“You definitely will not. What if you don’t make it back in time to shoot?” Wyatt’s found renewed energy and has moved into my personal space.
The doors open and I rush out, having made up my mind. “I can’t just sit here and do nothing. I have to go.”
They’re both matching my strides. Even Hannah with her short legs.
The scene before me brings me up short, and Wyatt runs right into me.
Knox is sitting on the floor in front of my door eating a candy bar. “Where’re you heading, Amber?”
Wyatt asks, “Why does he call you that?”
I turn my back to Knox and face my brother and sister-in-law to be. “Thanks for everything today. I’ll meet you at seven in the lobby, okay?”
I’m met with identical sour looks, but they walk next door to their room, grumbling the whole way.
Once they disappear, I focus on Knox. He’s wearing the same dark jeans and pullover hoodie he had on the last time I saw him at four o’clock this morning. His stubble has filled in his entire jaw and his hair is messy but because it’s so curly, it looks good. Too good and I have to remind myself how worried I’ve been, but all I can feel now is relief.
“I was going to find you.”
He lifts himself from the floor, but hangs back, leaning on the door. There’s a weariness in his eyes despite his easy grin. “I didn’t know I was lost.”
“Your phone’s off.”
“In my haste to leave this morning, I forgot my charger.”
“I was worried.”
“Sorry.”
“I didn’t think you were speaking to me anymore.”
He frowns and pushes off the door. Before he can respond, a murmuring group walks down our hallway.
Weston beams. “Knox?”
Knox nods but is focused on his father.
Flynn frowns, but the relief is written on his leathered face and in the relaxation of his shoulders. “Where have you been, son?”
Where Flynn’s shoulders have relaxed, Knox’s tense and rise to somewhere around his ears.
I have no idea what he was about to say before his family walked up. Maybe he was going to tell me that he isn’t speaking to me anymore and was only waiting outside my door to officially end our relationship before it has a chance to leave the ground. Or maybe he was going to say that he came to his stupid senses. Regardless, I move closer to him, lending my energy if he needs it.
He puts an arm around my shoulder and pulls me into his side.
Thank you, sweet Black Baby Jesus.
Flynn’s frown deepens, but he doesn’t say anything.
Knox says, “I know what you tried to do.”
His father doesn’t even flinch. He’s probably done so much, an accusation like that doesn’t even show up on his radar. “What have I done?”
“Who makes such a large endowment and doesn’t put their name on it?”
“Oh, that.” He shrugs. “What of it?”
“You tried to buy my way into school.”
I look up at Knox because that’s not exactly the story I heard. Could I have been misinformed? Because they both seem to be on the same page now. I wonder what happened since I saw him early this morning.
“Do you think I’m the first to make a large donation to their alma mater to clear the way for their offspring? It’s common practice. You’re a legacy twice over and should be proud of that. Wait, is that why you quit?”
“I am proud. Very proud that I actually got in on my own merits. You could have saved your money. I’ve just come from Napa. And that’s only a small part of why I quit.”
I knew it! He’s so impulsive. Of course he went to the school.
“What are you on about, Knox?”
“I went to the school to find out for myself. Turns out I was in the top five applicants. It had nothing to do with legacy.”
Flynn crosses his arms across his chest and some of the tension slips back into his shoulders. “What does all this matter now? You’re the assistant chef in a Michelin restaurant. Your future is all set.”
“I didn’t just quit the show, Dad. I quit being a chef. It was always your dream, but I’m nearly thirty years old, and it’s time I follow my own path.”
His father’s face reddens, and he swallows hard. “I won’t allow it. Being a chef is what you’re destined for. You have twice as much talent than I did at your age. We’ll win this competition, and you’ll be head chef at our second restaurant. What more can you ask for? What else will you do?”
Knox shakes his head, a sad smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “I don’t want to be a chef, Dad. I’ve never wanted to be a chef. I thought I could compromise and maybe get a little restaurant somewhere, but it’s never been my dream.”
Flynn stutters, obviously reaching for anything to maintain control. “I’ll let you have the restaurant if you win. And if not, I’ll help with financing. You can cook pasta or whatever it is you want.”
Knox lets go of my hand and walks over to his dad and hugs him, kissing him on his cheek. “I’m not mad anymore. You thought you were doing the best for me, but I have to make my own decisions. And the first one is to take this beautiful woman into her room and apologize until she forgives me. Good night, Dad.”
Flynn stands there with watery eyes, looking between Knox and me. Finally, he huffs and stalks off down the hall to his room.
“I’m sorry about your dad.”
He shrugs. “He’ll come around. He just needs to stew for a while.” He grabs one of my curls and wraps it around his finger. His face is more relaxed, his smile easy.
I open the door to my room and step through.
