Page 52 of Worth the Want
“She already knows.” I don’t know why I said that. He doesn’t need to know.
“Oh really? So you’ve hadthe talk? How much time are you spending with her exactly?” Alder questions.
“Not a lot.” Three nights a week is a lot for some and not a lot to others, so it’s not really a lie.
“Hmm, I’m not sure I believe you. You’re not really a very good liar.”
“I’m not lying. She lives next door. I see her. Hazel wanted her to stay for dinner a couple of times.”
“Ah, and Hazey gets what she wants,” he says. “Kinda works out that her dad reaps those benefits too.”
“There are no benefits,” I tell him sternly.Not yet.Not that I don’t want there to be.I don't need people talking. More laughter makes its way to me, and I look to find her bent over with Colt, hand on his shoulder. He looks past her, giving me a wink before whispering something to her.Ass.
“Not yet,” Alder says, mirroring my thoughts. “You better head over to the table before Colt decides Indiana should hang out with someone her own age.” I just grunt in response but find myself walking to the table and sitting directly across from her, unable to look anywhere else.
She glances in my direction, her eyes widening marginally when she notices me. “I didn’t think you’d be here,” she says, smiling at me, like me being here makes her happy.
“Wasn’t planning on it, but Hazel went to her grandparents,” I explain.
“Well, I’m glad you could make it,” she says, and I don’t miss the blush on her cheeks.
A smile tugs at my lips at her admission. I like that she wants me here. I only nod at her. Mare stops back by our table, and she and Winnie invite her to their next wine night. Indie grins, accepting all open invitations, glancing back and forth between the two. I can only look at her.
She’s so beautiful. Her short hair just brushes her shoulders with every move she makes, reminding me of another night in another bar in what feels like another life. I wonder if it tickles, what it would feel like brushing my skin. Her brown eyes are shiny and full of excitement, but there’s something else there. I would almost miss it if I weren’t fully staring at her.Studyingher. Her pink, plump lips curved into a smile, and the gold hoop in her perfect upturned nose has no business being as sexy as it is.
Her eyes shift to me, catching me staring. I become aware of more than just her and realize someone has asked me something.
“Knox?” Winnie prods.
“Sorry, what?” I clear my throat.
“Can we come have a lake day? The weather is getting warmer, and I think it would be fun for us all to get together out at your place,” she explains.
“We could camp!” Mare cheers.
“Where are we camping?” Colt asks.
“At Knox’s,” Winnie answers.
“I’m in,” he says.
“I’ll have to check and see if Ivy’s down. Being six months pregnant changes the camping experience. If I bring a bed, she might be more willing,” Alder muses.
“I haven’t agreed to anything yet,” I object.
“She could have mine,” Indie chimes in. Everyone at thetable looks to her. “I mean…unless she wouldn’t want to? It’s just I-well I don’t mind sleeping in a tent. I never have before, and it sounds fun. And my b-bed or house is just right there.” Her rambling subsides, and I find myself smiling.
“That’s really sweet, Indie,” Winnie tells her.
“If you really don’t mind, I’ll tell Ivy that when I pitch her the idea,” Alder tells her.
“Not at all,” Indie confirms.
“You’ve never been camping?” I ask. She shakes her head.
“I’m not big on outdoor activities, so I don’t really do camping,” Winnie tells her.
“It’s not that exactly. I mean, no one would call me outdoorsy or anything, but I actually think I would like it; there just isn’t anywhere to be in nature in Atlanta. Not like here,” she says, swinging her arm in the air.
