6. Chapter 6
When I pulled up to my dorm after that horrific setup, there was Knox leaning his back against his truck, ankles and arms crossed, waiting for me.
“How did you manage to drop Johnny and June off and get here before me?” I asked as I exited my car.
“Did I not see you circle by here twice before you pulled into the lot?” he asked in return, brows pinched.
“There was a good song on the radio. I had to let it finish.”
“‘Walk the Line’ certainly wouldn’t keep someone driving,” Knox mused, catching onto my Johnny Cash reference. “‘Ring of Fire?’”
“You’ll have to go to the grave wondering,” I answered as I started to make my way around my parked vehicle.
“I was just saying, you extended your trip home. I opted for speed. Hence, me getting here first.” Knox still had his arms crossed over his chest.
“How did you know which dorm I live in?”
Instead of answering, he simply jerked his head toward the passenger side of his truck. “Get in, and I’ll show you what’s more my speed. That dance club bullshit didn’t give us a chance.”
It was my turn to cross my arms over my chest as I stood a few feet in front of him. “I’m not sure I can handle any more stimulating conversation with you. What happens if we pick right back up where we left off at the bar? It might be too much.”
A slow grin creeped across his face. “There she is,” he said to himself. Then, to me, “The night’s still young, and I think we can do better.”
Locked in a staring contest, he pushed on. “Do you trust me?”
“No.” My reply was immediate. “Not even a little bit.”
He barked out a laugh. “Good. At least you’re not stupid.”
Unfolding his arms and pushing himself away from the hood of the truck, Knox opened his driver’s side door before hopping in, closing the door and hanging his elbow out the window. “You might not trust me, but are you at least curious about me?”
Well, THEN I was.
I looked around, arms still crossed over my chest as I tapped my foot.
“Fuck it,” I sighed, as if I were doing him a favor. “But if you rape and dismember me, shit’s gonna hit the fan.”
“Duly noted,” he said as he leaned over the seat to push the passenger side door open for me. “You will be returned in one piece … Dead or alive.”
Having hoisted myself up, one foot inside the truck, the other on the footrest, I had one hand on the door, the other on the hood, and I gave him my hardest stare. “Am I going to regret this?”
“Nah, I’m harmless, really.”
“That’s what my dad said about the dog we adopted when I was a kid,” I muttered, sliding in and securing myself in the seat.
“And what happened to him … or her?”
“Ask the veterinarian who had to put him to sleep after he bit me.” I swiveled my head to lock eyes with Knox, then gave him my creepiest smile.
A blank stare met me in return. “Jesus.”
“No, I don’t think he went to Jesus. I think Beast went in the other direction.”
“Beast?” Knox asked, eyebrows raised. “That was the dog’s name?”
“Yep,” I said, popping the “p”. “I hated that fucking dog.”
Knox started the truck and pulled out of the parking lot. “Oh, come on! Who the hell hates dogs?”
I crooked my pointer finger toward my chest. “This lady, right here.”
Knox just shook his head in disbelief.
We drove in silence for a few minutes as he navigated the city streets. “Where are we going?” I asked but got no reply. Asshole.
Annoyed, and bored, I leaned over and turned the radio up, then started flipping through the stations.
Knox swatted my hand away. “You know, it’s rude to play DJ in someone else’s vehicle.”
“He speaks!” I said, pressing a hand to my chest, feigning shock.
He grinned, and after a classic rock song started pouring through the speakers, Knox returned both hands to the wheel.
“Is this even your truck?” I asked. “Looks like a company vehicle. Who are ‘Mitchell Sons?’” I was referring to the advertising I saw wrapped around the body of the pickup.
“Mitchell is my last name. It’s my dad’s construction company. I work for him.”
“You have brothers?” I asked. “What fraction of the ‘and sons’ are you?”
“I have one brother, Bram,” he replied, looking over his shoulder as he turned down a narrow side street. “He’s older, but I’m better looking.” He turned his head to give me a full-on megawatt smile.
I rolled my eyes as the truck slowed, and Knox parallel parked like a boss. “Now you’re just being a showoff,” I said as he turned off the truck.
