He leans in closer, grabbing my hands from my lap. “I’ve never wanted anything serious before you, Hads. I know you have reservations about me being able to commit, and I don’t blame you for thinkin’ I can’t do it. But if you gave me the chance, I’d spend every day proving that you’re the only one for me.”

“For years, I’ve wanted you,” I confess, letting his fingers drag along my leg. “But I was too scared to lose my best friend, scared to fall for you, and scared that I’d screw everything up between the three of us. After that night, I knew I didn’t have the same feelings for Kane as I do for you. After the party, I selfishly wanted that experience with him anyway, knowing we both needed it. You sharing it with us made it even more special to me. I was hoping we’d talk the morning after and clear the air, but you made your choice before we could.”

“Is that why you were on a date with another man?” He arches an aggravated brow, and I hold back a smile.

“We’re just friends,” I tell him. “He’s new in town and didn’t want to go to the show alone.”

“So he didn’t touch you?”

“Would you be angry if I said he did?” I taunt, holding my head up high.

Without a beat, he responds, “I’d break his fuckin’ fingers off.”

Chuckling, I rest my hand over his. “There’s nothin’ between us because you’re more of his type than me. You’ve got nothing to worry about.”

“Good, because I can’t compete with a doctor.”

I furrow my brows and scoot closer. “There’s no competition when it comes to you, Knox. Well, technically, your brother was…” I snort. “But he already knows I only have feelings for you.”

“Yeah, he told me y’all talked.”

“You two actually spoke?”

“Right before I came here. Told me to go after you and not fuck it up,” he explains with an amused grin.

I’m relieved they’re no longer fighting.

“Grandma Bishop and my entire family basically said the same thing,” he adds.

“So you actually just needed a good push to come to your senses?”

He cups my face, inhaling deeply. “I’m not perfect, Hads. I can’t promise I won’t screw up from time to time. In fact, I can almost guarantee I will fuck up somehow. But if you’re willing to be patient with me, I’ll do whatever it takes to make you happy. I want this. Us. You and me. No more games.”

“You sure you’ll still want me once the chase is over?”

“Your pussy is the one exception I’d chase for a lifetime.”

I burst out laughing. “That’s not as romantic as you think it is.”