Chapter 45 #2
I snap my head over to him to see him staring ahead with a smirk on his face and I grab his hand to take it off, but he intertwines our fingers once again and I glare up at him.
He’s still not looking at me but over to Ben who is watching him, trying not to smile. “Knox, what are you doing! Let go of my hand,” I hiss in a low tone so only he could hear me. But he ignores me and continues to stare at Ben who is staring right back at him, both with smirks on their faces.
Focusing his attention back on my mom and Delilah who are trying to fatten him up already. I huff and pull Knox back out to the hallway, still holding onto my hand.
“Knox! What are you doing?”
“Keep your distance from him, sweetheart! I don’t trust him,” Knox warned.
“Knox, enough! He’s my friend, and I like him. I’m not going to avoid him just because you don’t approve! Quit being so immature,” I retorted.
“Stay away from him, Alex! I don’t like the way he looks at you,” he insisted, his grip tightening around my hand to the point where it was cutting off my circulation. I squirmed, trying to free myself from his grasp, but to no avail.
“Knox, you’re hurting me. Please, let—”
“Shit! I’m sorry, sweetheart. Are you okay? I didn’t mean to—” He released my hand immediately after I cried out in pain. I backed away from him, a little frightened, shaking my hand to restore the blood flow.
“I’m sorry, Alex. I didn’t realize my own strength. I shouldn’t have done that. I’m sorry,” he apologized, guilt washing over his face. He took a tentative step towards me, but I retreated a step further.
I nodded, avoiding his gaze, and maneuvered around him to return to the kitchen. There, I found Ben sitting at the dining table, surrounded by women. Eden was already perched on his lap, and there was an empty seat next to him.
When he spotted me, he patted the vacant seat, inviting me to join him.
After enduring a barrage of questions from my family, I decided to rescue Ben from the kitchen. As I glanced around the room, I found Knox’s gaze fixed on me.
I offered him a tight smile before turning away, only to meet Ben’s ocean blue-green eyes. He was smirking at me.
“What?” I asked him. Leaning in closer so only I could hear, he replied, “Carter is about to rip my head off, that’s what. Jesus, I knew he liked you, but I didn’t realize it was this intense.” I punched him in the arm.
“Shut up, Hendrix! He doesn’t like me.”
“He clearly has jealousy written all over his face, sweetheart,” he countered, glancing over at Knox, whose jaw clenched in response to our conversation.
“He’s just protective. Like the others.”
“Alex, none of the others are glaring at me like he is,” Ben pointed out. I looked around at the boys, who, in fact, weren’t even paying attention to us.
I had no response to that, and Ben knew it.
“You know I’m right, sweetheart,” he added after a moment, watching me come to the realization that he was, in fact, correct.
“You’re wrong about him... liking me. He doesn’t, he—” I was interrupted by the sliding open of the back door, revealing Miss USA herself in all her blonde glory. Why hadn’t she left yet?
I rolled my eyes as she strutted in, commanding attention in her hot pink bikini and wedges, her blonde hair perfectly curled and makeup flawlessly applied.
Ben glanced at her, then back at me. “So... he’s back with her?” he questioned, his voice rising slightly with each word.
I shook my head. “I don’t know? I don’t think so!”
Delilah chimed in, “He’s not, he was never with her. That girl is so spoiled,” she commented, cleaning the plates on the table with a look of distaste.
“Good morning, everyone!” Lauren greeted, her smile sweeping the room. She set her bag down and approached Ben, extending her hand for him to shake. Being Ben, he was polite, but I knew he wouldn’t be charmed by her.
“Well, hello there, handsome! I’m Lauren, and you are?”
“Ben,” he replied, standing to shake her hand and offering a tight smile.
She leaned in closer to whisper in his ear, “You’re cute. Have we met before, Ben?” He stepped back and reclaimed his seat.
She gave him a puzzled look, clearly not used to being ignored.
He shook his head. “No, I don’t think so. Maybe we did, but I can’t remember.” I struggled to hide my surprise and the smile threatening to spread across my face.
“Maybe not. You definitely would’ve remembered me,” she recovered from his subtle dig. Ben wasn’t usually so blunt with people.
“Knox, darling, could you set up a bed for me down at the beach? I hate sitting in the sand.”
He sighed audibly, locking eyes with me. “No, do it yourself or ask Ben to do it.” Ben’s head snapped towards Knox, and they locked gazes.
“Nah, I’m good, man. She’s your girlfriend. You should help her.”
“She’s not my girlfriend... man. She’s single, knock yourself out.” Ben frowned, but broke eye contact.
Lauren stood there, grinning widely, clearly enjoying the tension she was causing.
“Good to know, but I’m not interested,” Ben stated plainly. Her smile vanished as quickly as it had appeared.
“You’re not interested?” The surprise in her voice was evident, but Ben simply shook his head, his gaze fixed on the ocean.
He patted my leg and asked, “Ready to go surfing?” making me smile. “Ready when you are, darling,” I replied in the most teasing tone I could muster.