Chapter 7
Knox
The room came into view as I opened my eyes. Sun was coming through the curtains, causing my head to start to ache. We’d both drank so much. I wiped my hand over my face as the events of last night danced through my mind.
I stared up at the ceiling, replaying what I remembered, when I felt a hand move down my chest, finally resting on my hip. I looked down to see Lorelai, sound asleep, her arm wrapped around my waist, her head on my chest.
The events of last night had been unexpected. When I’d gone in for that first real genuine kiss, I’d expected her to slap me. Instead, she nearly melted on the spot. I’d loved it so much. So, I went in for another and another after that, then we returned to our room. I hoped that the time it took to get back to the room, things would cool down. My plan had been to come back to the room and put myself into a cold shower while she passed out.
Then we got into the room.
The instant her eyes met mine, I knew I was done. My cock ached, and the tension buzzing between us was palpable as she stood in front of me. All I wanted was to hold her in my arms as I gave her everything, I had in me to give.
The second the door to our room was closed, I couldn’t hold back. I had to take her, and so I took my chances.
My cock stirred at the memory as she shifted and rolled away from me, pulling the sheets up over her shoulder. I glanced at the clock, wondering if I had time to have her one more time before I had to leave to meet the guys for our golf game. The last thing I wanted to do this morning was leave before she woke up, but it didn’t appear I’d have a choice. I’d be late if I did anything other than get up, so I slipped from the bed, showered, and then took off toward the lobby to meet the guys.
I sat in the back of the van with my head against the window, trying to grab a couple more winks before we hit the golf course. The girls were spending the day at the beach and then were heading to the spa while we were out hitting the greens. It looked like a perfect day for it too, not a cloud in the sky.
“Knox, you awake back there?” Dylan yelled, startling me.
“What…yeah, what’s up?” I asked, sitting up and stretching.
“Late night, huh?” He chuckled.
Phil turned and looked at me, and then I noticed Hugo glaring in my direction. He’d be lucky if he made it through today without being harmed. Something about him I really didn’t like.
“No later than you,” I said, punching the back of his seat.
We pulled up to the course and the pile of us climbed out of the van and all sat down while Phil checked us all in. Lucas, Clay, and Dylan all sat down, each of them looking my way.
“What?” I questioned.
“We want the goods.” Clay smiled.
“Yeah, spill it,” Lucas added.
I grew uncomfortable as Hugo stared at me. I wasn’t sure how much I really wanted to divulge in front of him—or Phil, for that matter. The guys and I had shared our fair share of locker room talk, but this was his sister I’d been with last night. I didn’t want to show disrespect to her by sharing intimate things with the guys.
“Okay, guys, carts are coming,” Phil said, sitting down.
“You must be interested in how the hell your sister started dating this asshole.” Clay laughed as he looked at Phil.
Phil shrugged. “Not really.”
“So what the hell is the story?” Lucas questioned.
“No story. There isn’t anything to tell. We didn’t go public with it right away. We wanted to give our relationship time to breathe, and we both agreed that bringing our relationship out in the open to other’s attention might not give us a chance.”
“So you’re hiding her?” Clay chided. “Afraid big brother here may beat you?”
“No, you ass, it’s exactly as I say.”
“How long have you guys been seeing one another?” Lucas asked. “I swear we weren’t out that long ago, and you weren’t holding off looking at the ladies. In fact, I swear you just took that brunette home less than a month ago.”
“Oh yeah, that night at the club in Boston. Fuck, I remember now.” Clay added, “That was one hell of a night. Phil you’d of died if you saw the tits on her.”
“Like either of you’d remember. You two were so fucked up that night. For the record, I took no one home, and besides, I’m not dead, man. I can look, same as she can.”
The guys all laughed.
“See, he covered his ass there.” Phil chuckled. “When it becomes more serious, that is when you have to stop.”
I rolled my eyes and looked off toward the course, then turned back to Phil. “As if you don’t look.” I winked, trying to make light of a conversation that was really bothering me.
“Like you say, buddy, I ain’t dead and neither is she.”
