by Destiny, Sam
“Do you have siblings? If we’re dating, I need to know those things,” he stated casually, and I felt a thrill go through me at his words.
“Fake dating,” I pointed out, mainly because I needed to remind myself I didn’t know anything about the guy in front of me.
He arched a brow, then shrugged. “So tell me.”
“I have a big sister, Tanya, who lives across the country. Fort Lauderdale. My parents live down in Florida, too.” In fact, my whole family, including my grandparents, cousins, and aunts do, I thought.
“Why are you up here then?” His eyes were watchful as he’d stopped unpacking to look at me.
“We grew up in that house, but my family was ready to have sun all year, so they moved.”
Knox sat on the floor and rested back against his bed, drawing up one jean-clad knee. “Yet you’re still here.”
I nodded, trying to swallow down my emotions. It wasn’t that he didn’t know my secret—after all, the crows had made sure he did—but I never spoke about it.
“Penny’s buried here, so I can’t leave. Besides, I love fall and winter, so moving down there is not in the cards for me. You know, no snow.” I winked, willing him to grin, but his dark blue eyes were hooded with pain.
“Penny is your daughter?”
I stood, unable to stay seated when we talked about the one person who’d changed my life both for the better and the worse. “She was six weeks old when she died of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. There’s no reason or method to it. I checked on her at one that night. When I went back at three because I couldn’t sleep, she wasn’t breathing anymore. I called nine-one-one. They walked me through resuscitation while the ambulance was on the way, but…” I shrugged. “Looking back, I recognized they knew there was nothing they’d be able to do.” I paced until he grabbed my wrist and drew me down onto his lap, wrapping his arms around me. I hid my face against his shoulder. “I went through it all. Police, the coroner, everything, but I was numb. My boyfriend and I separated six months later. I didn’t care.”
I willed my mouth to stop, to be quiet, but my mind had other plans. “That was five years ago. For three years afterward, I didn’t care about anything. I worked and slept. Two years ago, I started hanging out with people again, just to be human, but… What the crows said is pretty much true. I haven’t cared about a man in years. Don’t see them, don’t notice them flirting, and if I agree to a date, nothing ever comes out of it.”
I was conscious of his lips pressed against my shoulder. The way he held me, one hand in my hair, I couldn’t help but think that no one had ever bothered to hold me like this. Almost as if he were trying to hold me together. It was impossible to fall apart when he was keeping all the pieces of me in place.
“Yet here you are with a boyfriend,” he teased, trying to make me smile.
It worked.
“Yes, definitely.” I pulled back, willing my heart to slow down, but he didn’t let me go far.
“Are you okay?”
His eyes searched my face, demanding honesty. I nodded.
After all this time, all these years, I finally felt like I would be okay.
* * *
KNOX
It was eleven p.m. when Callum decided to make an appearance again. I hadn’t seen him since Sarah arrived, and although I didn’t exactly worry that the town would be bad for him, I couldn’t keep myself from falling into old habits.
I refrained from calling out a greeting to him because I didn’t want to be disappointed if he didn’t answer. To my surprise, he sat next to me on the couch.
“Hey, Dad.”
He propped his feet up on the coffee table, and I bit my tongue so I wouldn’t snap at him. This was the first time in weeks he’d willingly sat down next to me and hadn’t sounded hostile.
“Son,” I replied, pointing over my shoulder. “I ordered Chinese earlier. You can have the rest.” I ordered a mix of our favorites, but knew he really didn’t have a preference when it came to food. As long as there was some.
“Thanks. So, you know, Sarah…”
I arched a brow because he’d called her by name. “Yes?” I glanced from the magazine I was reading up to his face—nearly choking at the crimson blush on his cheeks.
“She’s cool. And pretty. Will she be around, you know, more often? After all, you guys are fake dating.” His eyes were on his cellphone in his hand. The screen was dark, but he fidgeted with the device anyway.