He chuckled. “Nah, I’ve just been driving work trucks since I was fifteen. I’m used to it. Hop out,” he added with a nod of his chin at me.
Doing as I was told, I opened the door and jumped—not hopped—out of the vehicle. I rounded the back and watched as Knox pulled a bottle from the back of the vehicle, along with two plastic cups. “This way,” he said.
We passed a small eatery with people hanging around outside smoking and drinking. Similar places were across the street. When we came to a darkened building that looked like an abandoned apartment complex, Knox turned and walked the few steps up the stoop before fishing keys out of his pocket and going to unlock the door.
He noticed me lingering on the sidewalk. “What’s wrong?”
“This is a rape house,” I blurted out, pointing toward the door he just opened.
Knox looked at me, stunned.
“It’s dark. It’s clearly unoccupied. It’s a bit rundown and it’s downright creepy. I’m not going in there.”
He put a finger in the air, indicating for me to sit tight, while he ducked inside. A few lights inside began to appear, then the front flood light lit up. He stepped back out and stared at me, expectantly.
“Congratulations. Now it’s a well-lit rape house. I’m still not going in there.”
Knox sighed and rolled his eyes. “We’re working on this house. The company bought it. We’re in the process of flipping it. That’s why it’s in disarray. But it’s got a cool upper porch,” he pointed above us, “where we can hang and hear the music from the pub.” He pointed down the street where I realized I could hear music emanating. “We can have a drink without people bumping into us.” He held up the bottle.
Conflicted, I looked up and down the street, which seemed to be lively enough that if he killed me, someone would hear me scream. In fact …
I took two steps to the side and cupped my hands over my mouth as I yelled, “Excuse me!” to the people gathered outside at the nearby bar. “Excuse me!”
They turned and looked at me like I was a lunatic. “If you see my face,” I circled my face with my pointer finger, “on the news because someone assaulted and murdered me and chopped me up into itty bitty pieces, can you tell the police it was this guy right here?” I pointed at Knox, who gave a wave to the onlookers.
One chick just stared with her cigarette frozen midway to her lips. Another guy shrugged. And one girl pulled out her phone and took a picture of us. “I got you, girl!” she said, giving me a thumbs up.
“Thanks,” I said, then turned back to Knox. “Lead the way.”
When I looked up, I saw him smiling at me. “What?”
“Nothing.” He stepped to the side, holding the door open for me to enter. As I brushed past him, he grabbed my elbow and stepped closer to me, so his lips practically danced across my ear as he spoke. “And for the record, I’ve never had to fuck an unwilling female.”
I tried not to show my shock at his brazen statement, although I had to admit, it intrigued me a bit. “How about males?” I asked as I slid past him.
He threw his head back and laughed. “Yep, walked right into that one.”
Knox followed me upstairs and motioned for me to head through the main bedroom, where there was a sliding glass door to a second-story porch. He was right, from here we could hear live music coming from a nearby venue and see passersby rushing around from one bar to the next, while enjoying a drink in peace.
“Shit,” Knox said, looking around the porch, which was a little damp. “I didn’t think about seats. I might have a tarp or something in the truck.” He looked a little apologetic, but before he could stew on it, I plopped right down on the old wooden porch floor, resting my back against the building, my knees bent and my feet flat on the floor.
“Don’t worry about it,” I said.
“Your pants will probably get wet, and maybe a little dirty.”
“Oh, but aren’t my panties already wet?” I looked up at him. “You know, since I’m like, so willing to fuck you?” It was Knox’s turn to try to pretend he wasn’t shocked.
I patted the spot next to me, indicating he should join me. And he did. Taking the same position as me, he made quick work of opening the bottle. “Can I interest you in some room temperature Jack Daniel’s?” he said while he uncapped it and poured.
When I didn’t answer he stilled and looked up at me. I nodded with a smile, because Tennessee whiskey was, in fact, my drink of choice. He finished pouring three fingers worth of liquor in each cup and handed me one, before capping the bottle and casting it off to the side. We clinked plastic cups and each took a sip, and I enjoyed the burn that cascaded down my throat.
We sat in comfortable silence for a beat, Knox with his arms hugging his knees, occasionally lifting one to take a drink, and me with my head leaned back against the building.
