“Then there’s no better way to start than with a love-filled home-cooked meal.” I gave him a small peck and stood up, though leaving his lap was the very last thing I wanted to do. I grabbed the pink frilly apron that hung on the back of the kitchen door and tossed it to him with a smirk. “Take your shirt off, it smells like stale beer.” He lifted the collar to take a whiff and grimaced before standing up and pulling it off over his head.
“Now what, boss?” He asked, lurking toward me with the first inkling of a smile on his face in days.
“Put the apron on and help me make some pancakes.”
He eyed the pink fluff in his hands. “I think it would look better on you.”
“Yes, I agree.” I shrugged, “But we’re not trying to get me on their good side. And no one can resist abs and pink frills when it’s holding pancakes and eggs.”
He shook his head with a grin. “Whatever you say, boss.”
“I like the sound of that,” I teased and grabbed the mixing bowl from the top shelf in the cabinet, fully aware that my ass would hang out at the bottom of my robe. When I looked over my shoulder, sure enough, he had his eyes glued right to it, and I shimmied for him before lowering myself to my heels.
I was going to get this triad their happiness back. And I hoped that they’d have room for me in their hearts and home at the end. Because I was hooked, and I no longer wanted to be on the outside looking in.
Chapter 30 – Hannah
Iwoke up to the smell of breakfast and coffee cooking in the kitchen and an empty spot on the other side of Knox.
I looked up at the ceiling, trying to gauge exactly how I was going to handle the day ahead because I knew it was more than likely going to get painful. But I was hoping there was healing and happiness on the other side of that pain.
I just didn’t know what it was going to look like when I got there.
Before Knox could wake up and try to bury his head in the sand by burying his cock inside of me, again, I slid from bed and freshened up in the bathroom. I dressed in a simple white sundress adorned with yellow daisies, attempting to brighten the day, and then returned to the bedroom.
Knox was sitting up in the center of the bed, with his back against the headboard, staring toward the hallway.
“Morning,” I said gently, bringing him out of his daydream.
He turned to me and gave me a gentle smile. “Good morning, Sweetheart.”
“How are you?”
“My balls ache, to be completely frank with you.” He deadpanned and gave me his signature charismatic smile.
“My vagina does too.” I crawled into bed beside him. “How’s your mind, though?”
He pulled me against his side and kissed my temple as we listened to the noise of pans and dishes rattling down in the kitchen.
“I don’t know.” He admitted, and I admired his honesty. “Do you think he’s downstairs?”
I shrugged, “With Lex?” I tried for lightness, “I think we would have heard the dishes breaking off the walls if they were down there together alone.”
“Hmm.” He hummed, “He’s here. I can feel him.”
I could too, but I didn’t want to give him a reason to stay in bed all day. “Are we going down there?”
“You can do whatever you want,” He tipped my chin back to look up at him, “I hold no ill will toward you and your love for him.”
“I hate this feeling, Knox.” Shaking his hand off my chin so I could look away, I continued. “I feel like my heart is being ripped in half.”
“I know.” He sighed, “Believe me, I know.”
“I want you guys to fix this.”
“He doesn’t want me, Hannah.” He pulled his arm off my shoulders and busied himself with the blankets as he tried to distance himself from me. “I can’t keep going on with things like that doesn’t destroy me. He destroyed me.”
“He told me what he said to you, and I completely understand why you’re distraught over that. I would be too if I were in your shoes, baby.” I crawled up on my knees to face him. “But I think we need to hear him out and learn why he said those things to begin with.”
“I don’t know if I can.” He closed his eyes in pain. “You’re asking me to hand him my maimed heart and let him destroy it the rest of the way.”
“I understand. I don’t know how to help you through this.”
He swallowed and took a deep breath. “I guess we should see if he’s even here before we worry about the next step.”
“I guess so.” I watched as he got out of bed, dressing in a pair of athletic shorts and nothing else before turning at the bedroom door to me.
“Coming?”
“Do you want me to?”
“I always want you near me, Sweetheart.” He held his hand out to me and I got out of bed and walked to him, lacing my fingers through his. I was sure he wanted my strength to go downstairs, but I wasn’t sure I had what he needed.
When we got to the bottom of the stairs, I heard Lex’s soft giggle and Knox’s hand tightened around mine.
As soon as we entered the large space, both of them stopped and looked at us.
Lex and Brody. Working together without fighting.
