Page 116 of In the Long Run
‘You need a shower.’
‘Oh, yeah, sure.’But he’s confused.I see it in the slant of his eyebrows and the way his lips tip down in the corners.He stands and almost loses his balance.I steady him, relishing how solid he is against me.
‘Let’s go.’
‘To the shower?’
I press my laugh into his chest.‘Yes.’
‘Together?’
‘Yep.’
‘We don’t have to do that.We can take our time.’
And we have time now.But this is about taking my power back.Being in control of what I want.Asking for what I need.
I tug on Knox’s hand and pull him out of my room and down the hall.
‘What happened with Brand was scary.But I trust you.I always have,’ I promise, to him and also to myself.‘This is about trusting myself and my choices.’
Knox cups my jaw.‘Seems like we might both be on a similar journey here, Halliday.’
I twist my head and kiss the palm of his hand.‘There’s no one else I’d rather be on it with.Now, can you do me a huge favour, please?’
He nods.
‘Get naked.’
He raises his brows at me, failing miserably at keeping the grin off his face.
‘I’m working on asking for what I want.’I lift my shirt over my head and unclasp my bra.
‘And I’m what you want?’
‘You’re what I’ve always wanted.’
Knox leans forward and scoops me into his arms.My bare breasts push against his chest hair.‘You’re more than I ever dared to dream of,’ he says, then pauses, glancing around the space like he’s looking for something.When his gaze meets mine again, his eyes are red but so bright.‘I never imagined that my life could be like this.And it wouldn’t be without you.I love you, Gen.’
My fingers twine through his hair and I press a soft, chaste kiss against his lips.Feel him smile into it.‘I love you too, Knox.’
And then we’re kissing, and when we eventually find our way into the shower, it’s as slow and tender as I need.
39
KNOX
Eugene’s a wily one.The gleam in his eye proves that he knows exactly what he’s doing to my emotions right now, standing behind the counter at Alizée’s in his chef’s jacket, the stitched wisteria under his name mimicking the flowers that bloom outside the pâtisserie.All tall and proud, his face alight with joy.That man wants me to embarrass myself in front of everyone.
Gen curls into my side, the comforting weight of her against me also threatening to push me over the edge.
The last few days have been … I don’t know how to describe them.There isn’t a word that encapsulates everything properly.They’ve been hard but filled with pockets of joy.I’ve been blown away by the strength shown by so many people.Gen’s officially pressing charges against Brand, and the police have managed to prove he’s also responsible for the break-in at the pâtisserie.Eugene’s had the contract of sale for Alizée’s drawn up, and Celeste and Caleb are buying the business from him.Everything’s changing, but I’ve revelled in the little snippets of the future I’m determined to keep building towards.
‘Hey!Knox is here!’Annaliese shoots an accusatory glance at Annabeth, who shrieks back, ‘Anneke said he left!Some work thing or whatever.’
‘Told you it was a good idea.’Gen presses her smile into my neck.She’d been adamant that we should keep my presence a surprise, and let’s just say that I’ve been very happy to hang out at home with her.Have some time that was just ours.
‘You made it back!Are you staying until after the run?’Violet asks from the corner of the room, where she’s helping her daughter colour in a picture of a running shoe.