“Name that song,” I heard Knox’s voice from beside me, breaking the silence.
“Hmm?” I turned to look at him.
He nodded his head in the direction of the music, toward the venue down the street, keeping his eyes locked with mine. I closed my eyes briefly while I focused on the familiar melody.
“It’s a cover—”
“Yeah, I know!” I snapped. “Just give me a second.” Once I knew it, my eyes snapped open, and I saw his were cast downward … on my cleavage. I raised my eyebrows, letting him know I caught him in the act.
“‘Nutshell,’” I said softly, and he just stared at me. “Alice in Chains. ‘Nutshell.’ That’s the song.”
He nodded and shifted to face forward again. “You a grunge music junkie?” he asked, swirling his cup before taking another sip.
Looking down at my own cup, I contemplated the question. “Maybe not a junkie, but a fan.” I looked at him. “This may be hard to believe, but I was a bit of a wildcard in my teenage years.”
“No!” Knox fake-gasped, hand on his chest, much like I had done to him in the car.
“Har, har,” I said, nudging him with my shoulder. “But seriously, I was quite the angst-filled brat. I gave my parents hell. Thank God my older sister was a bit more studious than I was. Made them feel better, I guess.”
“But you still enrolled in college,” Knox pointed out.
“I sure did.” Knox didn’t press further. He reached over to pick up the bottle, gesturing toward my empty cup. I had hardly made a dent in my drink, but his cup was empty.
“Uh, not yet,” I said, and he nodded.
When we made eye contact again, I noticed his were a little glassy. Huh, was he drunk? I didn’t know him well enough to know if he would be driving around under the influence. But he was in control of himself, so I shook off my thoughts. He could have constant dry eyes for all I knew about him.
The song changed, along with our energy. “Name that tune,” I said to Knox, turning the tables on him. Without hesitation he answered. “‘Champagne Supernova.’ Oasis.”
“Ding! Ding!” I laughed at my own stupidity, then took another sip before going to stand. “Sorry, my ass is falling asleep.”
Knox stood alongside me, and we both brushed off our behinds. “This band must play a lot at that venue. They’re always playing 90s music,” he said.
“Hey, I can’t complain about that.”
“Nah, it’s good. I like it.”
Standing toe to toe with Knox, I realized he had a few inches on me, despite me being tall. A breeze tousled his unruly hair, and I noticed a faint scar above his eyebrow.
“What’s that from?” I asked, nodding while staring at the faint pink line.
“This?” He reached up to touch it. “Took a hammer to the forehead when I was six. You can blame Bram for that.” He chuckled a bit.
“The older, less attractive half of ‘and sons?’”
“That very one. Fucking cocksucker. Ruined this beautiful mug before I even had a chance to chase the ladies.”
I let out a “harumph,” then looked at him seriously. “Nah, he didn’t ruin anything.”
“I knew it. You’ve got a crush on me.” And there was that megawatt smile again.
“Oh, please!” I groaned as I slammed a hand into his chest. And he didn’t budge. Not one freaking inch. Jesus.
“So, you always wanted to be in the family biz?” I asked as I sauntered back inside the building, looking around at the work done inside.
“I guess you could say that,” Knox replied. “Nothing else just ever seemed to excite me, you know? It’s like once I learned to work with my hands and build shit, repair shit, I couldn’t just sit still and do anything else.” He ran a hand through his hair and looked around shyly.
“I get it,” I said. “That’s why I like to write. I like to create. Different medium, but kind of the same concept, I guess.”
“Really?” Knox came to rest in a doorway, his arms perched above him, gripping the top of the frame as he leaned in, showcasing his sculpted triceps. “What do you write?”
“Well, actually, I have an interview this week with ROC Record to fill a paid internship position as a reporter. I’ve never really thought about journalism, but the listing sounded interesting enough.” I lifted my cup to my mouth to finish off the rest of my whiskey.
“I bet you’ll crush it,” he said with a smile.
I held up a set of crossed fingers, and Knox saw my empty cup.
“Refill?” he asked.
“No,” I answered quickly, at the same time my stomach growled loudly. I put my hand over my stomach, embarrassed.
