KNOX’S POV

Nathaniel is staring at me.

“The gala,” I say. “That’s your chance. Not to win her. Not to fix it. To stand up in front of the woman who never once gave up on you and let her see that you know exactly what she was worth—before you’re gone. Give her one thing that’s true. One thing with no engineering under it. And then let her forgive you, or let her not—but let her choose it, with the whole truth laid out in front of her.” I glance over. “Can you do that? One real thing. In front of everyone.”

“…I don’t know,” Nathaniel says, and it’s quiet,...