Page 15 of Knot in Bloom
“You don’t have to clean up,” I protest.
“We want to,” Caleb says simply.
The domestic scene makes my chest tight. When’s the last time anyone just took care of me? Without expecting something back?
When they’re done, neither one makes moves toward the door.
“Coffee?” I offer, because the silence is getting awkward.
“Sure,” they both say at the same time, then glance at each other.
I busy myself making coffee, hyperaware of how they’re both watching me. How the air feels thick with something I can’t name. When I turn around with three mugs, they’re sitting at my table looking like they’re trying to figure out what to say.
“So,” I say, settling back into my chair. “This was nice.”
“It was,” Levi agrees.
“Yeah,” Caleb adds. “We should... maybe do it again sometime.”
Another pause. Like we’re all thinking the same thing but nobody wants to say it first.
“I should probably head out,” Caleb says, but he doesn’t get up.
“Me too,” Levi says, also not moving.
I look between them. “You don’t have to leave yet. I mean, if you don’t want to.”
“You sure?” Caleb asks.
“Yeah. It’s nice having...” I trail off, not sure how to finish that sentence. Having what? Company? Two attractive men in my apartment? People who actually seem to care about me?
We drink our coffee in comfortable quiet. Nobody rushing to fill the silence. And for the first time in years, I don’t feel like I have to entertain anyone or prove I’m worth their time.
Eventually they do leave. Levi kisses my cheek soft and sweet. Caleb squeezes my shoulder with that gentle possessiveness I remember from childhood. I watch from my window as they walk to their trucks, see them pause to exchange a few words before driving off in different directions.
I sit in my empty apartment surrounded by lingering traces of cedar and sandalwood. Trying to process what just happened. Two men showed up at my door, fed me, cleaned my kitchen, and seemed genuinely happy to spend time with me.
It should feel impossible. Too good to be true.
But everything in me feels settled for the first time in years.
Outside, Saturday night settles over Honeyridge Falls. Tomorrow I have to figure out Reid’s business proposal and what comes next with whatever this is becoming.
But tonight I’m going to finish this wine and try to believe that maybe I deserve something good for once.
Even if I don’t know what it looks like yet.
Chapter 6
Reid
I’ve been staying at the Honeyridge Inn for two weeks now.
Two weeks of driving an hour each way for meetings that could’ve been handled remotely. Riley’s assistant Susie made a booking error when she searched for accommodations - found “Honeyridge Inn” in the Pine Valley area results without realizing it’s actually thirty miles away in a different town entirely.
I should’ve had her correct it immediately.
Instead I’ve been making this drive twice daily. Morning coffee walks through town that always seem to end up on Main Street. Evening drives back to the inn where I tell myself I’m being ridiculous.
