Page 5 of The I Do Over

Yeah, he wasn’t actually going to say any of those things. Seventeen years ago, he would have killed for this opportunity, but now? What was the point?

Whipping off his towel, he quickly donned his briefs and jeans. Next, he reached for his phone and typed out a quick text to the woman he was supposed to meet for drinks later. Once that was done, he pulled on his shirt, socks, and shoes.

And then…he sat.

There were benches by the lockers and he quietly sat, raking a hand through his damp hair, and wondered how long he could stall before facing Maddie again. Five minutes? Ten? Seventeen years?

That last one wasn’t a possibility, and he didn’t want it to be, but he still wasn’t sure he was ready for whatever it was she was here to talk to him about. Was she here to apologize? Ask his forgiveness? Was she going to tell him they were still married or…or that she had their baby and…?

Oh, shit…

He was instantly on his feet and quickly grabbed his keys and phone before sprinting back to where Maddie was sitting. She looked up at him—her jade green eyes wide with confusion—and Knox had no idea how to ask all the crazy things racing through his mind.

“Knox?” she asked slowly as she stood up.

He was sweating and his heart was pounding way too hard, but he forced himself to speak. “Are you here because we’re still married?”

Her eyes went comically wide now. “What?!No! Why…?”

“Were you pregnant…you know…back then? Did you have a baby and…?”

“Oh my God! No!” She let out a sound that was part distress and part sob as she paced away from him. The next time she looked at him, she was practically in tears. “Do you honestly think I would wait all this time to tell you either of those things?”

“That’s just it, Maddie, I don’t know what to think!” he yelled, his voice echoing in the space and that’s when he knew this wasn’t the place for this conversation. Unfortunately, neither was his office. His hand scrubbed along the back of his neck as he tried to think of a place that would be appropriate and wouldn’t have an audience.

“Knox, I know it’s been a long time, but…”

“No,” he interrupted. “I don’t want to do this here. Hell, I can’t believe no one's come in here yet.”

Maddie glanced over her shoulder at the door and back to him. “I thought we were going to talk in your office.”

He shook his head. “I think we’ll still be interrupted.” Pausing, he considered their options. “Where are you staying?”

“Staying?”

“Yeah, staying,” he repeated. “Or do you live in North Carolina now?”

She shook her head. “No, I’m out near Chesapeake now. It’s only a three-hour drive, so…”

So she was just planning on coming here and talking and leaving.

Knox had no idea how he felt about that, but…

“I wasn’t sure if I’d find you today so I planned on staying until tomorrow. I booked a hotel near North Hills, I think. The map said it was only fifteen minutes from here, but I haven’t checked in yet.”

“Okay, um…we can go there and talk or we can go to my place. It’s only a few minutes away and not far from your hotel, so…”

She chewed on her bottom lip and he could read the indecision there. Neither were great options. One had them still surrounded by people because he was sure she’d want to talk down in the lounge or something, and the other had them completely alone.

He knew which one he was opting for and he wasn’t proud of it.

“I think…”

“We should go to my place,” he finished for her. “We won’t be disturbed and we can talk or yell or just be free to say what we want to say without an audience.” Then he waited for her to disagree with him, but she didn’t.

All she did was nod.

And so did he. “Good. Okay,” he said, suddenly unsure of…everything. “Um…let me give you my address so you can put it in your GPS or you can just follow me or…”

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