Chapter 54: I Lied

NORA’S POV

Monday morning started with Priya slamming her tablet on our kitchen island.

"Explain this, Bennett," she demanded, her sharp hazel eyes gleaming with unholy excitement as she pointed at the glowing screen.

I held my coffee mug with both hands, squinting at the screen.

It was a video playing on a loop from Briar Confessions, captioned in bold letters: ’Captain Sheridan claims his girl on national TV.’

The high-definition clip showed Knox unlatching the bench glass door at Western State, reaching out to wrap his massive hand around my waist, and pulling me flush against his chest before bringing his mouth down on mine.

The post had over fifty thousand likes.

"It was just the arena Kiss Cam, Pri," I stammered, my cheeks flushing hot as the memory of his warm, breathless lips sent a quiet shudder down my spine. "The camera locked onto us. We had to keep up the public story."

Priya crossed her arms and nodded slowly. "Hmmm... I seeee."

"See what?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Nothing," she replied, raising her hands up.

I shot her a glare. "Spill."

She playfully returned my glare for a split second before replying. "Nora, I’ve seen contract performances. That wasn’t a performance. The man pulled you off the rubber matting like he was claiming a wife in front of ten thousand people!"

"It’s complicated," I murmured, staring down into my dark coffee.

"It’s not complicated, Nora," Priya said gently, her tone softening as she leaned against the counter. "You’re glowing. And for a guy who acts like an unreadable ice block, Knox Sheridan looks completely gone for you."

—

The morning passed in a quick blur of back-to-back lectures and library prep. Catching a quiet break on a wooden bench beneath the yellowing oak trees in the campus quad, I pulled out my phone and dialed my mother’s number.

The line rang twice before her warm, familiar voice answered. "Nora! Sweetheart, how are you?"

"I’m good, Mom," I smiled, leaning back against the wooden bench as the wind rustled the trees overhead. "Just checking in. How are you feeling?"

"Oh, wonderful," Mom said cheerfully over the line. "The doctor said I can work fully now but I should make sure to rest at night."

A wave of profound relief washed through my chest. "That’s amazing news, Mom. Please don’t overdo it with the heavy flour sacks."

"I won’t," Mom laughed softly. "Besides, Drew came by the bakery on Saturday to help unload the supply truck. He’s such a sweet boy, Nora. He mentioned he’s been working really hard at State University. He even hinted that something big was happening for him on campus this week, though he wouldn’t tell me what it was!"

I blinked, a small frown touching my brow. "Something big?"

"He just smiled and didn’t say more than that," Mom replied warmly. "Anyway, sweetie, study hard. I love you."

"Love you too, Mom. Bye."

I lowered the phone, staring at the screen. ’Something big at State?’

Maybe it’s an internship offer or... I don’t know. And I can’t ask him about it so it doesn’t seem like Mom and I were talking about him.

I shook my head and shoved my phone back into my coat. Whatever it is... I’ll find out eventually I guess

—

Later that afternoon, I headed down the front steps of my apartment building, slinging my tote bag over my shoulder. I was fully expecting a quick three-block walk to Rusty’s Diner for our scheduled study session.

Instead, Knox’s black Ford truck was idling right by the curb under the oak trees.

The passenger door unlocked and swung open from the inside. Knox leaned across the console, wearing jeans and a hoodie, his eyes locked onto me through the open door.

"Get in, Bennett," Knox said.

I stepped up into the passenger seat, setting my tote bag by my feet and pulling the door shut. "We could have just walked to Rusty’s. It’s only three blocks."

Knox didn’t answer.

He shifted the truck into drive, pulled away from the curb, and smoothly merged onto the main highway heading completely out of town.

I looked out the side window, then back at his sharp side profile. "Sheridan... the diner is three miles in the opposite direction."

"We’re not going to the diner," Knox said flatly, keeping his eyes on the road.

I raised a brow, turning in my seat to face him. "You explicitly said diner study at four."

