Page 127 of Guarded Love

"Knox." Willow's laugh is shaky. "I've been disappointing you for years. The Leo thing in high school, dropping out of pre-med, changing my major three times?—"

"That's not—" Knox starts, but she cuts him off.

"It is. And I couldn't handle the thought of adding this to the list. Of watching you look at me like I'd made another mistake." Her voice drops to barely above a whisper. "Especially when this doesn't feel like a mistake. This feels like the first thing I've gotten right in my love life in years."

Knox looks at me then, really looks at me, and I see the exact moment something clicks for him. "You really love her," he says. It's not a question.

"More than I've ever loved anyone," I answer without hesitation.

"And you?" Knox turns back to Willow. "You love him?"

"Yes. I love him, Knox. I love how he makes me feel strong and safe at the same time. I love that he sees me and doesn't try to fix me or change me. I love him enough that I'd rather have you hate me than give him up."

Knox runs both hands through his hair, looking between us like he's solving some impossible equation. Finally, he lets out a long breath. "Fuck."

"Knox—" Willow starts.

"No, just...fuck." He shakes his head. "You should have told me."

"I know," she says quietly.

"But I get it." Knox's eyes meet mine. "I get why you didn't. And I get why you'd risk our friendship for her."

The admission surprises me. "Knox..."

"She's worth it," he says. "She's always been worth it. I just wish you'd trusted me enough to tell me."

"I know. And I’m sorry.” She looks back at me before returning her attention to her brother. “We both are.”

Knox looks down at his sister with a small smile on his face. It would be funny to point out how easily she was able to get past his bad boy persona and hit his heart, but now isn’t the time. "You're happy?" he asks her.

"Yeah," she says. "I'm really happy."

Knox nods slowly, then turns to me. "You hurt her, and best friend or not, I'll end you."

"I know," I say. "But I won't."

"Good." Knox extends his hand. "Then I guess we're okay."

I step toward him and shake his hand. "We're okay?" I ask again to be doubly sure.

"We're okay." Knox grins suddenly. "But next time you want to date my sister, maybe give me a heads up? This whole dramatic revelation thing is exhausting."

Willow laughs and the sound is bright, free, and music to my ears. "There won't be a next time, because there won't be anyone after Blaise."

"Damn right there won't be," I murmur, pulling her closer.

Knox makes a gagging sound. "Okay, that's enough. I may be okay with this, but I don't need to watch you two be gross about it. Also, if I had to choose who I’d want to date my sister out of the fuckers behind me, it would be you."

“Thanks?” I’m not sure if that’s a compliment, but I decide to take it as such.

Before Knox can offer a rebuttal, there’s a loud crash from somewhere behind us. We all turn to see Wilder standing over near a concession stand, but thankfully there doesn’t seem to be any injuries nor does anything look out of place. What’s strange is that Wilder doesn’t have his usual smile on his face and he’s not trying to rile anyone up with his jokes. He looks like he's about two seconds away from doing something incredibly stupid.

Following his gaze, I spot Jade, Levi, and Hailey near the team merchandise table, laughing at something a tall guy in a Crestwood basketball hoodie is saying. The guy seems to have his attention mostly on Jade, and it doesn’t take an astrophysicist to determine what’s going on here.

"Oh shit," Willow mutters under her breath.

"What's wrong with Wilder?" Knox asks, but even as he says it, his eyes track to where Wilder is looking. "Oh. Oh no."

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