Page 143 of Off Pitch

“Lo,” Lucia asks, an excited look in her eyes. “Are you subtly telling us thatyouare in love with Knox?”

I take a deep breath before saying it for the first time out loud. “Yes,” I reply softly. “I’m in love with Knox.”

“I fucking knew it!” Rory shouts. “You were so bad at trying to hide it.”

“I was even worse with that internally,” I laugh. “The past month has been hell in my head.”

“So everything is okay between you two now?” Ella asks. “Not that I ever knew anything was wrong in the first place.”

“Damn, you’re laying it on thick, Ell,” I laugh. “Yeah, we’re all good. I actually, uh… started sleeping next to him again.” Rory cocks an eyebrow at me. “Not like that, Ror. It was just sleeping. But he said he missed having me next to him. I tried to tell myself that was a bad idea, but I wound up next to him anyway.”

“Love makes you do crazy things,” Rory smiles.

“I hate you guys.” I take a sip of my wine. “I can’t believe I just admitted it. That’s the first time I’ve said it out loud.”

“Are you going to tell Knox?” Ella asks.

“I have no idea,” I admit. “He’s only just now acknowledging that this isn’t fake anymore. I’m not trying to freak him out by telling him I’m in love with him before he’s ready for that.”

Lucia smiles. “I don’t think you’ll have to worry about that, Lo.” I eye her curiously. “I’m telling you, that man is in love with you. I’d bet my left arm he tells you that.”

“Let’s not be rash here, Luc. Let’s leave all of our appendages attached.” She smirks. “I guess we’ll just have to see. We need to get through the date before any love confessions come out.”

“Speaking of the date,” Rory says. “Do you know what you’re wearing yet?”

“I have no idea,” I admit. “I don’t even know what we’re doing.”

“Girl, text him then!” Ella says excitedly. “How are we supposed to help you plan your outfit if we don’t know what you’re doing?”

I lift my brow at her. “Why are you helping me plan my outfit?”

“Because,” Rory replies, “this is going to be the best damn date of your life, and you need to look stunning. Take Knox’s breath away.”

“I don’t think that’s ever really been a problem.” I smile. “He’s always been very upfront about how he thinks I look.”

“God, I just love him for you, Lo.” Lucia leans over and hugs me. “I’m glad you started fake dating him. I mean, look where you are now.”

Rory leans on my other side and joins the hug. “Happier than I’ve ever seen you.”

“Because Knox is the most amazing man I’ve ever met,” I admit, grinning widely. “It was impossiblenotto fall in love with him.”

“So,” Lucia says, “text this amazing man and ask him what the hell you two are doing tomorrow.”

I laugh as I pull out my phone and send off a text to Knox.

Harlow

Knox

You never did tell me what we’re doing tomorrow

Knox

In my defense, you were whisked away very quickly

Harlow

Once the girls put their mind to something, there’s no stopping them

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