Chapter 19 – Knox
nineteen
Knox
The bus stops next to the plane. As soon as we hear the hiss of the brakes, we all start to get up.
I grab my backpack and step out behind Kirby, who is following Jaxon.
Stepping off the bus and into the brisk wind, I don’t bother getting my bag since the porters are taking them out from under the bus and placing them in the jet.
The stainless-steel steps are pushed up against the plane, waiting for us.
Walking up the steps and into the jet, the flight crew is waiting for us. “Welcome,” they greet us, and I give them a small nod before walking and placing my backpack in one of the open seats. I grab my iPad out of my bag before I put it in the overhead compartment.
I sit in the seat next to the window with Kirby sitting in the seat in front of me and Jaxon on the opposite side of me, against the other window.
My phone vibrates in my pocket, and I take it out and look down to see I have an email from Kylie.
My pulse speeds up as I sit down and nervously open it.
I’m not sure what I’m expecting. I mean, the last thing she texted me was that it could have been anyone, four days ago.
We left the next day after the game, so I haven’t had time to message her back.
I’m lying, that’s a complete and utter lie. I’ve had plenty of chances to text her back. I just haven’t because I don’t know what to say. It’s better this way. We had our fun and now we move past it.
I swipe the email thread and my chest gets tight when I read the first line.
Good afternoon, Knox. So formal, like I didn’t have my face buried in her pussy and she didn’t choke on my cock a few days ago.
Just doing a follow up on the previous email I sent you last week. You know, the week before you came over to my house and fucked my brains out on my couch.
You won four prizes. Because you’re a fucking idiot and bid on all of them.
First prize is:
A weekend getaway for two, off the grid. Great, a chance for me and myself to spend more time alone.
Second prize is:
A spa weekend for two at the Beverly Willshire Hotel, including a suite for one night. Maybe I can take the kids with me, minus the spa, and we can just chill. Go to the pool and play.
Third prize is:
A round of golf at the prestigious golf club in Arizona. When the fuck am I going to go and redeem that one? It’s fine, I’ll just donate it to the team for their fundraiser.
Fourth prize:
A romantic dinner for two overlooking the coast, including a one-night stay. Even better, I can jump off the cliff afterward.
She writes the total amount I owe and gives me the option to pay it online. I click the link and it takes me to a checkout, and I enter my credit card.
“Finding yourself a mail order bride?” Jaxon teases from his side of the plane then laughs at himself, and I flip him the bird.
He gets up and sits next to me. “Why?” I ask him. “You sit by yourself and let me sit by myself. You are in my bubble, and I don’t want you in it.”
He laughs and he’s about to get up when two rookies come in and sit down in the empty seats beside us. I glare at him, then at the rookies. “Now see what you did?”
“Would you two stop bickering?” Kirby grumbles between the seats. “I’m trying to rest.” I hit the seat in front of me, his head bouncing off. “Real mature,” he says to me.
“For someone who had sex not too long ago,” he tosses over his shoulder, “you sure are crabby.”
“I told you that—” I start and Jaxon cuts me off.
“You lied. You one thousand percent got laid the night before.” He snorts. “You were even lighter on your feet.”
“Can you both just fuck off?” I ask them. “I’m tired and when I get back, I have to go and get the kids. Which will mean it’ll be noisy until tonight when I put them to bed.”
The door of the plane closes and the announcement comes on, telling us to stow our belongings because we are taking off.
I put my iPad in the seat pocket in front of me and buckle my seat belt as the plane starts moving down the runway.
“I want to talk to you about something,” Jaxon says when we are in the air and the flight attendant comes around to take our drink order, as well as if we want chicken or beef.
“No,” I say right away, and he snorts.
“I’m serious,” he tries again, turning and putting his back against the armrest.
“So am I,” I retort and stop talking when the flight attendant hands me a ginger ale and hands Jaxon a glass of sparkling water. I take a sip. “Something just hits with having ginger ale in the airplane.”
Jaxon rolls his eyes at me. “Good to know,” he huffs out. “Anyway, before you say no, I want you to seriously think about it.”
“Are you going to ask me to babysit?” I take another sip of my ginger ale before looking back at him.
“Are you crazy?” His eyebrows are pinched together. “You think I’d leave Jagger with you?’’
“Okay, I’m insulted.” I point at him. “I’m a single father to three kids. You think I’ve never handled a baby before?”
“Okay, fine, you can babysit Jagger,” he retorts. “There, are you happy?”
“I don’t want to babysit.” I know I’m fucking with him, but I also know whatever he wants to ask me isn’t going to be good because instead of just asking, he’s beating around the bush with it.
“Fine, don’t fucking babysit,” he hisses. “Now, can I ask you what I want to ask you?”
“If I say no, will you shut up?” I ask him as the flight attendant comes over and hands us each our plates.
“Not really,” he answers honestly, “but I want you to have an open mind, and I don’t need an answer now.”
“Oh God, do you need a kidney?” I huff out. “Not going to lie, man, I kind of need all my organs in case my kids need them.”
“I don’t need your fucking kidney,” he says, and I swear to God I see steam coming out of his ears. “Now quit fucking with me.”
“Oh, you got that I was fucking with you?” I ask him and he glares as he cuts a piece of chicken.
“So anyway, I told Ariella I would ask this,” he starts, and I immediately groan. “Hear me out.”
“I don’t want to,” I tell him, cutting my own piece of chicken. “Go ask Kirby.”