We locked eyes, then Knox asked, “Did you just fart?” No hint of humor in his voice.
Horrified, I stared at him until his facade broke, and his head reared back as he broke out in laughter.
“You are such an ass!” I smacked him right in the ribs.
“Damn you’re handsy,” he said as he pulled back and rubbed his middle. “Just remember that whatever you do to me, I get to do to you.” And with that, he turned and retreated down the stairs.
“What, did my noxious gas clear out the room?” I asked, following him slowly.
He chuckled. “No, I just figured we should get you fed. There’s a place around the corner that serves great Buffalo wings.”
“Oh, so you do want me to get the farts,” I said as I shimmied past him through the threshold of the front door, and he locked it behind me.
His chuckle, which was already becoming familiar, was all the response I got as we descended the stairs.
“No way!” Knox practically shouted before plunging a blue-cheese-covered thumb into his mouth.
“Way!” I licked buffalo sauce off my own fingers.
“As soon as my hands are no longer sticky, I’m gonna Google that shit.”
“Go ahead, my friend. But I’m telling you, when the band sings live, the lyrics are ‘And I wanna be there ...’ Not ‘I don’t wanna be there …’”
“No. I don’t believe you. That would change the entire meaning of the song!” With his teeth, Knox tore the meat, skin and cartilage off a wing all in one bite.
“I know. I know.” I hooked my pinkie finger into the handle of my glass of water and pulled it toward me so I could get my lips around the straw. Then I continued, “It took me a long time to accept it, so I’ll give you some time.”
Knox grabbed his water with his filthy hands, not caring if he got sauce everywhere, and took a hefty gulp. “I feel like my whole life has been a farce. I mean, I love Oasis. How could I not know this?” He took another swig, and I started to notice the sweat beading up on his forehead.
“You OK there, cowboy?” I asked as I used my finger to push a hunk of meat through the two bones on a wing and ripped it out with my teeth, then continued around a mouthful, “you look a little green around the gills.”
When we got to the pub, Knox asked me my spice level for wings, and when I told him I could do DEFCON, he went along with me, but I could tell from the slight bulging of his eyes before he corrected his features that he was scared.
“I’m great,” he answered, grabbing a celery stick and scooping up a golf-ball-sized dollop of blue cheese and plunging it into his mouth.
“Ummhmm,” I said as I deposited more bones on my plate and licked the fiery sauce off another finger. “You sure about that?” I used a napkin to wipe my face, then my hands and under my fingernails.
He leaned over with another napkin and wiped something off my left cheek, then used his unsoiled knuckle to brush a strand of hair back off my face. God, I must look so attractive right now, I thought.
Then I realized his forehead was really getting shiny. “I’m good,” he stood firm, draining his water and chomping down on some ice.
I leaned back in the high stool and crossed my arms over my chest, turning my body toward his. And waited.
“OK! Goddamn, these things are like hellfire lava!” Knox practically shouted as he reached over for my glass of water, and I let out a burst of laughter.
“Milk,” I said through tears threatening my eyes. “Milk will help.”
“Yeah, well I’m not about to ask the bartender for a glass of milk, so …”
“Why didn’t you get less spicy ones?”
“It’s emasculating.”
“Oh, paaaleeeease.”
“Whatever. I’m fine. I’ll be fine.” Knox was blowing his hot breath into a napkin, in an attempt to rid the heat from his body. “The pain aside, why is it that wings taste better at,” he looked at his phone, “three o’clock in the morning?”
“It’s three o’clock in the morning?!” I practically shouted.
“You got a curfew?”
“No, I just … damn.”
Another chuckle. “Alright, Cinderella, I’ll get you home.”
Just as we got to the door our attention was drawn by a girly squeal. “Knox!”
We both looked toward the sound and saw a petite female with strawberry blonde hair bounding toward us—or him—arms outstretched, midriff on display beneath a black crop top and low-cut jeans that showed off her protruding hip bones. He had to raise his arms to catch her. Really, he had to, otherwise she would have just body-slammed him.
“Ally. Uh, hi,” he said as she hung on for dear life. “What’s up?”
