Page 20 of Red Rose Cupcake

A woman—Rosie’s sister, I’m guessing—appears in the doorway, her two kids trailing behind her. She’s shorter than Rosie, with lighter skin and a mischievous glint in her eyes.

“Lena,” Rosie mutters, shooting her sister a warning look.

Lena ignores her and steps forward, looking me up and down with a critical eye. “Well, well, well. The infamous Knox O’Malley in the flesh. What do you think, Mom?”

I turn to see Rosie’s mom standing behind them, her arms folded, but there’s a smile playing on her lips.

“I think he’s just what Rosie needs,” her mom says warmly, stepping forward to pull me into a hug.

The tension that had been lingering in my chest since I arrived starts to ease, and I find myself smiling for the first time in what feels like days.

“Thank you,” I say, my voice full of gratitude. “It means a lot to hear that.”

“Come on in, Knox,” Marcus says, clapping me on the back. “You’ve got some explaining to do.”

I follow them inside, my arm wrapped around Rosie’s waist as we walk through the front door. I know I’m not out of the woods yet—there’s still work to do. But for the first time, it feels like things might actually be okay.

Chapter 14

ROSIE

I sit at the outdoor café, idly stirring my iced tea as I wait for Candace. The late afternoon sun is warm but not too hot, perfect for a catch-up with my girl. I haven’t had much time to see her lately, what with all the drama involving Knox and our… arrangement, but today feels different. Everything between me and Knox has shifted in a way I didn’t expect, and for the first time, I feel like I can finally let someone else in on the secret.

“Hey, hey!” Candace calls as she strolls up, her dark curls bouncing with every step. She’s wearing a wide-brimmed hat and oversized sunglasses, but the mischievous grin on her face is unmistakable.

“Hey, girl,” I reply, standing up to give her a hug before we sit down.

“So, spill it,” she says, sliding into the chair across from me. “You’ve been avoiding me, which means something juicy must be going on.”

I laugh, shaking my head. “It’s not that I’ve been avoiding you. I’ve just… had a lot going on.”

“Uh-huh,” she teases, leaning forward with her chin resting on her hand. “Like a certain tall, tattooed hottie with glasses?”

I roll my eyes but can’t help the smile that tugs at my lips. “Yeah, something like that.”

Candace lets out a low whistle. “Damn, girl. I knew it! You two were giving off serious vibes at the party. So, what’s the deal? Are you two… like, together now?”

I pause, the wordtogetherhanging in the air. It feels strange to think about it like that, but… it’s true. “Yeah, I guess we are. Officially.”

Candace squeals, clapping her hands together. “Oh my God, I’m so happy for you! I knew there was something more going on with you two.”

I grin, feeling a warmth spread through me. “Thanks. It’s… kind of crazy, but he’s been amazing. I mean, we had a rough patch, but he’s proving to me that he’s serious.”

Candace gives me a knowing look. “You deserve that, Rosie. Someone who’s serious about you.”

We chat for a while, talking about the usual things—work, family, gossip. Candace fills me in on the latest Messy Mandy column, which has apparently been roasting some up-and-coming influencer. I can’t help but laugh as Candace rehashes the juicy details, but my mind keeps drifting to Knox.

“Okay, I’ve gotta ask,” Candace says, interrupting my thoughts. “How’s the… you know… bedroom situation? Is he as good as he looks?”

I bite my lip, unable to stop the heat from creeping up my neck. “Candace!”

“Oh, come on!” she says with a playful nudge. “I’m dying to know. Give me something!”

“Fine,” I sigh, lowering my voice as I lean in closer. “It’s… it’s better than I ever imagined.”

Candace’s eyes go wide, and she grins. “I knew it. You look too damn satisfied not to be getting the good stuff.”

I laugh, swatting her arm. “Stop it!”

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