“I can’t ask Kirby.” He chuckles. “I like Lexi.”
“I knew it.” I put my head back. “You are trying to set me up with someone.”
“Who is it?” Kirby asks from the middle of the seat.
“Were you listening to this conversation the whole time?” Jaxon asks him.
“I’m pretty sure the whole fucking plane heard you two going at it over babysitting and him not giving you a kidney.” Kirby looks at me. “Also, some friend you are.” I lift my hand. “You hit my chair one more time, I’m going to let the other team cross-check you for five straight games.”
“I can defend myself,” I retort, even though it helps that he has my back on the ice.
“Anyway,” Jaxon says, “Ariella wants to set you up with someone she met at one of her jobs.”
“No,” I immediately say. “I’m good, but thanks.”
“Why not?” Kirby asks and I glare at him, sticking my fork in one of the carrots.
“Because I don’t want to go on a blind date,” I tell him. “I don’t want to go on any dates with anyone.” My head immediately chants Liar. “I’m barely single.”
“It’s been close to six months,” Kirby points out. “A half of a year.”
“Turn around and mind your business,” I tell him. “What are you, a fucking accountant all of a sudden?”
He laughs at me. “Listen, I know the girl; she’s really nice.”
“Then you go out with her, and you can do that polyamorous thing.” I take a sip of my ginger ale.
“Are you crazy? Ariella is enough for me.” He laughs. “Besides, I don’t think she would be into sharing me.”
“Yeah,” I scoff at him, “you are such a big prize and all.”
“Exactly,” he gloats, not getting my sarcasm.
“I think you should do it,” Kirby says. I close my eyes and count to ten, or else I’ll hit the seat in front of me.
“No one is fucking asking you,” I say with my eyes still closed. “This isn’t let’s do a vote and see where we eat tonight or rock, paper, scissors; who is going to go and get coffee in the lobby? It’s me going out on a date, and I don’t want to do it.”
“You are already doing it,” Jaxon points out.
“You’ve banged at least four people since you got divorced.
This can just be another one.” He stops speaking.
“Actually, can you not bang her? It’ll be awkward when you ghost her and then I’m going to have to come to your defense on how much of a nice guy you are.
Then it’ll make Ariella mad at you, because obviously you’re a pig. ”
“Listen to yourself,” I tell him. “Even you are saying this is a bad idea.”
“He’s not saying that,” Kirby says. “He’s just telling you not to be an asshole to the girl. Take her out, have a meal with her. Who knows? You might like her.”
“Or she might not like you at all,” Jaxon pipes in, “then that might be awkward.”
I turn to look at him. “Why wouldn’t she like me?” I suddenly feel the need to defend myself.
“Well, for one, you are closed off,” Kirby explains, “then throw in the fact that you are a bit bitter about your divorce.”
“I swear to God,” I lean forward, “if there was an eject button on this plane, I would press it.”
He laughs. “No, you wouldn’t.” He turns back around now.
“Can you just think about it?” Jaxon says. “Take the night and, I don’t know, make a list of pros and cons about going.”
“If I say I will think about it, will you shut the fuck up and leave me in peace?” I ask him and he shrugs.
“Sure,” he replies, “also it would be on Friday.”
“I have the kids this week,” I remind him.
“I can babysit,” Jaxon offers, and now I’m the one shaking my head.
“What? I can babysit. They literally are old enough to take care of themselves,” he points out.
“As long as I put them to bed and make sure they don’t hurt each other, it’s golden.
Do you know how good it would feel to ask them what’s wrong and they answer you, instead of you playing twenty questions with someone who only says ma and dog? ”
“Leave me alone,” I tell him, eating my chicken as he finishes his meal and then closes his eyes to sleep.
We land earlier than expected, and when we walk off the plane, he shouts over to me as I open my trunk to put my luggage away, “Don’t forget to think about it!”
“It’s the only thing on my mind,” I answer him sarcastically. “Making a mental pros and cons list as we speak.” He chuckles at me, knowing I’m fucking with him.
I get into my SUV and text Josephine.
Me:
I’m on my way.
She answers me right away.
Josephine:
Perfect, we are just about to sit down to eat. Do you want to have dinner with us?
Me:
No, I’ll go home, unpack, and then come and get them at six thirty.
Josephine:
Fine.
I look at the clock and see it’s just after five, so I make my way to the house.
Grabbing my luggage and walking into the quiet house, I head straight upstairs with my bag.
I toss my backpack on the bed before heading to the closet and unpacking my bag so I can make a pile for the dry cleaner before putting my bag of toiletries in the bathroom.
I then go back into the closet and change out of the suit I traveled in and put on a pair of joggers and a sweater.
My phone beeps from the inside pocket of the jacket. Pulling it out, I see there are two texts.
The first one is from Josephine.
Josephine:
We just finished. If you want, I can bring them to you.
Me:
No, I’m leaving now.
The second one is from Jaxon.
Jaxon:
Did you think about it?
I look up at the ceiling and I don’t know why I agree to it. Is it because the silence in my house is deafening or is it because I want to prove to myself I can?
Me:
Sure, set it up.
The minute I send the text, I want to take it back.
“It’s one date,” I tell myself at the same time I hear Kylie’s laughter in my ears, taunting me.
“She doesn’t even want you,” I try to convince myself.
“She said it herself.” I put my phone away, turn off the light in the closet, and go pick up my kids.