We both laughed, and then I turned to grab a bag of clubs, which was when I noticed Hugo glaring at me. I wasn’t in the mood for his shit and was happy to see two golf carts pull up. Dylan, Phil, and I climbed into one and took off, while Clay, Lucas, and Hugo climbed into the other, following us. I hoped that this would be the end of the conversation, but by the time we were out onto the fifth hole, the guys started with the questions again.
Dylan handed each of us a beer, which we quickly opened, did a cheer to Phil, and drank back the contents of the first beer of the day. Hugo started us off, and while we all waited for our turn, that was when Phil turned to me.
“You know, I hate to bring it up again, but I have to admit, I’m glad you guys got together. Somehow, I always felt you guys would be a good match, even if I said something different. You’re good for her,” Phil added as Hugo came up beside us. “No offense to you, Hugo,” he said, smacking him on the shoulder as he went to take his turn.
Dylan bumped my shoulder as Hugo looked my way and gave me a smug smile.
“Hey, none taken, Phil. I sort of knew we’d never work out.”
Phil turned and looked at Hugo with a questioning glance. “How’s that?” he questioned.
Dylan stepped in front of me, stopping me from doing something stupid when I heard his answer. He could already sense that my patience was thin. Phil looked at the pair of us.
“Oh well, you know.”
“No, we don’t know, so you best elaborate,” I bit out.
“No need, because if you don’t already know, you soon will.” He chuckled to himself.
“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” I questioned, glaring at Hugo.
“Lorelai, shall I say, has always had a wandering eye,” Hugo said, pulling his phone from his pocket, reading a message that must have just come in.
I clenched my jaw as I glared at him. I didn’t realize I was clenching my fist until I heard the can in my hand crinkle. Dylan punched my shoulder, trying to tear me away from the situation, but I ignored it. There was no way he or anyone else was going to deter my attention in this moment.
“You’re up!” he shouted.
I continued to ignore him as I stared at Hugo. “That’s interesting.”
“What is?” Hugo asked, looking up from his cell phone as if he hadn’t been part of the conversation at all.
“She has a wandering eye. She isn’t the one who cheated.”
“Oh no,” Dylan muttered as Clay, Phil, and Lucas turned their attention to me and Hugo. “Guys, you’ve got to help me here,” Dylan begged.
“I’m staying out of it,” Clay mumbled.
“Same here,” Lucas added.
“Oh, come on, Knox, it didn’t take rocket science. I could see her watching other men a mile away, every fucking chance she got!”
Our eyes locked, tension rising between the two of us as we stood there staring at one another. All I wanted to do was wipe that stupid grin right off his face, but I was doing everything in my power not to start a fight. I’d been known to fight on the ice, but never off it, but in this case, it might be worth it.
I stepped forward, getting into his space. “Don’t say another fucking word. There is no way in hell you are going to stand there and paint her as the bad guy when all she ever was to you was loyal.”
“If that’s what you think, then you are going to be in for an enormous surprise.”
There it was again, that stupid, arrogant grin.
“Is that why you are trying so hard to get back with her?” I gritted, taking another step forward.
“Hey, I just wanted to talk to her, let her know there wasn’t a chance in hell that I’d give up Molly.”
“No…don’t fucking lie to me. I saw the fucking texts! She wants nothing to do with you,” I said, lunging forward.
“Whoa, come on, Knox, calm down,” Dylan said, stepping in front of me and placing his hands on my pecks, pushing me back.
“Get out of my way,” I gritted, looking down into Dylan’s face. We stared at one another until he got the hint and moved out of my way, allowing me to take another step toward Hugo.
“Why the hell would I want to go back to that trash?”
In under a minute, I went from mad to furious. I took another step, cocked my fist back, and went to punch but stopped when Lucas, Clay, and Dylan all grabbed my arm. Almost immediately, Phil was in my face.
“Okay, we are going to take a time out,” Phil said, looking directly at me while the guys pulled me in the opposite direction of Hugo. “You are both here for my wedding. Let’s try to act like adults. Now, this conversation has gone on long enough and is now over. Besides, you are talking about my sister, Hugo,” Phil said, looking over at Hugo while holding me back.
