Page 57 of Bad Wolf

“Kaaaate!” Jack squeals as he runs to the car when she steps out.

“Hey buddy how’s it going?”

“Good. Knox was just breaking down one of the plays from the game last night. He was so fast, even the slowed-down replay could barely catch it.” Pride oozes out of the little kid as he gushes about his hotshot uncle, tipping me off to the fact that he is indeed present for lunch.

I let it wash over me and square my shoulders. No one is ever going to censor themselves around me, and why should they? They’re his family after all, but it’s still nice when I get a side squeeze from Jenna.

When I imagined seeing Knox again, I knew I’d be met by his frosty demeanor. What I didn’t expect, was that you’d be able to cut the air with a knife. Thick and suffocating, the dark cloud sitting over the Madden siblings is enough to send anyone scurrying for cover.

As the person to blame, the first glass of wine thrust into my hand by Chloe, Rex’s beautiful wife, is gone before she can even finish her greeting. The second, I drink marginally slower.

When I’m handed my third, I spy Anna pouring Sprite into a high ball glass filled with ice, presumably for Jack, and ask her to add a splash to mine.

I’m getting kinda buzzed, and this is so not the time.

Coralie is uncharacteristically quiet. She can usually give as good as she gets, but is keeping herself busy in the kitchen, thwarting off my every attempt to be of help.

At one point, Gunner whisks her into their enormous pantry with a stony glare aimed over her shoulder, straight at Knox.

When dinner is served, I sit at the opposite end of the table from Knox, next to Chloe, not that I think he even knows I’m here. We’ve not even shared a glance, although it’s obvious Knox is only here for Jack. If I didn’t already know how much he loved that kid, I’d think he was putting on a show.

Tucking into the most delicious chicken parm I’ve ever tasted, I let myself fade into the background of all the chatter. Jack holds court next to Gunner, while Knox’s teammates Callan and Hollywood bicker like an old married couple.

At one point, I feel a kick under the table and see Jason’s furrowed brow. I swallow and send him my cheesiest smile across the table. He nods and continues with his meal while I chatter with Jenna, Chloe, and Kate.

My life is full of people, and there, in amongst the heartache and pining, is my little gift to myself. I might not have that endless romantic love in my life, and may still be weighed down by the sins of my past, but I have good food and good company to share it with.

When I turn to see Knox laughing obnoxiously, his whole face lighting up at something Jack says, I’ll still take that win.

* * *

Back at Scott’s later that evening, I’ve showered, dried off, and changed into my sweats and a loose tank, an ensemble that’s only fit for a night like tonight. With no girlfriends to call on or sister’s cell phones to blow up, it’s just gonna be me, myself, and I.

I gather together my notebook and a few colorful markers, ready to continue and edit my to-do lists, and head to the couch where my blanket awaits.

Remote in hand, I browse the guide on Scott’s TV, looking for something to take my mind off the awkward dinner, when knuckles lightly rap on the apartment door. I swing it open, my face erupting when I see Jenna holding a bottle of wine.

“This is a surprise!” I gasp, “Not that I’m not happy to see you, but what are you doing here?”

“You were so quiet on the drive back, I wanted to check in. I’ve done as much prep as I can for tomorrow morning, so you’ve got me for an hour.”

“Why didn’t you use your key?”

“Oh. Well, you weren’t expecting me, so I thought it best to knock.”

I nod.

She sheds her coat and walks to the kitchen, retrieving glasses and the bottle opener with practiced steps. She opens drawers and cupboards, and rummages around in the fridge with such ease. She knows her way around Scott’s kitchen, almost as if…

“It wasn’t Scott who organized this kitchen, it was you!”

She nods, smiling. “Something had to be done. The setup was…” She pulls a face as if it were the most cringe-worthy thing she’d ever seen.

“He was constantly doubling back on himself. It was hard to watch. Now he has his zones.”

Smile still firmly in place, she carries the tray she’s put together in the last few minutes without even thinking about it and my mouth waters.

She’s managed to cobble together the cutest charcuterie board from the sparse offerings we had.

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