Page 127 of Knot Happening Again

But it's short-lived. A crash from across the room has us both whipping our heads around. One of the workers just dropped a piece of equipment for Ophelia's studio, the metal clanging loudly against the floor.

"Careful with that!" I call out, my voice sharp. "That shit’s expensive."

The worker mumbles an apology, his face reddening as he scrambles to pick up the fallen gear.

I sigh, running a hand through my hair.

"You okay?" Mace asks, concerned.

I nod, but I can feel the tension creeping back in. "Yeah. There's just a lot riding on this, you know?"

Mace's expression softens. "I know. But you're trying. Just don't go back to running away."

He's right. But it's still not enough. How could it be?

"Yeah, I won't," I say with a sigh.

I turn back to the blueprints, but my mind wanders. Rhys and Maddox are with Ophelia right now, probably making her laugh, touching her soft skin, breathing in her intoxicating scent. The thought twists my gut, both relief and jealousy churning inside me.

"You've got that look again," Mace says, his voice low.

I grunt, not meeting his eyes. "What look?"

"The one that says you're thinking about her."

My jaw clenches. Am I that transparent?

"Just wondering how she's settling in," I lie.

Mace doesn't buy it for a second. "With Rhys and Maddox, you mean?"

I nod, my eyes fixed on the plans before me, but not really seeing them. "Yeah."

"They'll take good care of her," Mace says, his tone gentle. "You know that."

"I know," I mutter.

And I do know.

I can picture it so clearly, the three of them cozied up at that cabin in the mountains.

The image is so vivid it hurts.

I close my eyes, trying to push it away, but it only grows stronger.

"They'll bond with her," I say, the words coming out harsher than I intended. "In a way I never got to. Because of me."

"Leon..." Mace starts.

I shake my head, cutting him off. "No, it's fine. It's good. She deserves that. To have people who care about her, who'll be there for her."

Unlike me.

I don't say it, though. I shrug it off instead. "As long as I get to be near her, it's enough."

The words sound hollow even to my own ears.

But what else can I say?

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