I stood awkwardly to the side as she pulled back but kept a hand on his chest. “Why haven’t I heard from you?” she asked, all pouty.
Great, he’s into the fake cute, “look at me” type.
Darting his eyes to mine and attempting to step out of her reach, Knox shoved his hands in his pockets and addressed Barbie. “I, uh … Yeah, I guess I’ve just been busy.” He ran a hand through his hair.
Oh, snap. He was giving her the take a hint it was just a hookup brush off. I’d know that anywhere.
Holding in a smile and a laugh, I turned and exited the pub, with Knox hot on my heels. “Sorry about that,” he said. “Ally was just—”
“A hookup,” I finished for him.
Knox dipped his head and blew out a heavy breath. “There was a lot of brown alcohol, and other stuff, involved that night.”
“Hey,” I said, holding up a hand. “You don’t have to explain anything to me.” I started heading in the direction of the truck, a little disappointed.
“Actually,” Knox jogged to catch up with me, “I know I don’t have to, but I want to.”
“Seriously, it’s fine.” I waved him off. “You think I don’t have guys I cringe at when I run into them?”
“Well, no. But it doesn’t mean I want to meet them while we’re on a date.”
“This isn’t a date,” I said, crossing the now-quiet street and waving a hand between the two of us.
“It isn’t?”
“No.”
“Well, then, what would constitute a date?”
“I don’t know,” I said, suddenly flustered. “But not this. Something that involves using utensils when we eat, maybe.”
Still a step behind me, Knox pressed on. “OK then, how about we have a real date?”
“Thanks, but no thanks.” I approached the passenger side door to his truck. When he just stopped beside me, bracing one arm against the side of the still-locked vehicle, I gave him a glare. “Mind opening the door?”
“Yes.”
“Well, then you need to get your keys out.”
“No, I mean … Yes, I mind.”
Sighing, I nearly begged. “Knox, it’s 3 o’clock in the morning. I’m a little hungover, and I’m kind of regretting the Buffalo wings. Please just take me home.”
A look of concern on his face, Knox pulled his keys out to unlock the door, then walked around to the driver’s side as I hopped in. After we were both buckled in and he pulled away from the curb, Knox asked, without looking at me, “How come you won’t eat a meal that involves utensils with me?”
Staring out the window, I replied with a question. “Why is it that you want to have another meal with me? I mean, you saw me with the chicken wings, right? Put a spoon in my hand and I’m not any better. I don’t get more graceful.”
“You didn’t answer me.”
We were both quiet for a minute as Knox drove us closer to campus. “It’s not that I don’t want to have a meal with you. It’s that I’m not really looking to have a meal with anyone at the moment,” I finally confessed.
“Ouch,” was his response.
I scowled at him, but I doubt he saw it since it was so dark in the truck. “No, you see, it’s supposed to soften the blow, letting you know it’s not anything against you, personally.”
“Bullshit.”
“Excuse me?”
“I call bullshit.” Knox was resting his left elbow on the window and driving with his right hand as he stared out the windshield and navigated the side streets, purposely not looking at me. “If you wanted to hang out with me, you would do it. Don’t make up excuses to soften the blow.”
“OK, fine. Would you prefer I say, ‘It’s not you, it’s me?’”
“Maybe.”
Exasperated, I tried to reason with him. “Look, Knox. It was cute that Janice and Jared set us up. I’m sure they meant well and, if I’m being truthful, tonight was actually kinda fun. But I just don’t think we’re looking for the same things.”
Knox ran his left hand through his hair. “And tell me—humor me—what do you think I’m looking for?”
I blew a loud breath out and let my lips flap loudly. “Well, if Ally is any indication—”
Knox abruptly pulled the truck over to the side of the street, popping a front tire up on the sidewalk in front of a closed storefront. He put the truck in park and leaned over as far as his seatbelt would allow. He was right in my face.
“I slept with Ally. I’ve slept with my fair share of ladies. But I’m not interested in taking any of them out to a place where you have to use utensils.” He held my gaze for a minute before pulling back a little. “Anyway, if you think I’m just looking for some ass, you’re wrong.”
