It's Pucking Complicated

Clearing Things Up

ISADORA

I don't know what's worse: Knox's forced kiss or the fact that I have to sit here like an i***t plastered to his side for the better part of an hour even though what I really want to do is shove my thumbs deep into his eye sockets.

If he couldn't just take his arm off me, it would be easier for me to calm down, but he keeps holding me and I can't do a thing about it because then it would look off to people. So, we have to sit here and play the role of the sweet PDA-loving couple while I'm boiling.

Eventually, more and more people join us around the fire since it starts to get pretty cold. I don't even feel it anymore. I'm so mad that I'm sweating all over.

That's it. I've had enough.

Without saying a word to him, I stand up and walk away from the large group, even having to step over people's legs to get to the other side. I start walking toward the tents, determined to get some sleep so I can forget this awful night ever happened.

Knox comes right after me.

I reach the tent before he does and look around quickly to make sure we're alone. He slows to a stop in front of me, his expression unreadable as always.

"What the hell?" I let out, struggling to keep my voice down. "What was that about?"

He doesn't answer me, but the intense look never leaves his eyes.

I shake my head. "You're really not gonna say anything?”

"I don't know what you want me to say.” He slides his hands inside the pockets of his jeans. “This is part of the arrangement. Always has been."

My eyes bulge. "Kissing has never been part of the arrangement1"

"Really?" he asks coldly as he steps toward me. "So, it's only a part of the arrangement when you want it to be, right? You call the shots?"

I let out a short, disbelieving laugh. Well, he got me there, but that's not the point right now. "In case you forgot, we were fighting not too long before that little incident. You accused me of being a liar, remember? What was that even about?"

"You mean to tell me that you don't know what you're lying about?"

Is he serious? "No, I don't!"

His gaze sharpens even more. "Two words. Phillippe. Grubben."

My face falls and I stare back at Knox in disbelief. His gaze drags slowly over my face like he's watching for any display of emotions. Apart from shock, I don't feel anything else.

"It's true, then?"

"What have you heard?"

"What's there for me to hear?" he retorts.

I fold my arms and breathe in deeply. "It's not what you think."

"I don't think anything, Isadora. I just need to know why you didn't assume this was necessary to mention before we entered this arrangement!"

"I didn't know about it at the time," I claim. "And anyway, it doesn't matter because it's never gonna happen. I'm not gonna marry that guy just because my father wants me to. He never even told me about it—I had to hear it from Justin."

I look away, feeling annoyed all over again. Knox keeps looking at me, but doesn't say anything. I narrow my eyes at him. "Do you think I'm still lying?"

"I don't know," he admits. "What I do know is that things can get really ugly for me if you're truly engaged to that guy. I'll end up looking like a fool when that's the one thing I'm avoiding."

"I'm not engaged to him," I claim. "I don't want anything to do with him and that's final. My father can't force me into marrying someone I don't even know. Besides, I don't think he's interested either, but that's not the point. How did you find out about this?"

He bristles. "It doesn't matter."

"Yes, it does," I state. "How long have you even known? Why didn't you just mention it before instead of throwing veiled accusations at me?"

Knox runs a hand through his hair, looking flustered all of a sudden. I wait for him to answer my questions before saying anything else. I have to admit that I do see his side in all this, as crazy as that might sound. I would never agree to this if I knew he were engaged, for instance.

But I would've asked him about it if I suspected anything.

Why didn't he?

"I figured I'd find out more about the situation before bringing it up with you," he claims, sincerity gleaming in his icy eyes. "It was wrong, alright? I'm sorry."

"How long have you known?"

"Not for long. But I suspected something was off when I first met him at the barbecue. The way he looked at you told me that there was something there.”

“That was the first time I met him, too,” I admit, cheeks heating up. I never thought that Knox noticed, so that makes me feel embarrassed, for some reason. “It was also the day that Justin told me about him. It’s actually why I…”

“Kissed me,” he concludes. “Was it to prove to him that you wouldn’t stay with him?”

I meet his gaze and nod. I won’t even ask him how he guessed it. I assume he’ll say something accusatory just to piss me off, but to my surprise, Knox looks amused.

“What is it?” I demand.

“Nothing,” is all he says. “It’s all cleared up, then.”

“I guess so.”

Neither of us says anything afterward. Seconds pass, creeping toward a full minute. Any warmth the bonfire gave me is long gone.

“I think I’ll head inside the tent,” I claim, pointing my thumb in its direction. “It’s cold and I’m really tired.”

“Alright. I’ll probably swing by a little later. Text me if you need anything.”

“Sure.”

I head inside the tent, ignoring the fact that he’s still standing out there. The tent is dark and I don’t turn on any of the lanterns. I just need to feel around for the air mattress and—

What the hell?

I must make a sound because Knox enters the tent quickly. “What is it? What happened?”

“I think the mattress is flat,” I claim. He turns on one of the lanterns and sure enough, it’s flat.

“I’ll have to see what the problem is,” he states as he pulls the covers out of it and drags it outside. “This shouldn’t have happened.”

I follow him, arms folded. “What does that mean?”

“It means there could be a hole in it.” His eyes meet mine. “And if that happens, we’re gonna have to ask around for an extra mattress or sleeping pad.”

“But what if nobody has one?”

Knox gives me a look that tells me I don’t want to know the answer to that.