Chapter 36

Caroline’s Point of View

The sun dips lower on the horizon, casting a warm orange glow over the beach house. The sound of waves fills the silence inside, but it does little to soothe the tension that’s been building since Dolly arrived. I sit on the couch, flipping through a book I’m not actually reading, when I hear her voice from the kitchen.

“Knoxx, would you mind making me something to eat?” Dolly’s tone is light, almost playful, but there’s an edge to it—a familiarity that grates on me.

I glance toward the kitchen, my grip tightening on the book. Knoxx looks up from his spot near the counter, where he’s leaning against the marble surface with an air of discomfort.

“Sure,” he replies after a beat, and I watch as he moves toward the fridge.

The book slips from my hands as I watch him open cabinets and pull out ingredients. There’s a practiced ease to his movements, one I’ve never seen before. It dawns on me then—I’ve never actually seen Knoxx cook.

I sit frozen, watching him from a