Page 70 of Captured Love

I smile, thinking of the controlled chaos that is my family. “Silence has its perks. But yeah, I’d probably miss the noise after a while.”

Knox stretches, his shirt lifting slightly to reveal a sliver of his abdomen. My eyes flicker to it, then quickly away. “So,” he begins, and there's a note of hesitation in his voice that catches my attention. “Can I ask you a question?”

“You’ve been doing that. Why are you asking? Or should I say, what would you like to ask?”

Knox rubs the back of his neck, and I can see that he’s nervous. That increases my curiosity even more. “Would you want to come to my abuela’s birthday party next weekend?”

I find myself staring at him as I process the question. My first instinct is to say no. Not because I don’t want to go, but because meeting someone’s family is a big deal, and I’m not sure where Knox and I even stand.

“Selene?” he says, and I snap back to the present.

“That sounds… nice,” I say slowly, trying to buy time for my brain to catch up. “But are you sure? I mean, it’s your family.”

He shrugs, though his eyes are more serious than his posture. “You’re important to me. They should get to know you.”

Important to me.Those three words hit me harder than the kiss, than any of the compliments tonight.They should get to know you.This is more than just an invitation; it’s an opening into his life, his world.

“I don’t want to intrude,” I say, though my resistance is weakening.

“You wouldn’t be,” he says firmly. “Besides, there will be tons of people. It’s a big celebration with enough chaos to make you feel right at home.” He gives me a hopeful smile, and I can see how much this means to him.

I bite my lip, torn. This could be a chance to see a different side of Knox, but this is serious.

“Okay,” I say at last, and his face lights up. “I’ll come. But if it gets too overwhelming, I reserve the right to make a quick escape.”

“Excellent,” he says, and I can almost hear the relief in his voice. “You’re going to love Mamita. She’s a firecracker.”

“I’m sure she is,” I say, stirring the pot again. The confession of his feelings and the kiss have already left me off balance. Now this invitation is making me feel as if I’m teetering on the edge of a cliff.

The vegetables have softened, and I add the tortellini to the pot. “It needs a few more minutes,” I say, turning to face him. He’s closer than I expected, and I take an involuntary step back.

“Selene,” he starts, but I cut him off.

“So what should I wear? To the party, I mean.”

He pauses, clearly switching gears in his head. “It’s casual. Just come as you are.”

As I am. “Got it,” I say. “Casual.”

The tortellini swirls in the pot, and I watch it like a crystal ball, hoping for some glimpse of the future. What will it be like, meeting his family? Will they welcome me with open arms? More than that, what does this mean for us? Are we a thing now?

I’m so lost in thought that I don’t notice when Knox reaches for me. His hand lands gently on my shoulder, and I look over at him.

“Hey,” he says softly. “You don’t have to overthink it. Just come and have fun.”

I nod, though I know that overthinking is my default setting. He means well, but he doesn’t realize the whirlwind he’s unleashed in my mind.

“Let’s eat. Can you grab some bowls?”

Knox releases my shoulder and moves to a cabinet. He pulls out two ceramic bowls. He hands them to me, and I give us both generous portions of the steaming soup. The rich aromaof parmesan fills the kitchen, mingling with the warmth of the broth.

We take our bowls to the dining table. Just as we are sitting down, I hear a door open and look up and find Wilder walking into the room. He scratches his head as he takes in the scene before him. “Am I interrupting something?”

Knox and I exchange a quick glance. “Not at all,” Knox says, leaning back in his chair. “Just having some dinner. Tortellini soup. Want some? Selene made enough for an army.”

Wilder's eyes flicker with a mix of emotions. “Tortellini soup?” he asks, as if he doesn't quite believe it.

“Yeah,” I say, trying to sound casual. “There's plenty if you're hungry.”

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