Page 62 of Pucking Knox
Because Kennedy's smiling at me again.
"Kick ass." she squeezes my hand as Wilson waves me over.
I kiss her once more, quick and claiming.
"For you, Princess."
Chapter 23
His public confession replays in my mind as I sit in my car outside the combine arena, hands shaking on the steering wheel.
He’s sorry.
But is he? I have spent days doubting everything.
And now he thinks one speech fixes everything?
My phone buzzes with texts about Knox, and I ignore them all and drive, no destination in mind, just needing to move.
I end up at the beach house. It's empty this time of year, but I still have the code. Still remember everything that happened here just weeks ago – Knox in the pool, his hands on my skin, promises I was stupid enough to believe.
"Kennedy?" Sawyer's voice comes through my phone. "Where are you? The videos of Knox's speech are everywhere."
"I can't..." My voice breaks. "I can't do this again. Can't let him in just to watch him run when things get hard."
"You’re not happy?"
"No." I press my forehead to the cool window. "What happens the next time he gets scared? Next time his father shows up? Next time..."
"Okay." She sighs. "Yeah. True… You have a point."
I watch waves crash against the shore, remembering how Knox said the ocean terrified him. Unpredictable. Uncontrollable.
Like love.
My father calls next.
"What was that?" His voice could freeze hell. "That display at the combine?"
"Hi, dad."
"Need I remind you what's at stake? The campaign? Your future?"
But for once, I don't care about the campaign. Don't care about perfect images or polling numbers or anything except the war between my heart and my pride.
I hang up on him.
Another text comes through – Ace this time.
Ace: We need to talk. Now.
Kennedy: I’m at the beach house
Ace: Why are you all the way out there?
Kennedy: To breathe
He arrives an hour later.
