gift classes or anything like that?”
“Yeah, of course. Which one are you interested in?”
“I’d like to pay for one of the adult-child paint nights, only I’m not sure what date.” There were a few days and times listed.
“That’s fine. You just pay for the class, and I’ll write on the certificate what it’s for. They can call and schedule for themselves.”
“Great,” I replied, feeling more giddy than I probably should.
“How many adults and children?” Kellan went back to the desk, and I followed him over.
I opened my mouth, almost said two adults and one child, but this wasn’t for me. This was about Knox and Logan. I was a random guy who hung out with them once. “Just one of each.”
Kellan got everything taken care of for me. I was grateful he didn’t ask who it was for, though in all honesty, he probably knew. He’d mentioned Logan taking a class that night at Griff’s.
I couldn’t help being nervous, though. It would be just my luck that I was overstepping. For all I knew, Knox and Logan had no interest in something like this, but if Logan did, Knox would too.
I paid, thanked him, and stepped out of the studio. I was halfway back to my car when my phone buzzed in my back pocket.
Tugging it out, I saw a text on the screen. Hey…thanks again for yesterday. It was fun.
The giddiness was back, wreaking havoc on my insides. It was only a text. People did it every day. Yet here I was, acting like he’d invited me on a date or something.
Logan had fun, Knox added, and I deflated a bit. Not that I didn’t want Logan to have a good time. Obviously, I did, but I wanted Knox to have had fun as well.
No problem. I’m a fun guy. Makes sense. Stupidly, I wondered if that made him laugh.
Me too, though. I had fun too.
A tingling sensation formed at the base of my spine. Again, makes sense. I’m a fun guy.
Funny? Funny-looking?
I rolled my eyes. Oh God. Dad jokes! I thought you were a sexy—I backspaced that word, damn it—tough-guy lumberjack? Not an old guy with dad jokes.
Okay, that one was maybe pretty bad.
You’re forgiven, Dad.
Knox’s reply came back quickly. No…not the dad stuff. I thought we were friends?
We were. Or at least, I really wanted to be friends with Knox Wheeler. We are.
I frowned when a response didn’t come back right away. I thought about saying something else or telling him about the class, but I also didn’t want to be that guy. I didn’t want to seem like I was sitting around looking for a reason to talk to him, while at the same time I was driving myself crazy, thinking maybe I said something wrong in those two simple words. He was screwing with my head, that was for sure.
I got all the way back to my car before my phone buzzed again. I fumbled it with too much enthusiasm…over a text.
Sorry. I had to help a customer. Logan asked this morning if maybe you’d want to come over and hang out again tonight? I told him you might be busy. I’ll understand if you have other things to do, but I thought I’d ask. I know he’s twelve, so it’s probably weird that he’s wondering, but I just…I want him to have friends.
I finished reading that message as the next one came through.
And since we’re friends and all too…maybe it’s less weird if we both wanted to see if you could hang out. That’s what I meant to say.
I leaned against the car, closed my eyes, and held my phone to my chest.
Knox Wheeler was going to wreck me, break me in ways no one else had. I knew it right then and there. The stupid, sweet man already had my pulse thumping, and even though I knew I’d likely fall for him and that he was straight, I wouldn’t say no. I would spend time with him, whenever he asked, and deal with the consequences later.
CHAPTER TEN
Knox
It was ridiculous that I’d felt silly inviting Callum over earlier. There was this strange restlessness going on beneath my skin, running through my veins. It was unfamiliar and confusing, so I tried to tell myself it wasn’t there.
I finished my workday, climbed into the truck, and headed home. I’d been back and forth between the store and my house a few times, trying to take care of Frankie Blue while Logan was at school. It would