Page 35 of Knox
Grady’s face lit up. “Knox, guess what? I hit the ball way past Archer today. Almost to the bushes.”
A smile tugged at Knox’s mouth. “Look at you. Hitting it farther every day.”
Mallory nudged Grady. “Tell them what else you did.”
Grady rolled his eyes. “I ate my broccoli. Even the little ones.”
“That’s my guy,” I praised. “Gotta keep your muscles strong.”
“He’s right,” Archer called out. “And eat your spinach so you get strong.”
“I don’t like spinach.” Grady pouted, then took a jab at Archer. “Maybe you need more spinach since I almost made you fall over when I threw the ball to you.”
“That true, Arch?” Knox asked. “Or you just milking it for the insurance claim?”
He laughed and came up behind Mallory and Grady so we could see him on the screen. “Hey, kid’s got a cannon. One of these days he’s going to knock me flat on my booty, and I’m cashing in.”
Mallory shook her head. “He’s only four.”
“Yeah, four going on being a big-leaguer soon,” Archer shot back, drying his hands on a dish towel.
Grady giggled like it was the best thing he’d heard all night. “Just like my daddy!”
The words hit hard, leaving me both proud and hollow. He still saw me that way, even with me over a thousand miles away. Watching through a screen gave me a glimpse, but it wasn’t the same as being there, living it with him.
Mallory nudged Grady. “All right, monkey. Time to say goodnight so Archer can help you get cleaned up.”
“Night, Daddy. Night, Knox. I love you.”
“Love you too, bud,” I said.
“Love you, G,” Knox added.
Mallory turned back to the phone. “By the way, I talked my mom into going home tomorrow. She’s in the guest room packing right now.”
“Are you sure you’re ready for her to leave?” I inquired.
“Absolutely. Plus, Archer helps a lot, and she can’t stay here forever.”
“I’m sure she’d love that.” Knox chuckled. He and Debra didn’t have a good relationship. I wasn’t sure why she didn’t like him that much, but it was clear she didn’t by the way she acted toward him. I had to think it was because she believed Mallory and I should get back together now that I knew about Grady.
The call ended, and I set my phone down on the coffee table. “Feels like he’s got more of a life without me than with me,” I muttered after a bit.
Knox squeezed my thigh. “He’s got a life full of people who love him. And no matter what, you’ll always have a place in it that’s just yours.”
“Yeah.” I sighed. “But just a few more weeks before I get to hug him.”
“It’ll be here before you know it.”
Knox was pullinga pan of bacon out of the oven as I walked into the kitchen. It smelled good and my stomach growled. Damn, I loved that my man was willing to cook for us.
“Morning,” I told him, and kissed his lips quickly.
“Morning.” Knox set the pan down on the stove. “Omelet?”
“You know the answer.” I grinned and then poured coffee into a mug.
He walked over to the fridge and got the eggs and the creamer for me. He handed me the bottle of vanilla goodness. “So, I’ve been thinking.”
