Once I’m home, I change clothes. If I’m going to crash a date, I can’t look like I just finished shoveling shit. My nerves get the best of me as I put on a button-up shirt, some nice slacks, and my church boots.

After I’m dressed, I get in my truck and take off. Another vehicle speeding down the gravel road flashes me, so I slow down. When I get close, I see it’s Kane.

I roll down my window, and so does he. “What’s up?”

“Where’re ya goin’ drivin’ like a bat outta hell?” It’s the first time he’s actually talked to me since all of this started.

“To San Angelo,” I say with a shrug. “To fuck up Hadleigh’s date.”

His face cracks into a huge grin. “Good. I heard you were at the B&B, but I must’ve just missed you. I wanted to talk to you. I’m sorry about the way I acted, for punching you in the face, for treating you like the bad guy. Shoulda never got to that level, but I wasn’t thinking clearly.”

I shake my head. “Don’t apologize. You were concerned. I get it. I never wanted to hurt you, ya know that. It’s why I told Hadleigh she needed to make a decision. I wanted us both to be put out of our misery.”

“Yeah, and she did,” he quickly says. “I talked to her the other day.”

“You did?”

Was that before or after I told her to choose him?

“She’s in love with you, Knox. I’m sure she hasn’t admitted it to you yet because she’s just as stubborn as we are, but you two are made for each other. When she came over, she told me how she felt, and I told her I knew we weren’t meant to be more than friends. We left on a good note, and I told her not to give up on you just yet since you were being an ass.” He smirks, but I’m almost too stunned to speak.

“Wow. Why didn’t you tell me? I was tryin’ to get out of the way of you two.”

“I planned to when I ran into you next, but I guess Riley took keeping us separated seriously. After Kaitlyn's birthday party, I realized that Hadleigh and I were better off as friends. I’ve been in love with the idea of her for so long that I lost sight of how I really felt. She agreed. Now you just need to figure out what you want.”

“You know, I didn’t sleep with her that first night.”

He blinks. “You didn’t?”

I shake my head. “No. I mean, I could’ve. She was ready and willing, but I stopped it. I knew I needed to talk with you first before it went any further.”