“I should’ve known you were listening in. After all, your ears do work,” I teased. He gave me a half grin that reminded me of when he’d been younger. I couldn’t help smiling, despite not wanting to. “Yes, I’m going to play her boyfriend on Saturday, so we need to get to know each other in order for everyone to believe it. Why are you asking?”
“She’s cool.”
He’d said those words before. I blinked in surprise. “Wait,” I said after a moment. “When you say she’s cool, do you mean you’d like to have her as a step-mom and are giving me the okay, or are you saying…”
“She’s hot. Super hot. And funny. And nice,” he stated, blushing even more. I could almost feel the heat coming from his face.
“She’s also twice your age, son.” Despite the fact that the irony amused me, I was jealous because I considered her to be all of those things, too.
He shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. She didn’t treat me like I was half her age. And I saw her looking at me.”
I rubbed my forehead. My son was majorly crushing on my new fake girlfriend—and I had to be the one to tell him that nothing would ever come of it.
I also had a feeling that meant, after Saturday, I should stay away from her until his infatuation passed; otherwise, he’d just construe everything I’d say as a way of trying to get him off her back.
I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees, wondering how best to say what I had to say. “Listen, Callum—”
“I know you have a boner for her, Dad. I’m just saying all is fair in love and war.”
I coughed in disbelief, looking at him to see if he was joking. He was dead serious. I briefly considered reminding him whom he was talking to and how he should be careful with what he said, but I was too surprised by his declaration of…
Of what? Had he ushered a challenge?
I knew for a fact there was no chance in hell Sarah would think of him that way, but I couldn’t help but think Callum would end up hating both of us for a while.
In the end, the lawyer in me decided to change tactics, knowing if you couldn’t win with force, you needed to try sympathy. “What if I really like her, Callum? What if I haven’t liked anyone the way I like her?” My voice was soft, my tone calculated, but my son saw right through me.
“Do you like her unlike anyone before?”
He knew I’d been bluffing and called me on it. “I don’t know her well enough for that, son, but it could happen,” I replied, hoping it would be enough.
He stood. “Well, Dad, may the better man win. Just remember to not be a sore loser, okay?” He waggled his brows and walked toward the kitchen, probably to eat the rest of the Chinese, while I couldn’t help but think he was nothing more than a boy.
I combed my hand through my hair, deciding to call it a night now that I knew he was home safely.
When my cell rang, I jumped. I’d been used to late-night calls, but since I wasn’t at any CEO’s beck and call anymore, it surprised me.
“Dyer.”
“Oh, good. You’re still up. It’s Dale. Sorry for calling so late. Sally didn’t want to go to sleep.”
“That’s no problem. What’s up?”
“You’re in. If you want, you can start tomorrow. I’ll pick you up the first day, okay? Boss said you’ll be paired up with someone who’ll show you the ropes, so you’ll be glued to someone’s ass the first few days, but after that, it’ll be smooth sailing.”
I smiled to myself. “What time?”
“Eight,” Dale replied.
“I’ll be ready. And thank you.” I was about to hang up when I remembered something. “Oh, do you need me to tell you the exact—”
Dale chuckled. “I know where you live, so no need to worry. I’ll see you then.”
And with that, we hung up.
I considered sending Sarah a message to thank her for having suggested Dale, then thought better of it.
We’d exchanged numbers in case either of us suddenly thought of something they had to know in order to make our “date” believable, but this would’ve been different.
I’d have texted her just because I wanted to share my good news with someone, but after the talk with Callum, I suddenly couldn’t be as easy-going as I’d wanted.
I made my way up the stairs, stopping in the hallway when I heard my son coming up, as well, still chewing.
“I’m starting work tomorrow. You’ll have to—”
“I’ll be fine. If Sarah comes over to help with the rest of the unpacking, I’ll be here. No worries, Dad.” He smirked at me.
I gritted my teeth. Besides the fact I’d asked him to help me unpack several times and he refused, I didn’t want those two alone because Sarah had no idea what any nice gesture would do to my son.
