Knox smiles. “You on board with this, Phoebe? He’s kind of bossy and downright grumpy at times.”
“I’m sure,” I answer, as Ty threads his fingers through mine.
Knox’s gaze assesses us both for a beat until he nods. “Ok then. You staying for dinner? I’m gonna make some tacos. Mama Zabek stocked us up.”
“No, I actually have to get to work,” I say, standing. The guys both rise as well.
“I’ll walk you out,” Ty tells me.
“I’m good. This house is huge, but I think I can find my way to the front door.”
“Humor me?” And when he smiles, I can’t say no. That could become a problem.
Knox wanders off down the hall, but Ty and I turn and take the stairs. I gather my stuff and then he meets me at the door with a small paper bag in his hands. “Dinner. You’ll have to eat with us soon, but for tonight, a wrap, an apple, and some chips will have to do.”
He packed dinner for me. Sure, it was just what someone else made and put in his fridge, but man. It’s been awhile since someone did something this simple and sweet for me. For the last few years, I’ve been the caretaker. I’m not used to being on the receiving end of sweet gestures these days, but something tells me I might need to get used to it.
We walk outside and I toss my bags in the back seat of my green Corolla.
“Have a good night at work,” he says, lacing his fingers through mine.
“I will. We’re making watercolor butterflies with paint and coffee filters, so that’s a guaranteed good time.”
“I’ll take your word for it. Will you think less of me if I tell you I can’t even draw stick people?”
I laugh. “Nope. You’re helping me make my way through Jane Austen. I won’t be criticizing any of your skills.”
Tension crackles between us as both our minds veer to the skills we were just practicing up in his bedroom.
“Good to know.” He smirks. Brushing a lock of hair over my shoulder, he leans in close and gives me a kiss.
Reluctantly, I pull away, knowing I need to get on the road. “See you soon?”
“Definitely,” he says, and it’s clear we’re not just getting together to study. “I’ll text you later?”
“Yea. I’m done with work at 6, and then I have a civics study group in the library until nine.” He kisses me once more before I take my seat and put the keys in the ignition. As I pull out of his driveway, I replay my day over in my head. It’s been a pretty damn good one, but I figure I’m due.
***
Ty
Phoebe pulls away from the drive and I watch until she turns the corner and her taillights disappear.
Just then, Whit’s car comes into view and he takes the space her car just vacated.
“Is that who I think it is?” he asks, stepping out of his SUV and pointing in the direction of Phoebe’s car.
I nod and we walk inside.
Knox’s waiting for us at the large marble island. He’s got two rows of shot glasses set up next to a bottle of Macallan whiskey.
“Dude. It’s not even three o’clock,” I say, though I’m fairly certain Knox downs a shot of whiskey before he gets up every morning.
Whit takes a seat at the island and I follow suit.
“You’re really doing this?” Knox asks me, and I nod.
In response, he pours three heavy shots and slides one in my direction, and then passes one to Whit. We raise our glasses and take our shots. The whiskey burns a trail of fire down my throat.
