Page 284 of The Perfect Spiral
I send my brother a deadpan look and Andy slaps him on the chest, getting his attention.
“I think it’s cute!” She winks at me and climbs up onto my brother. He wraps his big arms around her, just like what Knox is doing to me, and we all embrace our surroundings.
It finally hits me how happy I truly am. The excitement rips through my body whenever I think of yesterday. Thinking of him announcing to everyone that he loves me.
Him telling me at the lighthouse, watching his features. It’s an image I will never want to remove from my brain.
I feel his warm hand start to stroke the outside of my leg in a comforting way. Seeing Andy draped in Kyle’s old football jersey makes me smile.
“I’ve always wanted a jersey with Thompson on the back and thirteen on it too,” I say to nobody in particular, eyeing the horizon out in front of us.
“You have Carter and thirteen on the back, that is not close enough for you?” He teases me, making me giggle.
I wrap my arm around his neck, leaning my head on his muscular shoulder. Allowing my body to relax on him. He can take my weight.
“It is, I love wearing it. But I used to want a Birthday jersey,” I say.
He sends me a quizzical look and I explain to him, “I used to pretend that when I wore this, the thirteen would be for the day I was born, and then I decided I wanted my name on the back.”
Rubbing my thumb across his jaw, his eyes are glued to the ocean displayed in front of us, contemplating my thoughts.
“Well, the whole reason why I chose that number was because ofthe day you were born. You’re my lucky charm, baby doll. You always have been.
I used to be eleven. Then I found out you were born on the thirteenth of July, and I changed my number to that. Since then, it stuck with me, so I would think of you as always with me when I played.”
Averting his gaze to meet mine, I sit up looking at him incredulously. Did he just say that? Did he just tell me the number on his jersey was because I was born?
“W-What? Are... Are you serious?” Staring at him, his head begins to gesture that he’s telling the truth. I continue to gaze at him in awe that he did that for me before any of this happened.
“Really?” Kyle asks with a hint of wariness in his tone. Knox turns his head to face him with a beaming smile.
“Yeah... I chose thirteen because of her. Only you could make that number lucky for me. I chose it and never regretted changing it. I wear it for you, baby doll.”
As he turned to face me once more, I felt my insides turn to mush, yet I was frozen in place. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.
“That’s the most romantic thing anyone has ever done for me...” I heard a sniffle from across the room and whipped my head around, expecting to see Kyle, but it was Andy. She was crying, a smile on her face.
“That has to be the cutest thing I’ve ever witnessed. It’s like watching the fucking Titanic all over again... I can’t with the two of you.”
She waved her hand in front of her face, trying to fan away her tears, which only made us laugh. Kyle wrapped his arms aroundher until she stopped crying. Andy was a hopeless romantic at heart. She always had been. I admired that about her, even though I wasn’t much of a romantic myself. But with the right person, I supposed it could be romantic.
Later that day, we all headed down to the beach to soak up the last of the summer sun. It had been both the best and worst summer of my life, but in that moment, surrounded by the people I considered family and friends, I felt nothing but happiness.
Chapter 103
I sat in the wet sand with Hannah, watching everyone play in the water and the boys play football behind us. The paparazzi had been more present than ever, but I wasn’t as nervous as I used to be. Not with Knox by my side.
As I listened to Hannah gush about Ben, I couldn’t help but laugh. “No! Hannah! You kept that quiet!” I slapped her arm playfully, and she pulled me closer, her blonde hair whipping in the wind.
“Yeah, we were both so drunk and went outside. He like threw me up against the wall and we started to make out. It was a long time too because when we came back inside you were dancing with Tyson. It was so hot! Then he walked me back to my room and he kissed me again. Alex, he’s an amazing kisser! I really like him, I’m so annoyed that he has to go back to LA though... I’ll miss him... and you... and Andy! But I promise I’ll come to visit you all more!” She nodded, as if to cement the promise in her mind.
We both turned to look at Ben, who was hanging off Kyle, laughing about something. Kyle really liked Ben too, especially knowing he didn’t have a thing for me. Seeing them both laughing so freely, I couldn’t help but smile.
“You better come visit us! But I know he’ll miss you too, Han! I knew you’d like him,” I said, winking at her. She blushed, and we quickly turned back to face the ocean when Ben’s attention shifted towards us.
“Shit! He so saw us looking at him. Well, I was drooling... ugh, why am I so embarrassing?” Hannah groaned, running her fingers through her hair. I leaned over and hugged her, both of us laughing.
“Hey, if it makes you feel better, I was drooling over Knox at the wedding.”
