Page 14 of Keep Me Safe: A Small Town Suspenseful Love Story

Thanks to Simone and the fact that she wanted to keep me updated with all things Knox, I knew exactly what happened to his father. It was hard enough to hear it from her, but listening to him speak about it was almost unbearable. Someone as good as him shouldn’t have had to go through something so tragic.

He shook his head and his eyes met mine. I felt trapped there, lost somewhere between his eyes and the empty way he spoke. “It happened in the driveway when he was just getting home from work. It just, I don’t know, Abbs. It happened so fast.”

What was I supposed to say that? I’m sorry felt too empty, everyone always apologized when there was a death. They were just words, they held no real meaning. They were fake, and I didn’t want to do anything fake with Knox. He was the realest thing I’d ever had and no matter how many years went by, I’d always care about him. I’d always care enough to keep my words honest.

There was a part of me that hated myself for not coming home for the funeral. Yes, we had a nasty breakup, but the Fitzgerald’s had always treated me like a member of the family, like one of their own. But I hadn’t come home, made a phone call, or emailed. I didn’t do a damn thing to let the family know that I was thinking of them and I felt like shit for it. Especially now. It killed me.

“He died before we could get him to a hospital,” he finally said, his deep voice whisper soft.

Knox watched his father die in the driveway of their family home and I never even called.

I should have.

“I’m sorry,” I said quietly. “I’m sorry I didn’t call and-”

Knox shook his head and flashed a quick grin, but I could tell it was forced. “Don’t. You don’t have anything to apologize for. After the way things ended between us the last thing I expected was to get a phone call from you, Abbs.”

I don’t know why that hurt so much, but it it did.

“Still,” I said and stood up, walking over to the sink to wash my plate. “I should have called, emailed. Something.”

“A carrier pigeon would have been nice.”

“Knox.”

“Abbs,” he responded and stood, walking over to the sink and leaning a hip against the counter. “Look, I was bent out of shape for a while. I wouldn’t have wanted you around, okay? I wouldn’t have wanted you to see me like that.”

Something in my chest, probably my heart, ached at the thought of Knox struggling to cope with the loss of his father. He was an only child and growing up with a dad like John Fitzgerald could make or break someone. Knox adored his father, idolized him and everything he stood for. John may have had a tough exterior but he loved his son more than anything. Knox was his pride and joy.

“You shouldn’t have had to deal with it by yourself.”

“Oh, I wasn’t alone. I was with my old friends, you know, Jack and Jameson.”

I shook my head and threw a dish towel at him, laughing.

“You're funny,” I said, but I kept my eyes trained on his face. Was it just a joke?

“Good to know you still think so.”

“Seriously, though. Is that how you're handling it?”

He tilted his head back and groaned. It both looked and sounded so sexual that I had to fight the urge to suck the exposed skin of his neck.

“I had some issues for a little while. I drank too much, got in a little trouble with Alex and then got my shit together. Stop looking at me like I’m going to fall apart. I’m good now.”

Was I looking at him like that?

“I’m not. I just… worry.”

Knox arched a dark eyebrow at me and crossed his arms.

“You get attacked, come home all beat up and you’re worried about me? Jesus, nothing’s changed, has it?”

If the way my stomach was doing back flips just looking at him was any indication, then he was right that, no, nothing changed.

I got the sudden urge to ask him what else Simone told him regarding my attack, but I bit my tongue. Instead, I smiled at my ex boyfriend turned stranger turned muffin delivery boy, dried my hands and asked if he wanted to go for a walk on the beach.

With it being the beginning of June it wasn’t nearly hot enough to swim yet, but the sand was warm and the sun was shining. It was a perfect day for a walk by the water.

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