4. Chapter 4
“The music here isn’t so bad,” I shouted over the needlessly-too-loud dance music that someone selected on the jukebox. What I said was a lie because the song wasn’t my jam at all.
“What?” Knox shouted back, turning his head sideways so I could project into his ear, just as a few drunks pushed through the crowd and bumped into our table, causing our beers to slosh over our glasses.
It was our first date. Actually, it was a double date with Janice and Jared, but they had disappeared into the crowd somewhere.
“Looks like some people are having a good time,” I said as I used a napkin to wipe up the spill.
“At least someone is,” Knox muttered.
My head shot up, and I didn’t hesitate before I confronted him. “Oh, looks like you didn’t have trouble hearing me just then.”
Knox shook his head and had the decency to look a little embarrassed. “Shit, sorry. I’m just … This isn’t really my scene. It’s a little loud and obnoxious for my taste.”
I nodded and raised my eyebrows in a, thank you, Captain Obvious, kind of way, and he just chuckled.
“Wow,” I half-shouted over the still-too-loud music. “You’re awkward.”
Another chuckle. “Yeah, I guess I am. But you’re no social debutant yourself.”
“Another woman might be offended by that,” I deadpanned.
He looked at me for a beat. “Something tells me you’re not.”
“I can only be offended if I’m being insulted by someone whose opinion I actually care about.”
Another snicker. “Touché.”
Knox leaned his elbows on the table, hands clasping and unclasping, as if he were agitated. I noticed a small tattoo on his right forearm, which was strong and thick and had veins that rolled and stretched as he clenched his hands.
“Is that the Joker?” I shouted, nodding my head toward the ugly image.
Knox looked down at his arm and let out an insincere laugh, before pulling his arms in and leaning back in his seat. “Uh, yeah, that would be the Joker,” he said. “Definitely not my wisest decision.”
I reached out and lightly grabbed his wrist, unfolding his arms and turning his right hand so I could get a better look at the tattoo. He stilled at my touch, and I wondered if I shouldn’t have grabbed him. Our eyes locked for a brief moment, and I was able to appreciate the light brown, hazel hue in his before I went back to inspecting the artwork.
“It’s not so bad,” I lied again.
He was quiet, so I looked up to find him staring at me.
“OK, it’s kind of hideous,” I confessed. After another brief moment, I burst out in laughter, and he joined me.
“I was rebelling,” he said as he ran his fingers through his hair, which was dark brown and unruly. “I wanted to get a tattoo, and I just walked into a nearby shop and picked something out of a book, and well, there it is. The guy probably shouldn’t have even tattooed me since I was wasted.”
At that moment, someone turned the already deafening music up even louder and there was no point in even attempting conversation, which was already awkward as shit, so we just sat there and drank.
Soon, Janice and Jared appeared at our table, fondling each other like a couple of horny teenagers, and said they were ready to leave—for obvious reasons. While I drove myself to the bar, the three of them rode together in Knox’s Dodge RAM.
Before Knox settled our tab, Janice and Jared decided to head out and go at it in his truck. They were making out in there as Knox and I stood outside, leaning our backs against the side of the truck, standing shoulder to shoulder as it rocked back and forth.
We eventually said goodbye. No hug. No handshake. He looked so awkward as he shoved one hand through his hair and dug the other in the front pocket of his jeans to fish out his keys and then slunk into the driver’s seat of his car.
Then he looked at me with those hazel eyes, and I could see something behind them as he obviously raked his eyes up and down my skinny jeans and V-neck deep-blue shirt.
He didn’t drive out of the parking lot until I had gotten into my car, started it, and pulled out first. I was conflicted as I drove away because I couldn’t place the feelings I was having.
And if you had told me my night with Knox wasn’t yet over, I would have never believed you.