Page 78 of Hello Tease

“I’d love to have a big family,” I admitted. “Our house was never quiet, and I always have someone to count on, no matter what... What about you?”

But she didn’t get to answer because Penny came back with the main course. Free-range chicken breast, homegrown mashed potatoes, and gravy made with milk from cows on the Minnicks Ranch. There was even a side of fried okra that came from their garden.

We ate and chatted, enjoyed each other, until it was time to go pick up the kids from Henrietta and Tyler’s. I could tell Larkin was tired—she scooted to the middle seat and leaned on my shoulder as I drove us home, the radio playing softly.

The kids were half asleep when we picked them up, and it was easy to help them settle in at Larkin’s place. Once they were down, I followed her to her bedroom to tell her goodnight.

But she looked up at me with wide eyes and said, “Will you stay the night?”

I couldn’t believe she was asking. Sure, we went on vacation together, and I came over for short bits of time while the kids were asleep, but something about being here when they woke up felt like a big step for us. Even bigger than saying I love you and calling her my girlfriend. “Are you sure?”

She closed the distance between us, kissing me softly on the lips. “I would love to wake up next to you.”

I smiled at her and said, “Let me go get my pajamas and a change of clothes so I don't scare the kids in the morning.” I couldn’t wait to wake up next to her, to make breakfast for her and the kids... I just didn't know how wrong it would go when we woke up.

43

LARKIN

I changedinto pajamas while Knox was gone to his house getting his things. And when he came back, we slept under my covers, him in buffalo plaid pants and a black shirt, me in a matching pajama set I got on sale at Walmart. And even though this was a simple life, we didn't have a fancy home like Ford, and I wasn't with my first husband, this life felt rich to me. Knowing my children were sleeping happily and that when they woke up, they would be loved and cared for.

I fell asleep with Knox’s arms curled around me and only woke up when Jackson cried out in the night. I went to his room, holding and rocking him until he fell back asleep and I could settle him in his bed. But since it was only half an hour away from the time I usually wake up for the day, I couldn't exactly go back to sleep.

I slipped into bed, lying in Knox’s arms, and was in that blissful place between being awake and sleeping when his phone vibrated on the nightstand.

I wondered who could be texting him so early but wrote it off as he tightened his strong arms around me. This had to be my favorite place to be.

But then his phone went off again, and again.

“Are you going to get that?” I asked him.

“Just mute it for me,” he mumbled into the back of my neck. Sleepy Knox had to be the cutest. I reached for his phone to silence it but found it was already muted. “You have to turn off the vibration in your settings,” I told him.

“How do you do that?” he asked, eyes still closed, long eyelashes pressed together.

I kissed the tip of his nose. “I can do it for you. I just need your password to unlock your phone.”

He muttered off a string of numbers that I tapped in. But then another text message came across the screen.

Garth: Found this pic of them at Minnicks.

A photo came through, a screenshot of something posted to the Minnicks Ranch Facebook page. Knox and I were sitting at a table together, holding hands on the tabletop and looking into each other’s eyes. We looked like we were in love. I smiled at the photo, making a mental note to ask Knox how to access the rest of the photos when he woke up. But then another message came through.

Dennis: Looks like Knox has a thing for the single mom. Think she put out last night?

Garth: Damn, now we know why he was so defensive with me.

Dennis: You sure you wanna raise Seth’s kids? What if they turn out like him?

Trent: Yeah, Knox, can't you find someone who doesn't have so much baggage? I mean, there are still some single girls in town. What about Della?

My heart sank as the messages slid over the screen. And I knew I shouldn't have done it—after all, curiosity killed the cat—but I tapped through to the prior messages, going back to see what they were referencing about Knox being so defensive. Surely he wouldn’t be okay with his friends talking about my kids and me like this.

But then I saw the text that they had sent back and forth the first time. Messages with pictures from the first night I went out with Liv and the girls. My stomach turned at the things they said about me. And then I felt like I could throw up when I realized that Knox had said nothing to defend me.

Along with the nausea, my heart sank. Felt like it was breaking.

Beside me, Knox still lay there, peaceful in my house. My children, the ones his friends were insulting, sleeping in the next room.

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