23
An hour and a half later, I had changed into some dark wash jeans and one of Knox's hoodies that he had in his car.
Serena had left a few minutes before to have dinner at our elderly neighbor, Ms. Marbury's, house as she does every so often.
She knew Knox and I were going out tonight but I may have fed her a teensy lie about it being for dinner and a late movie instead.
The guilt was already weighing on my conscious seconds after we stepped foot out of my house.
I chewed on my bottom lip in thought the entire way Knox drove us to the race track.
"I shouldn't have agreed to bring you." Knox grunted more to himself than me as he squeezed my thigh.
I glanced at the side of his face before looking back out the window. I couldn't bring myself to argue with him. Even I was starting to second guess why I asked to come in the first place.
In no time at all, we pulled onto a gravel road just outside of town, startling me from my thoughts. My eyes widened as they met the crowd of cars filling the otherwise empty lot. A rope perimeter circled the track, a thin veil of separation from the growing crowd of people.
I took a deep shuttering breath as Knox pulled up next to a small group of cars away from the main crowd.
I glanced over to see Liam, Sean, and who I vaguely recognized as Clarissa standing next to who I could only assume was her brother.
Knox lightly gripped my face, refocusing my attention on his face.
He brushed his thumb over my bottom lip, his eyes roaming my face for a few moments before he captured my mouth in a rough kiss.
He gripped the back of my neck, forcing my mouth open with his tongue.
I gasped, gripping his shirt in a tight fist as I tried to keep up with his feverish movements.
Knox was rough, controlling, and conveyed every ounce of emotion he couldn't say with words.
Pulling away, Knox left me dazed as I struggled to catch my breath.
He didn't say a single word as he stepped out of the car before walking around to open my door to help me out.
My legs shook slightly with nerves as I stepped out.
I gripped the end of Knox's shirt as he wrapped an arm around me, pulling me into his side.
Leading us over to everyone else, Knox greeted them with a short nod of his head.
"Knox-y-boy," Liam grinned, "didn't think you were gonna make it." He laughed.
"I couldn't resist." Knox rolled his eyes, brushing Liam's teasing off. "How're you, Clarissa?" He asked, drawing my eyes to the girl I had only seen before.
"Excited to see a good race," she laughed, her eyes twinkling. "You must be Annie?" She asked, turning her attention to me.
I straightened, realizing how pathetic I must've looked cowering into Knox's side. I nodded, offering her the best smile I could muster. "Nice to meet you," I waved awkwardly.
"Likewise," She beamed. "This is my brother, Titus. Not much of a talker but I'm sure you're used to that with this one." She teased, gesturing to Knox.
I nodded, my smile easing into more a natural one. "Tell me about it." I joked, earning me a light pinch in the side from Knox himself.
"We need to get in the line-up." Sean's voice cut through the ease I was starting to feel, send my heart-rate sky-rocketing.
Liam and Knox nodded. Liam sent each Clarissa and I a cheeky wink before turning to jog to his car.
Knox leaned down to my ear, whispering so only I could hear, "The race won't be long. I'll be back before you know it. Just stay with Clarissa and Titus and you'll be alright. Be good for me, baby." He nipped my ear, earning a small squeak from me before he turned back to his own car.
I was suddenly grateful he made me change as I looked back over at the large group of people surrounding the track. There was no way I'd be comfortable here while wearing anything like that. And now with Knox no longer anywhere near me, I couldn't have happier to be wearing his hoodie.
Clarissa linked her arm with mine, sending me a reassuring smile as if she noticed where my focus had gone.
"Titus and I usually watch from over there.
" She said, pointing to a turn in the track that was less surrounded than the start/finish line.
"We don't really like to bother with squeezing through everyone.
" She waved her hand, brushing the crowd off before leading me off to where they wanted to watch from.
"How many races have you been too?" I asked softly, still struggling to reel in the anxiety that was clawing its way up my throat.
"Hmmm," she paused, "a fair few but I certainly don't go to every single one. It gets a bit boring if you go too often." She confessed. "Plus, I don't think Liam likes me coming all the time."
"Why?" I asked before I could stop myself. My cheeks tinged pink in embarrassment, "You don't have to tell me if you don't feel comfortable." I tried to remedy.
Clarissa smiled at me warmly, "My relationship with Liam is a bit complicated.
We each like our independence and neither of us are really looking for anything serious.
It's nice to support each other but I know he can feel suffocated when I show up too much.
I don't mind, though. I like where we're at and I don't need nor want to be around him all the time.
" She chuckled, again waving her hand as if to brush the whole thing off.
I furrowed my brows, not understanding how she could be so okay with his lack of commitment. If Knox ever said he was feeling suffocated by my presence, I don't think I could ever get over that. Nevertheless, it wasn't my place to judge.
Clarissa's eye's twinkled at my expression. "I know - you and Knox have a very different type of relationship so I'm sure it must be weird to you."
"No - I, I'm not judging at all. It's just - I thought-" I frowned, failing to find the words to explain.
"I know, Annie. Don't worry." She laughed, "I love what you have with Knox but it's just not what I want right now. Maybe in a few years but trust me, I am perfectly content right now."
I smiled, nodding as we came to halt where the rope separated the track.
Clarissa was right in that nobody was really over here, giving the three of us a comfortable amount of space to watch the race in peace.
Clarissa stood next to me, eagerly watching the cars line up at the start. Titus stood a bit behind the both of us, nursing a can of beer - his eyes glazed over with what I could only assume was boredom.
I licked my lips nervously, eyes darting everywhere for Knox's car. I took a deep, shuddered breath as he pulled up near the middle of the pack. Loud cheering sounded from the crowd as the race was set to start.
I wrung my hands together, my eyes never leaving Knox's car as a loud horn sounded and they all took off.