CHAPTER017:May!? CHAPTER 017 : May I ? Myheartskipsseveralbeats atonce.Andnotinthecutesy,butterfliesinthestomachway.No,thisisthekindofbeat-skippingthatpunchesyousquareinthechestandmakesyourlungsforgethowtobreathe.
Everymemoryfromlastnightcomesfloodingbacklikeafilthylittleslideshowbehind myeyelids.Mythighsclenchoninstinct.Mymouthisdry.Mypulseischaos.
YouknowSloane?Victoriaasks,remindingmethatthereare,infact,otherpeopleintheroom.
Knoxdoesntlookaway.Ido.
FromNewYork? Hemovesawayfromhismotheranddropsintothenearestcouchwiththatlazygrace healwayscarries.Atleasthiseyesarenolongeronme,andIcanfinallyexhale.
Actually,hereplies,wemetforthefirsttimeyesterday.
IswearIhearFinninhalingdeeplyandholdingthatbreath.AlthoughIcantgetagoodlookathisfacefromthisangle,thestillnessofhispostureconfirmsit.
Victoriaturnstolookatme.Itrymybest toseeminnocent,hopingshe doesntreadeverythingthatwentonlastnightfrommyface.Afterafewseconds,sheshiftshergazetoKnox,whossmirkingon thatcouch.ThentoFinn.Withthewayshegoesbackandforthstaring,youdthink shestryingtosolveaRubikscube.
Sheeventuallyreturnstoherseat,notsayingaword.
Knox,ofcourse,mustbefeelinguncomfortablewiththetension,asweallare.SohebreaksitbyaddressingFinn.
Hello,littlebrother,hesays.
Finndoesntrespond.
ButKnoxgoesonanyway.Youlookrefreshedthismorning.Whatsthesecret?Threwoneortwopunches? ShouldntyoubehelpingHunterprepareforhisrehearsaldinner?Finnreplies,nothidingtheirritationinhisvoice.
Delilahsmore thanhappytotakecharge.

Andthebachelorparty?Youshouldbeplanningthat.
Areyouchasingmeaway? Justanobservation.
Right.Becauseplanningabachelorpartyissohard.Allyouneedisavenuewithoverpriceddrinks,deafeningmusic,andwomenwhoarewillingtotakeofftheirclothesformoney.Isntthatright,Sloane? Myforkclinksagainsttheplate.Idmanagedtoeatmybreakfastinpeacesofar.
What?Icroak.
Abachelorparty.Dontthosesoundliketheessentials? Leaveheralone,Knox,Finnsays.
Iveneverbeentoone,Imumble,grippingmyforklikeitcanshieldmefromthismoment.SoIwouldntknow.
Thatssad,Knox says.YoushouldcometoHunters.
Shesnotcoming,Finnsnaps.
Myfaceisonfire.IcanfeelVictoriasgazeslidingovertome,thentoKnox,thenbackagainlikesheswatchingapingpongmatch.
Hervoiceisgentlebutpointed.IstheresomethingIshouldknowaboutlastnight? Likewhat?Knoxsays,toneinnocentenoughtowinanOscar.
Idontknow,shesays.Youtellme.DidsomethinghappenwhileIandyourfatherwereaway? Itsfine,Mom,Finnsaysquickly,tappingherknee.
Shenods,buthereyesturntofindmine.Thewaytheylingerasecondtoolongonmyfacetellsmeshedoesntbelieveanythingtheysaid.Mercifully,shechangesthetopic.
HowareyouholdingupwiththissuddenchargeFindyourdestinedandall?shesays.YouandDelilahwere Successfullyunlocked!togetherforsolong.
Finnsmiles,butitsallteethandnowarmth.Imhere,arentI?Gracingthewedding.Itsreallyokay,Mom.
KnowingDelilah,Knoxadds,shellprobablycallitoffandcrawlbacktoFinn.Whyshouldhebeworried? Dontsaythat,Knox.Imhappyshenolongerhasaholdonyourbrother.Youhavetomakesureshemarriesyourfriend 1/3 CHAPUR017M***? andslaysmemedtohum 1A67 Yes,you )cantmakeanypromises,Mom IglanceatFinn.HisexpressionhasgonedimClouded.Iknowthatface.Itstheonehewearswhenhestryingtoswallowsomethingbitterwithoutchoking.Andforonce,Imnotreachingtoofferhimwater.EvenhismotherknowsDelilahstoxicforhimThankGod.Maybethatwouldputahalttohis

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plans.
ThesoundofKnoxdiggingintotheplasticbaghescarryingfillstheroom.Hepullsoutasmallbox.Its matteblackandshinyaroundtheedges.Definitelyjewelry.
Hestandsandwalksovertohismother,handingtheboxtoher Whatisthis?sheasks,hervoicesoftwithsuspicion.
Aretirementpresent Shetakesitfromhim,opensit,andgasps.Isthat…? Diamonds Honey,itsbeautiful Notasbeautifulasyouare.
FinnrollshiseyessohardIhearit.
VictorisstandsandwrapsKnoxinatighthug.Thankyou,baby.Iloveit.ButwhydoIfeel likeyouwantsomethinginreturn? CantIdoanythingformymotherwithoutillintent? No.
Knoxsighs,Fine.ImhopingyoucankeepDadawayfrommethroughoutthistrip.
Comeon,Knox.Hesyourfather, AndImtryingtobegoodthisweekend.HesgoingtopaintmeasavillaininfrontofpeopleIadmire.
Hiseyesslideovertome.
Admire?Victoriaasks,blinkingattheword.Whomightthatbe? Just…keepyourhusbandaway,Mom.
Shelaughs.Thenyoullneedtobeoutbefore2PM.Hellbedoneinthelibrarybythen.
Deal, KnoxgrabsanotherboxandtossesittoFinn,whocatchesitoutofreflex.
Anapologygift,hesays.Toyou,mylittlebrother.
Apology?Victoriaasks.Ithoughtyoubothsaidnothinghappened.
Youknowhowitis,Mom.Thegoodolsiblingrivalry.

Knox… Itsnothing.Werecoolnow.
Finnopensthebox,tiltingitenoughformetocatchaglimpseofawatchglintinginthelightsleek,masculine,designer.Thekindyouweartosilentauctionsorexclusiveclubs.
FromthelookonFinnsface,helikesit.
Goandsinnomore,Knox,hesays,eyesstillonthewatch.
Andrightthen,Knoxdecidestoincludemeinhisshenanigans.
Ialsohavesomethingfortheladyovertherewhoseemstoeat reallyslowly.
Istareathimandthebagstillhangingbyhisside.Iwanttosaysomethinganythingbutmyvoiceisgone.Heapresent? Youcangiveittome,Finnsayseyesnarrowing.IllgiveittoSloane.
Igotthis,brother.
Andthenhewalks.
Closer.
Andcloser.
2/3 htme CHAPTER017May17 Everystepmakestheroomfeelsmaller,theairthinner Hestopsinfrontofme.Takesoutasmallboxandopensit.
Anecklace.Dainty.Elegant.Sparklinglikestardust.
May1?heasks.
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