Hard Knox - Riley Hart Page 0,59
a movie, and Knox teased, “You’re not gonna play games with Dale tonight? We’re cool enough that you want to hang out with us?”
“Well, I don’t know about cool, but you guys are all right,” Logan countered, and I loved it, loved being involved in this thing with them. Wished it was permanent.
“I have an idea,” Knox said. “What if we video-call Charlotte and have her watch with us? That way it will be like a whole family thing.”
My hands started to tremble, and my heart swelled that I was included. There was nothing in the world I wanted more than to be part of their family.
“And Mom too!”
I didn’t know why but that made my stomach twist. “Are you sure you want me involved?”
“Wouldn’t be right without you,” Knox replied.
We went into the living room, and Logan used the tablet to get his mom and sister on. He turned it toward me. “Mom, Charlotte, this is Callum, our friend I told you about. He worked on math with me and had dinner and stuff. Now we’re gonna watch a family movie.”
Carol was a pretty woman with honey-colored hair and freckles. For a moment her eyes flashed with confusion, likely over family and me.
“Um…hey. Nice to meet you both.” I waved and tried to ignore the nerves in my gut.
“Hi, Callum. Nice to finally meet you,” Carol said. “The boys don’t stop raving about you.”
“Thanks. Logan’s great, and Knox is a good friend. I’m lucky they let me hang out with them.”
I noticed Knox wasn’t looking at me and was fiddling a lot with the remote.
I said, “I’m really excited to meet you, Charlotte. That’s a pretty name. My mom said if I was a girl, that’s what she was going to name me.”
“Thanks,” she replied but didn’t seem overly interested. “I like Charlie better. Dad always calls me Charlie-girl. I’m trying to get Mom to do the same.”
“I’m doing my best,” Carol replied. “I forget, but I’ll make more of an effort.”
“I know, Mom.”
“I’ll call you Charlie, then. That’s a great name too,” I told her.
She nodded. “Logan says you’re gay.”
“Charlie!” Knox and Carol said at the same time. “I’m so sorry,” Carol added.
“No. It’s fine. It’s true. I am.” It wasn’t something I was ever willing to hide again.
“All Daddy’s friends in Havenwood like boys.”
Aaaaand, we needed to get off this conversation. Charlie seemed very blunt, and I could imagine her asking Knox if he did too.
“Oh my God, Charlotte, you’re so dumb,” Logan said. The two of them started arguing from there, before Knox and Carol got them under control.
We watched a superhero movie. I had to fight not to look at Knox through the whole thing. Instead of admiring the sexy men on TV, I wondered if he was thinking about what Charlie said.
When it was over, Carol said, “It really was nice to meet you, Callum. Thanks for taking that in stride. I’m glad the boys met you. They both obviously adore you.”
Goose bumps spread over my skin. Did she know? Was that what she was trying to say?
“Charlie, come say good night to your father,” Carol told her.
“I’ll call him tomorrow. I’m sleepy.”
We said our goodbyes, and I was hoping Logan was ready for bed, which of course he wasn’t. He asked for another movie. I stood and stretched. “I should head home.”
“Do you work tomorrow?” Knox asked.
“No.”
“Can you stay? It’s okay if you’re tired, but if you want to watch another with us…”
“Okay.” How could I say no to him?
We watched a second movie, and my eyes found themselves on Knox more than on the screen. Each time I glanced his way, he was looking at me.
It was the longest two hours of my life before it was over and Logan was yawning. “I’m gonna go to bed.”
“Brush your teeth first,” Knox said. “I’ll take care of Frankie Blue.”
Logan rolled his eyes. “’Night, Dad. ’Night, Callum.”
We sat there quiet as Logan went upstairs. My brain was spinning about the whole night—speaking with Carol and Charlie and how Knox felt about her comment regarding all his friends liking boys.
Before I had the chance to bring it up, he asked, “Take Frankie Blue out with me?”
“Yeah, of course.” As soon as we stood and headed for the back door, Frankie was right behind us. Knox turned on the light, and she darted outside. He closed the door behind us, but we didn’t go farther into the yard.
The wind blew, and I trembled. Even though it