I’d been sixteen once and remembered having crushes. I also remembered thinking every smile, every sultry look had been about me. It would be the same thing Callum would turn Sarah’s niceness into, and she’d be walking right into it.
“She won’t come. She works tonight and said she’ll be tired in the morning, so she wouldn’t drop by. Especially because I told her I’d be picking new color for the dining room walls.” Which had been my intention, but that had to wait now.
“I know she works. I saw her.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Saw her?”
He sighed, as if I were slow. “Yeah. She passed by the skatepark in her police cruiser.”
“Police cruiser?”
Now Callum actually laughed. “Why did you think she asked you to the police ball? Why would she be hosting it if she weren’t on the force?” His eyebrows nearly vanished into his hairline when he realized I hadn’t thought she could actually be a cop. “God, Dad. What did you think she did down there?”
“Secretary work, maybe nine-one-one operator. I thought…” Yeah, I’d thought she’d be behind a desk. Nice and simple, safe.
Callum shook his head. “Someone as smart and fit as her? Even I realized instantly that she wasn’t a dumb, blonde vacuum.”
Sometimes it’s as if he’s speaking another language. “A what?”
He shrugged. “You know. One of those dumb blondes who kneel to suck off whoever packs an important dick. She’s much better than that.”
“Language.” The word was barely more than a whisper because I couldn’t help but think about Sarah.
She carried a gun and was out on the streets. How dangerous could Eden be? We hadn’t seen much more than the suburbs, but was there a part you didn’t want to walk through at night?
Callum nudged my shoulder. “You okay, old man? You’re a little pale.” There was amusement in his voice.
I shook my head, forcing a grin. “Careful who you’re calling an old man,” I replied with humor I didn’t really feel, then sighed. “Police work is dangerous, even if you’re athletic and whatnot. That’s all.”
Something flashed in Callum’s eyes, but he just cocked his head, shaking it a second later.
“You’re getting soft. Good night.”
He walked into his room, leaving me alone in the hallway again, surprised about the amount of words I’d exchanged with my son that day.
SARAH
The night before the ball, they canceled my shift, leaving me with too much time on my hands.
Knox and I hadn’t seen each other again, and as easy as things had been going between us, I couldn’t help but feel nervous about the next evening. Everybody would see two people out on a date—or so I hoped—but for me, it would be as if we were going out for the first time.
I am, my heart whispered.
I’m not. It’s a fake date, my brain reminded me.
And that was the exact reason my best friend, Mitch, short for Michelle, sat on my couch across from me and sipped red wine.
“Is he hot?” she asked, waggling her eyebrows.
“He’s very nice,” I replied, wanting to sound less shallow than I felt when being around Knox because, truth was, my mind went to the gutter. His arms were strong, his abs showed under his usually tight shirts, and whenever he gave me a grin, those blue eyes sparkled like water on a sunny day.
I couldn’t care less how “nice” he was during those moments. All I wanted was for him to bend me over the kitchen counter and be rough with me.
Mitch, knowing me better than that, laughed. “So he’s very hot. Panty-melting hot? Will you forgo your underwear tomorrow to maybe—”
The doorbell interrupted her, which I was glad for. I stood. “No. We won’t talk about that because it’s a fake date,” I reminded her and walked to the front door.
Opening it, I saw Knox standing on my porch, almost as if our talk had conjured him up. “K-Knox,” I greeted him, surprised and a little embarrassed because I knew Mitch was in the living room, probably trying to listen in.
“Sarah.”
Knox stepped forward, the gesture commanding, and I took a step back into my hallway. God, he smelled good—sandalwood, coffee, and uniquely him.
“It won’t take long,” he stated, combing his fingers through his hair. He wore faded blue jeans and a black AC/DC t-shirt, making it impossible to focus on his face. It must’ve been from his teenage years because I was sure I could see every single muscle.
