Page 46 of Laws of Love
“It was nice, in a way. My parents were interested in every little thing I decided I wanted to take up and supported it, and I could talk to them about anything. The line of communication was open. Even with that, I still wish I had a sibling to share things I didn’t always feel comfortable telling my parents, even though I knew they wouldn’t judge or get upset.”
Aiva nodded. “I can understand that. Communication with my mother was the same way, and she was always there to support Meila and me, but it was nice having my sister to talk to about things I didn’t think I could take to my mom.”
“You and Meila are closer than your other siblings.”
“It isn’t that we’re closer because we exclude them, but it was just us for eight years. Then we learned about EJ, Eva, and the twins Lila and Ali. We also work together, so we see each other five days a week and share a mother. I think it just makes us naturally closer.” She paused for a moment. “I believe we all have a close bond that we’ve formed over the years because we all wanted to, but there are still those relationships that sit higher than others, as bad as that sounds. Especially when your shared parent is your mother.”
Knox could understand that. It was sort of how it was with Wolfe’s family. There weren’t as many of them, but his friend was closer to the sibling he shared a mother with than the other three, though they were all close.
“That makes sense, and with blended families, you spend more time with your maternal siblings more often than not.”
“Speaking of siblings, Yas is an only child. Do you plan to give her a sibling?”
Knox placed his hand on her waist, the cutout in the side of her dress allowing him to feel her soft skin beneath his palm, and he leaned in. Lips millimeters apart.
“Are you volunteering?”
Aiva blinked quickly, and her mouth opened then closed as if she couldn’t find the words. He smirked before giving her a soft kiss and pulling away, leaving his hand on her hip, drawing circles with his middle finger.
“If I were a gambling man, I’d bet Mia would give her a sibling first, probably by accident.”
“But you aren’t opposed to having another child?”
“Again, gorgeous. Are you volunteering?”
“Knox,” she stated as she swatted him on the chest, and he chuckled.
“No, I’m not. I’d like at least one more.”
Since he was an only child, he’d always said he wanted to have at least two kids. So they’d have someone to turn to and lean on when they thought they couldn’t come to him. Yasmine had been the best mistake he and Mia made, but his ex-wife had been adamant that she was the only child she was willing to birth. He hadn’t had a problem with that because he wasn’t against adopting or surrogacy.
They sat there talking for the next couple of hours, Knox stealing a kiss now and then, and just like on their first date, the conversation flowed effortlessly. There were no awkward pauses or strained silences.
When he pulled up to her house, he walked her to the door, and before she could step over the threshold, he pulled her into his chest and gave her a searing kiss. The kiss he’d been dying to give her all evening.
They said their goodbyes, and as Knox got back into his car, he felt like this date had been just as big of a success.
23
Knox kept his eye on Yasmine as she jumped on the indoor trampoline. They were spending the day doing some of her favorite things. There was a teacher in-service day, so they were starting their weekend off with the trampoline park, and then they were going to get burgers and milkshakes from one of her favorite places. Tomorrow, he was going to take her toChuck E. Cheese.
Yasmine was jumping around with several other kids. They were playing some game that Knox was sure they made the rules up as they jumped around, laughing.
A woman sat beside him, but Knox didn’t spare her a glance. The flowery scent of her perfume was overpowering. He’d gotten several looks from women when he walked in with Yasmine and a couple from women who walked in after them. He assumed it was one of them, but he wasn’t interested. She could have taken plenty of other seats if she just wanted to sit. So, he figured she’d chosen the one beside him for a reason.
He kept his attention forward, watching his daughter as she shifted and sighed beside him. Knox assumed it was to get his attention and have him start a conversation with her. It wouldn’t work, even if it were just a friendly conversation she was after.
“That’s my son,” she stated, pointing at one of the kids Yasmine was playing with. “Which one is yours?”
Knox pointed in the same direction as her, but he didn’t elaborate on which one was his child. You could never be too careful with people around your kids. For all he knew, that boy might not even be her son, and she was there scoping out which child she wanted to kidnap. It was morbid to think, but he watched far too much news and saw too many stories of people’s children being taken.
“They all seem like they’re having fun,” she stated.
“Yes, they do.”
It was quiet between them, and Knox looked at his watch to check the time. They’d been there for a little over an hour. He would give her ten more minutes, and then they would leave.
“Has anyone ever told you that you look like that one football player that played for that team?” she asked.
