Page 36 of Wood You Knot

Nix looked at me sheepishly. “Sorry, but I’m gonna make her sit in the passenger seat with her head out the window. I don’t trust her.”

I laughed at the look on Tabitha’s face, like she was greatly offended. But she didn’t argue with him—she just climbed into the passenger seat while Nix held the driver’s door open for me.

I hopped up into the cab, sitting in the small space between Tabitha and Nix. When Nix climbed in, his thigh pressed against mine unintentionally. Although it was involuntary and a result of me being wedged between them with little space, the sensation of his thigh pressed to mine made desire thrum through my core.

It only got worse when he started driving. I could feel the muscles in his thigh as he worked the gas and brakes. I didn’t know if I had the sangria to thank or the lack of intimacy in my life, but my body was reacting to his.

“I’m going to drop Tabitha off at home first, if you don’t mind? I kind of want to get her home before she starts puking. Wait, you’re not a puker, are you?”

“No, and I’m not that drunk. Just…tipsy. My stomach feels fine, though,” I replied, glancing at Tabitha. She looked the worse for wear. She had her whole head out the window and was groaning softly.

Nix nodded, driving to old town. He pulled into the driveway of Parker and Tabitha’s house, and no sooner had he put the truck in park was his brother stepping out onto the front porch. He jogged over to open the passenger door.

Parker was grinning as he helped Tabitha out, like this was a regular occurrence. He picked her up and tossed her over his shoulder. She let out a little giggle and then groaned, flopping over his shoulder. “Thanks, Nix.” He nodded at his brother before shutting the door and carrying Tabitha into the house.

Once he’d shut the door, I slid over, giving myself a little space and distance to try and collect my thoughts. My body was still thrumming on that high of desire Nix’s thigh against mine had evoked. Part of me wanted to act on that feeling, but even tipsy, I knew that wasn’t a good idea.

Nix tossed me an almost shy smile before reversing out of the driveway to take me home.

Chapter Thirteen

Nix

As I drove back toward the hardware store, I couldn’t help but reminisce about how it had felt to have Sage’s leg pressed against mine for the first half of the drive.

I needed to distract myself, otherwise, I was going to have a very apparent reaction to her. Breaking the silence seemed to be the wisest course of action.

“Suffice it to say, my dear sister-in-law doesn’t handle her liquor very well,” I teased as we headed back toward the main strip.

Sage smiled, glancing at me from across the cab. “At least she didn’t throw up.”

“The night is still young.” I chuckled, shaking my head. “But yeah, at least it didn’t happen in my truck this time.”

“I’d love to hear that story,” Sage told me, the smile reaching her eyes. I took that as a good sign.

“Nothing dramatic, really. Tabitha went out with the girls last month, overindulged like she usually does, and ended up puking on the floor of my truck. She forgets she can’t drink like she did in college.”

Sage smiled. “I found my alcohol tolerance changed after having Daphne. Probably because I don’t drink as often as I did before I got pregnant with her.”

“I guess that makes sense. Tabitha doesn’t drink as much either. Only when the Quarters get together.”

“The Quarters?”

“It’s a cutesy nickname Parker gave Tabitha, Ophelia, Isla, and Annalise.” I shrugged. “It’s easier to say than all of their names.”

“That is cute.” Sage smiled. “It’s great that Tabitha was able to stay in touch with all her friends.”

“Weren’t you?” I was a little surprised when she shook her head sadly. Sage had one of those energies about her; you just wanted to be in her company.

“When I got pregnant in college, none of those friends stuck around for the next phase of my life. They were too busy finishing the college stage,” Sage explained, lifting her shoulder in a delicate shrug. “Prior to college, I didn’t have many friends because my mom moved us around a lot.”

“Makes sense,” I said. It wasn’t that I pitied her—Sage was not a woman to pity—but I did feel for her, especially when I looked back in my memories and thought about how alone she must have felt. She’d seemed happy in Hartwood Creek with her cousins, but I’d had no idea what her home life was like. I’d never even met her mother. “I’m sorry you had to deal with that. Moving around a lot as a kid, I mean.”

“It’s okay,” she replied, lifting her shoulder as if dismissing it. “I did make one awesome friend back in Guelph. Nellie. She’s pretty much the only thing I miss about that place.”

“Well, if Tabitha has her way, I’m sure you’ll be a bona fide member of the Quarters in no time at all. We might have to start calling you guys a Dollar and Change, though.”

Sage let out a laugh, shaking her head. “You’re ridiculous.”

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