“Okay. I have a visitor anyway, so why don’t we just—”
His eyes went behind me. “Oh, hello.”
I didn’t need to turn to know Mitch leaned against the doorframe of the living room, holding her wineglass in front of her lips to hide a smirk.
“Hellooo, handsome,” she replied.
“Knox?” I asked, angry that his eyes stayed glued to my best friend. She was taller than me with long legs and dark hair. I’d never felt self-conscious when around her, but I suddenly couldn’t help but think I wasn’t good enough, pretty enough.
“Yes.” His gaze swung back to me and softened. “I just needed to tell you… After Saturday, I need you to not show up at my house anymore. At least not unannounced. I…” He swallowed, his Adam’s apple moving as he glanced away. “I wish I could explain, but I can’t right now. Just trust me when I say it’s nothing you did. You are amazing. It’s something different.”
My fake boyfriend was currently really dumping me, and that was before we’d even gone on our first date. I swallowed around the lump in my throat. “You know… I never wanted to force myself on you. Don’t worry about tomorrow, okay?” My voice was soft, although I felt raw inside. I realized I’d been looking forward to going with him. Now I had to face the embarrassment of going alone—again.
Knox stepped forward and reached out, cupping my cheek. “I want to go with you, Sarah, and I will go with you. I also want to talk to you afterward, but visits to my house have to be strictly limited. I’ll explain one day. I promise. But I wanted to tell you today, not tomorrow when you have such a big night. I just came from work or I would’ve been here earlier.”
His eyes flicked behind me, as if suddenly remembering Mitch stood there. Part of me hoped she’d walked back into the living room, but when he gave a curt nod, I knew it had been wishful thinking.
He brushed his thumb across my lower lip as his eyes met mine again. “Okay. I’ll leave you to your wine and girl talk. Don’t tell her my secrets. Those are just for you.” He smiled, but it was strained, probably because I couldn’t smile in response.
“We’ll just analyze what secrets she could possibly still uncover if you took off that shirt of yours,” Mitch commented, making my cheeks heat.
Knox leaned in until his lips touch
ed the outer shell of my ear. “If I show you, will you promise you won’t spill details?”
This got me to laugh, and a little of my tension melted away.
“Depends on how impressive it is,” I replied. He chuckled, surprising me by kissing my forehead.
“I’ll pick you up tomorrow at six,” he promised. “Good night, girlfriend.”
“Fake girlfriend,” I corrected, and he winked.
“You’d better not say that tomorrow. Good night.” He said it to both me and Mitch, then let himself out.
I closed the door behind him, resting my palm against the wood as I collected myself. What the hell had this been about?
“You, woman, have been holding out on me. He’s fucking hot! That dark hair, those black eyes…”
I turned to Mitch, following her as she strolled back into the living room. “His eyes aren’t exactly black, but a dark blue. Anyway, you know, you could have waited in here,” I said, exasperated.
“After you greeted him? Hell no. I needed to see who has you twisted around his little finger. Damn, he’s a fine male specimen. And you actually have a date with him.” She fanned herself. “I need every dirty detail. Every. Little. Thing.”
I poured myself some wine. She’d opened the bottle for herself, but I suddenly needed something to calm my erratic heartbeat. “You heard him. He basically broke up with me before anything started. You were there. You witnessed it. I don’t know what’s wrong because when I was over there on Wednesday, he was okay. I must’ve been too…too…” I didn’t know. I was at a loss because I had tried to not be clingy.
The first sip of the wine gave me goosebumps. While I often enjoyed a glass when Mitch was over, my body was clearly telling me it wasn’t ready for one tonight.
Mitch just rolled her eyes. “Puh-lease. The way he looked at you said it all.”
I shook my head, remembering the way his gaze had lingered on her. “No, the way he looked at you said it all,” I retorted quietly.
There was a long moment of silence, then Mitch suddenly knelt in front of me, her lips parted in surprise.
