Page 22 of Pucking Knox
"Family photos first," she announces. "Then couples."
I'm shuffled through various configurations of family members, trying not to notice how Knox leans against the house watching me. His tie is loosened just enough to be distracting, and his sleeves are rolled up showing his forearms. It's unfairly hot.
"Kennedy?" The photographer waves. "We lost you for a moment."
"Sorry." I refocus on smiling. "Where do you want me?"
Finally, it's time for couple photos. Knox's hand is warm on my lower back as we pose.
"Perfect." The photographer adjusts us slightly. "Now look at each other."Like you’re in love.
I turn to Knox, ready to fake it, but the look in his eyes stops me cold. He's watching me with something raw and honest that makes my heart stutter.
"Beautiful." The camera clicks rapidly. "Hold that."
"Kennedy?" My mother calls from inside when the photographer puts his camera down. "Can you help me find that old photo album?"
"I know where it is." I grab Knox's hand. "Come on."
He follows me upstairs to my childhood bedroom. The moment the door closes, he has me pressed against it.
"Your room is exactly what I expected," he murmurs against my neck. "All pastels and academic awards."
"Stop talking about my room."
"Why?" His teeth graze my pulse point. "Getting impatient, Princess?"
"You've been teasing me all day."
He chuckles darkly. "Turnabout's fair play. You think I couldn't see you watching me during photos? Squirming every time I rolled up my sleeves?"
His hands slide under my sundress, and I gasp. "Knox."
"Yes?" His fingers trace the edge of my underwear. "Want something?"
"I want—"
A sharp knock makes us jump apart.
"Kennedy?" Patricia's voice carries through the door. "Your mother's looking for you."
"Coming!" My voice is embarrassingly breathy.
Knox adjusts my dress with practiced hands. "To be continued."
"But—"
He kisses me once, hard and promising. "Later."
We rejoin the family looking only slightly disheveled. My grandmother gives me a knowing look but says nothing.
The rest of the afternoon passes in a blur of photos and family gossip. Knox plays his part perfectly – charming the aunts, talking sports with the uncles, even entertaining my little cousins with hockey stories.
He fits. That's the dangerous part. He fits into this world I've been trying to escape, makes it feel less suffocating somehow.
"Kennedy." Sawyer's voice breaks through my thoughts. We're back in our dorm room, the family gathering finally over. "You've been staring at that same page for twenty minutes."
"Just tired."