Eyes still on me, he put the truck back in drive. Then he looked over his shoulder and jerked the truck back onto the road. “Although, I must add, your ass is a nice one, if I were looking for that. But I’m not.”
My eyes practically bugged out of my head as I refused to look toward his side of the cab.
Moments of silence passed before I finally caved. “So, then, what are you looking for?”
“Good question,” Knox answered after a brief pause. We rolled to a stop at a light just before the entrance of campus near my dorm. “I just want to laugh and smile without having to try, and you make me do that. I had fun tonight, and I thought we could do it again. But I’m not going to beg for your attention.”
Warmed by his confession, and hoping it wasn’t a load of crap, I decided to share something with him, as well, as we pulled into a parking spot outside my dorm.
“Can I be honest with you?”
“Why start now?” he shot back.
Shocked, I let out a huff. “Oh, just forget it!” and I tugged on the door handle, flinging it open.
Knox’s hand shot out and he grabbed my wrist, tightly, then immediately loosened his grip. “Sorry … Sorry,” he said. “What were you going to be honest about?”
“Nope. Never mind.” I pulled my arm free and jumped out of the truck and slammed the door.
“No. Wait!” He hopped out and ran around the front to stop me from walking. “I’m sorry. I can’t control my sarcasm sometimes. Wasn’t trying to be an ass. Really, I want to know what you were going to say.”
Shoving my hands into my pockets, I looked down at my feet as they kicked at some loose gravel, then I looked back up at Knox. “If I’m being honest, I didn’t expect to like you as much as I do.”
A smile slowly stretched across his face. “I knew it. You’re in love with me.”
With a final eye roll, I moved to step around him as he again reached out to grab hold of my wrist, this time tenderly. “OK, look,” he said. “Just do me a favor and text me once you’re inside your room and have the door locked, so I know you made it inside safely.”
I looked from him to the door about thirty feet away. “Knox, we’re right here. You practically walked me to the door.”
“Yeah but it’s almost three-thirty in the morning now and there’s probably a bunch of drunk people wandering around. Just—” he reached around me and pulled my phone out of my back pocket, then held it up to me. I knew what he was insinuating, and after a brief standoff, I reluctantly entered my pin in the phone to unlock it “—text me once you’re inside.” I watched as he typed in my phone.
“OK! Fine!” I gave in.
We stood staring at each other for a minute. I eventually looked down, then around, then back at him only to find that his eyes never left my face. He pushed a strand of hair out of my face, this time with his finger. “Goodnight, Lyzbeth,” he said softly.
“Night, Knox,” I replied as I brushed past him and made my way toward the dorm. I bound up the few steps, and as I opened the door, I turned back around to see him leaning against his truck with his arms and feet crossed. That must be his favorite pose, I decided.
I gave a girly wave, then mentally kicked myself for doing so, and went inside. Once I climbed the two flights to my floor, unlocked the door and entered my room—which I occupied alone—I immediately started pulling my clothes off, letting out a groan as I unclasped my bra and let it fall to the floor. In just my underwear, I pulled on an old T-shirt I slept in that barely covered my lady parts, then grabbed my phone to shoot out a text to Knox.
When I saw how he entered his contact information, I did yet another eye roll, shaking my head and fighting back a smile.
Really?! Mr. Banana Hammock?
Three dots appeared almost immediately, and I pulled back the curtain of the window, which looked down on the parking lot where I left Knox. He was still standing by his truck, this time hunched over his phone. With his head cast down I couldn’t see his face, but I saw his shoulders shake with laughter.
Have you never seen Friends?
Oh, I’ve seen it. Just surprised you have
I looked out and saw the shoulder shake again.
Just wait ’till you see how I entered your name in my phone ;-) And, baby, you should know I’m full of surprises
I’m sure you are … Now get in the car and go the hell home before someone runs you over
I hit send and about three seconds later saw Knox’s head snap up and his eyes dart around the building facade for a beat before they landed on me. Looking up at me in the window, a streetlamp illuminated his face, and I could see a huge smile stretch across it with bright eyes.
He looked back down at his phone, and I immediately felt mine vibrate in my hands.
You’re a bossy one.
I simply looked out at him and nodded. I saw him laugh wholeheartedly, and I did the same.