Page 101 of Captured Love

“They’re amazing. I feel like I’ve finally stopped waiting for something to go wrong, if that makes sense?” I answer as I start pulling out plastic cups and an assortment of mixers from another tote Isla brought in.

“That’s great!” Jade claps her hands together. “Looks like we were wrong about him.”

I pause for a second until I realize what she is referring to. She’s thinking about when Hailey and Jade warned me about Knox before we officially met. They had been concerned that Knox's reputation would lead to heartbreak for me. Given what we went through when we had sex for the first time, they weren’t wrong, but he’s changed and grown.

We both have.

“We’re not going to jinx it by saying anything more,” Hailey adds quickly, noticing my brief hesitation. “We just want you to be happy.”

I smile at them, grateful for their support. “I am. Really.” I scan the counter for a second before I hold up a bottle of tequila. “Shots to celebrate? Before the birthday boy gets here?”

They all exchange glances and shrug in unison. “Why not?” Isla says.

I’m already grabbing a few shot glasses from the cabinet near the stove. I swear I know where more things are in this kitchen now than the occupants of this house do.

As I pour the shots, we chat about nothing in particular, and once we all have one in hand, Hailey decides to do the toast.

“To friendships and hockey,” she says, raising her shot glass. We all clink glasses, and the sharp crack of glass on glass cuts through the hum of conversation from the living room.

The tequila burns its way down my throat, leaving a warm glow in its wake. I wince and then laugh as Isla makes a face like she just bit into a lemon. “Forgot how strong that stuff is,” she says, sticking out her tongue.

We start to put together a few mixed drinks for the rest of the party when I hear another knock at the door in between someone testing out the music setup for the party. I’m convinced it’s either Willow or Knox and I’m really hoping for the former. Knox isn’t supposed to be back for another twenty to thirty minutes and I’m counting on that.

“I've got it!” I call out, rushing from the kitchen. Blaise catches my eye and gives me a thumbs up. I give him a small nod as I make my way to the door. I think he's telling me that everything is set, but I'm already focused on the door and what—or who—is on the other side.

I pull it open, and my excitement deflates just a tiny bit when I see Willow standing there alone. She’s holding a small blue gift bag that I see white tissue paper coming out of.

“Willow! Hey!” I say too enthusiastically. I’m blaming it on the tequila. Always blame it on the tequila.

“Hey, I’m so sorry I’m late. It took me longer than I thought to finish up an article I needed to get to my editor asap.”

“You’re not late at all,” I reassure her, stepping aside so she can enter. “We’re just getting started. Come in!”

Willow hesitates for a moment, and I can see her eyes scan the room. She’s looking for someone, but I’m confused as to who it could be since she knows her brother shouldn’t be here yet.

She steps in slowly, and I take the gift bag from her hand. “This is so sweet. Knox will love it.”

“He better,” she mutters, but there's a softness in her voice that makes me think she's joking. Or at least half joking.

I start to lead her toward the kitchen where the girls are mixing drinks when I feel as if she’s not right behind me anymore. I turn around and find Blaise standing in the doorway of the living room, and Willow is staring him down.

What the hell?

“Willow,” Blaise says, breaking the tension. “Good to see you.”

Her eyes flicker with something I can't quite read, but she forces a tight smile. “You too, Blaise.”

An awkward silence follows, and I’m caught looking between the two of them. I’m still confused about what could havehappened. Did they have a falling out that Knox never mentioned?

I clear my throat. “Willow, do you want a drink? We just did a round of shots, but there's plenty left.”

She tears her gaze from Blaise and looks at me, her expression softening. “Sure. I'll take whatever you're making.”

With that, I turn and head back to the kitchen, but not before glancing over my shoulder to see Willow brush past Blaise without another word. He stands there for a moment longer, watching her go, before returning to the living room where the guys are now arguing about sports or something.

I quickly pour another shot of tequila and hand it to Willow. “Here. Once you take it, you’ve been initiated into the friendship and hockey circle.”

“Thanks. I can kind of do without the hockey, but I’ll stay for the friendship,” she says just before she takes the shot in one gulp. Isla and I share a look, and I know she also noticed how weird of a thing that was to say.

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