I say again, but my voice comes out so small.

Knox’s glare sharpens on Jonah. “Jo. What is he talking about?”

Jonah looks at me. I shake my head, silently pleading, but I can see the crack forming in his resolve.

“Okay,” Jonah says, voice steady but low. “Knox, it’s not what you think.”

“What’s not what I think?” Knox asks.

“It...” I swallow hard, my heart pounding as Knox pivots toward me. “It’s not a big deal.”

“Hey, guys,” Jordan interjects, stepping forward on the stage. “How about we continue this conversation another time?”

“No. Fuck that,” Knox growls. “I need someone to tell me exactly what’s going on right now.”

“Nothing’s going on,” Jonah says. “It was a long time ago.”

I look at Logan. His eyes are dark, empty, pointed at the ground. Tesla and Goldie watch us with wide-eyed silence. The others, too. The whole room feels like it’s holding its breath, waiting to see what happens next.

A soft touch lands on my arm. Addison gives a gentle squeeze, a silent anchor while the world spins sideways.

“What was a long time ago?” Knox asks, eyes drilling into me. “Kat, you wanna chip in here?”

“We...” My voice trembles. “Jonah and I… kissed.”

Knox doesn’t even blink.

Pam clears her throat awkwardly. “I’m afraid I agree with Ms. Peck here. If there’s nothing else to discuss concerning our show tomorrow night, I’m going to have to ask you to take this conversation outside.”

“I’m sorry, Pam,” Jordan says, stepping in to smooth it over. She offers her hand, which Pam shakes stiffly. “We’ll see you tomorrow night.”

“Take care, hun,” Pam replies.

“Oh, we’ll try.”

Knox bolts out of his chair, storming past all of us toward the exit. I scramble after him, heart in my throat, feeling Jonah right behind me.

“Knox,” Jonah says as we spill outside into the humid afternoon sun. “Let me explain.”

Knox spins on his heel, his shoes scraping across the asphalt. “Oh, please do.”

“Yes, Katrina and I kissed,” Jonah says, calm but firm. “But like she said, it’s not that big of a deal.”

“When?”

---