Knox’s eyes flicked over to mine for a brief second as a slow, insufferable smirk spread across his lips.

"I lied," he murmured.

I stared at him for a second, then reached into my coat pocket, pulled out my phone, and began furiously tapping on the screen.

Knox cast a glance sideways at my hands. "What are you doing, Bennett?"

"Sharing my live location with Priya," I replied coolly, keeping my eyes on the screen. "Just in case you’re driving me out to the woods to murder me. At least the police will know where to find my body."

Knox let out a huff of laughter, his fingers tightening slightly around the steering wheel. "If I were going to murder you, Bennett, I wouldn’t do it in my own truck. Way too much paperwork."

"Charming, Sheridan. Good to know you have a system."

"Always," he smirked, keeping his eyes on the winding road ahead. "But don’t worry. You’re safe with me."

I scoffed, locking my phone screen and sliding it back into my pocket. "Forgive me if I don’t take safety advice from a guy who has a system for body disposal... and who I once and still categorize as a walking STD."

Knox let out a low huff of laughter, a dry smirk pulling at his lips as he navigated the curving road. "You’re never letting that go, are you, Bennett?"

"Never," I replied smoothly, crossing my arms.

Trees blurred into a quiet green haze as the highway gave way to a steep, winding gravel road. The truck climbed higher into the hills until Knox finally pulled to a stop at a high, secluded overlook above the lake.

The view was stunning. The setting sun cast long, brilliant streaks of amber and violet across the water below, and the cool autumn wind whistled through the high pine trees surrounding the ridge.

Knox turned off the ignition, unlatched his door, and stepped out into the crisp evening air. I pulled my coat tighter around myself and followed him, walking over to stand beside the front hood of his truck.

"Why did you bring me out here, Knox?" I asked softly, looking out over the quiet water.

Knox leaned his broad hips against the front bumper, crossing his arms over his chest as his dark eyes locked onto me with a raw, intense focus.

"Because if we sat in a crowded diner booth," Knox said in a low, raspy voice, "I wouldn’t have been able to look at a single page of economics without wanting to pull you across the table."

My breath hitched sharply in my throat. My heart slammed against my ribs as I held his unblinking stare.

Before I could process the heat of his confession, Knox’s tone shifted into something sharper, darker, and intensely competitive.

"You forgot to mention one very important detail about your buddy from home, Bennett," Knox said flatly.

I blinked, genuinely confused. "Drew? What detail?"

"That he plays hockey," Knox said, his jaw tightening.

I let out a soft, bewildered laugh. "What are you talking about, Knox? Drew doesn’t play hockey. He’s taking business courses at State. He’s never mentioned playing hockey in his life."

Knox’s eyes narrowed into pitch-black slits, studying every inch of my face as if to gauge my reaction.

"He transferred over the summer, Bennett," Knox said, his voice dropping an octave. "Coach Brennan just ran his game tape in the film room an hour ago. Drew Miller is State University’s starting center. Number eleven."

I stood completely frozen on the gravel, my mind spinning in wild, chaotic circles.

Drew? State’s starting center?

Suddenly, everything started falling in place: his sudden trip to Briar for the game, his text about something big happening at State, his mother’s mention at the bakery... He had kept it secret the entire time.

Knox took a slow step closer.

His gaze swept over my face, taking in my frozen expression and parted lips, but the cold, possessive fire in his eyes didn’t soften for even a second.

Knox reached out, his large, calloused hand gently cradling my jaw, his thumb tracing the curve of my lower lip as he leaned down until his breath brushed right against my ear.

"He didn’t tell you because he was saving it for Friday’s game, Bennett," Knox whispered. "He wanted to surprise you. But on that ice, I’m putting him straight through the glass."

My heart hammered a frantic rhythm against my ribs as I looked up into his unreadable eyes.

"So tell me right now, Bennett..." Knox murmured softly, his thumb pressing gently against my lip. "Whose jersey are you wearing on Friday night?"