Page 98 of Captured Love

Just as he leans in to kiss me, Wilder bursts into the kitchen. “Something smells amazing in here!” He pauses when he sees our position and smirks. “Oh, sorry. Didn't mean to interrupt.”

I quickly disentangle myself from Knox's arms. “You're not interrupting anything.”

Knox shoots Wilder a glare that could melt steel, but Wilder just shrugs it off. “Hey, don't stop on my account. I'm just here for the food.”

I clear my throat, trying to regain some composure. “Well, you're going to have to wait a bit longer. It's not ready yet.”

“No worries, I can be patient.” Wilder hops up to sit on the counter and swings his legs like he’s a little kid. Which is comical given how big he is.

I raise an eyebrow at Wilder. “Are you sure about that? Patient isn't exactly the first word that comes to mind when I think of you.”

Wilder clutches his chest dramatically. “That hurts, Selene. I'll have you know I'm the very definition of patience. Just ask any of the ladies I’ve been with.”

Knox scoffs as he continues to help me with dinner. “More like the definition of a pain in the ass.”

“Jealousy is a disease, bro. Get well soon,” Wilder tosses back at Knox with a grin.

Then something pops in my mind that I can’t stop myself from saying. “Would Jade say the same?”

I immediately regret throwing Jade under the bus. Knox looks at me, but I can’t read his expression. Not that it matters much because it's too late. Wilder's grin falters for a split second before he recovers.

“Jade? What about her?” he asks, trying to sound nonchalant. But I can see the tension in his shoulders.

I shrug, turning back to stir the pasta. “Nothing, really. I just noticed you two seem...close.”

Wilder hops off the counter, his usual smirk replaced by a frown. “We're just best friends, Selene. Don't make it into something it's not.”

“I didn't say it was anything,” I reply innocently. “Just an observation.”

If someone didn’t know where awkward was, it is definitely standing in the corner of this kitchen, making its presence known more by the second. Knox clears his throat. “Hey, Wilder, why don't you go set the table? Selene should be done with dinner soon.”

Wilder nods, looking relieved for the out. “Sure thing, bro.”

As he leaves the kitchen, I glance over at Knox. “What was that about?”

Knox sighs, rubbing the back of his neck. “It's...complicated with those two. They've been dancing around each other for years, but neither will make a move.”

I frown as I drain the pasta. “Why not? They obviously like each other.”

“Because Wilder is the class clown basically,” Knox explains, leaning against the counter. “And I don’t think Jade takes him seriously at all.”

“Well, maybe Wilder needs to show Jade that there's more to him than just jokes,” I say thoughtfully as I stir the alfredo sauce. “I mean, he seems like a good guy.”

Knox nods slowly. “You're probably right. But I don't think Wilder knows how to do that. Being the jokester...it's his thing, you know?”

His words strike a chord with me. I think about my own tendency to use humor or the party girl image to deflect when I'm feeling insecure or vulnerable. Like earlier, when the guys were teasing us about having sex. Do I do the same thing Wilder does? I guess I do, in a way.

As I'm pondering the parallels between Wilder's coping mechanisms and my own, the garlic bread timer dings, jolting me out of my thoughts. I quickly pull the tray out of the oven, the warm, garlicky aroma filling the kitchen.

Knox inhales deeply, a smile spreading across his face. “Damn, that smells good. Thanks, baby.”

I grin at him as I transfer the golden-brown slices to a serving plate. “Well, someone has to make sure you hockey boys are eating home-cooked meals once in a while.”

Knox chuckles, shaking his head. “You sound like my mom. Next thing I know, you'll be hiding veggies in the pasta sauce.”

“Don't tempt me,” I tease, bumping his hip with mine as I hand him food to carry to the dining room table. “I can’t wait to see her and your abuela again.”

Knox's face softens at the mention of his family. “They can't wait to see you again too,” he says. “Mamita keeps asking when you're coming over again. I think she likes you more than me.”

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