Hard Knox - Riley Hart Page 0,57

have to know that you guys are my friends and I spend lots of time with you.”

“Okay.” Logan nodded. “And if Dad gets a girlfriend, he’ll do the same. We heard Dale’s mom talking on the phone with a friend from out of town about how cute he is. It was gross and weird. I mean, he’s my dad.”

And…this conversation was getting uncomfortable quickly. I turned away a little, ran a hand through my hair and scratched my scalp even though there was no itch there. Logan, having no idea what was going on, continued, “But then we thought that meant we’d be brothers, and I’ve always wanted a brother instead of an annoying sister, so that would be cool.”

I risked a glance at Callum, who wouldn’t meet my gaze.

I took a deep breath and said, “I’m not going to date Dale’s mom. Ever. She’s a nice lady, but I’m not looking for…” Shit, I couldn’t even say I wasn’t looking for a relationship, which would have been my answer before Callum. This time, he did raise his eyes to mine. “I’m not interested in her. Be nice about your sister, and Callum will be a part of our lives for as long as he wants to be, so no worries there. You should probably get back to your math now.” Which really, he didn’t need to as it was Friday, but I was hoping he wouldn’t think of that. I turned to Callum. “What time do you need to head out? So I can make sure dinner’s done.”

“I don’t. I canceled with Josh earlier in the week.”

“Oh.” My body immediately relaxed, the tenseness that had been in my chest, maybe since he’d come to Griff’s with Josh last week, finally easing out of me. “You, um, didn’t do that for us, did you? Because you don’t have to.” I was trying to make sure he knew I understood. He couldn’t wrap his whole life up in us. If he wanted to go out and dance, he should be able to. His lips turned downward in a frown, and I wasn’t sure I’d said the right thing.

“I didn’t do it for you guys, I did it for me, but I’ll keep that in mind for the future.” Callum turned to Logan. “Okay, let’s get going on this. You’re so close to getting it.”

I watched them for a moment, their heads together as Callum explained complicated steps to Logan. I was pretty sure I’d fucked up somehow, and wanted nothing more than to fix it.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Callum

I tried not to have my feelings hurt that Knox said I didn’t have to not go out with Josh for him. I wasn’t stupid. Logically, I understood what he was saying. Josh was a friend, and whatever I had going on with Knox didn’t mean I couldn’t go out with friends, but then, part of me started questioning what we were to each other.

I knew he couldn’t go public yet, and I knew he cared about me, but was he saying that it didn’t matter if I was with other guys? That had been one of the main reasons Josh and I were heading into Richmond. Were we that casual that we would be with other people? It probably didn’t help that it all went down around a conversation about Dale’s mom finding Knox attractive—obviously, who wouldn’t, but it was a reminder that Knox had always been with women, and if they were dating, it would be happening much differently than it was with Knox and me.

But then, he’d also said he wasn’t interested in her—again, something I knew—but my emotions and my logic were currently at war with each other.

Logan and I finished math while he made dinner. When we were done, Logan shoved to his feet. “I’m gonna meet Dale online to play our zombie game!” Then ran out of the room with Frankie Blue on his heels.

“Hey! Dinner in thirty minutes!” Knox called after him, getting a mumbled reply as Logan took the stairs.

“It’s all on the grill,” Knox said, and then we just hung out there awkwardly. “Did I do something wrong?”

I shook my head. He was near the back door and I was at the table, which meant if Logan came downstairs, he would have a partial view of me, so I went over and leaned against the counter in front of him.

“If this is about Amanda, I’m not interested in her,” he confirmed softly.

“I know. I was just thinking