“Fine. I’m sorry,” he said, holding his hands up and heading away from us.
When Dylan, Lucas, and Clay knew it was safe, they let me go. Phil made his way over to Hugo.
“It may be over, but how about you tell that to the child on the other side?” I yelled as he and Hugo shared a few words.
“Come on, Knox, chill, man,” Dylan said, leaning against the golf cart while I took a moment to cool off.
“I will not tolerate that asshole talking dirt about Lorelai. She doesn’t deserve it, man. If he starts again, I don’t know if I’ll be able to hold back.”
“Just try. What’s it going to look like if the groom’s sister’s boyfriend beats the shit out of one of the best men?”
“It will look like he fucking deserves it,” I gritted, pacing around to cool off. “Would you tolerate that if he were talking about Aurora?” I questioned, crossing my arms across my chest.
“Not on your fucking life.”
“Then don’t tell me to calm down. One hit, that will be all it takes. He won’t have a fucking clue what hit him.”
* * *
As the day continued to pass, I’d never been more thankful for something to hit. I launched the ball into the air on the last hole and completely lost sight of it as Dylan joked about that, which I kindly reminded him not to bring up again.
I was feeling pretty good by the time we hit the end of that hole, and I was happy that we’d made it to the end of the course without another incident. I didn’t want to be the one responsible for ruining Phil’s wedding. I didn’t want to do that to Lorelai.
I unloaded my golf bag, headed to the washroom while the guys unloaded theirs, and once I returned, I leaned up against the wall, waiting while the other guys took their turn in the washroom.
Hugo was the first one out, and he sauntered over with a cocky grin. “You made the right choice.”
“What?” I questioned with disgust that this guy would even have the balls to start another conversation with me.
“I said you made the right choice. That piece of ass isn’t worth ruining your career over.”
What the actual fuck was he talking about?
“What do you mean by that?”
“Well, you know, taking care of the situation. Only one hit, you don’t think I’m stronger than that?” Hugo said, shoving his hands in his pockets, rocking back and forth on his heels.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, then looked over to see Dylan step out of the men’s room. He looked up, took one look at my face, and hightailed it over to where I stood.
“What do you say, boys?” he questioned. I knew he was trying to change the focus of whatever was being said, but I didn’t want to let it go.
“One more word. That’s all I can handle. One more arrogant, bullshit word out of his mouth, and he’s mine,” I said quietly to Dylan.
“Come on, make it your best shot,” Hugo said, holding his arms out to the side, approaching me.
Phil jumped in front of me, pushing Hugo away. Then he turned and glared at Dylan.
“What?” Dylan shrugged as Phil gave him the same look.
“How about you guys take the big guy and go get a drink?” Phil said. “Let’s get things cooled off before someone kills someone.”
“Alright, let’s go,” Dylan said, standing.
“No, he wants one fucking shot. Let me give it to him.”
“One shot. Okay, how about we will go buy him one?” Clay added. Lucas and him stepping in beside Dylan provided a wall between Hugo and me.
* * *
I’d taken off the moment we arrived at the resort and headed back to the room. I just needed some time to be with my own thoughts without disruption and hopefully calm down. I rounded the corner to see our room door open.
I paused, not sure I was ready to face Lorelai after last night. After all, I wasn’t sure how she’d react to me leaving her this morning without so much as a goodbye.
I watched her as she stood there, typing away on her phone, looking a little distraught as she shoved things into her bag between messages. Then she placed her phone down and sat down on the edge of her bed and wiped at her eyes.
Was she crying?
Had I done this to her? Made her cry?
Then her phone rang. She looked up, and that was when I ducked back around the corner, out of her line of sight.
“What do you need?” I heard her question.
“No, he isn’t back yet. I’m ready though, and I will leave him a note letting him know where we are having dinner.”
I listened some more, poking my head carefully around the corner.
“No, Aurora, nothing happened… Please let it go…I’m positive. I’m telling you; he isn’t here. I haven’t seen him anywhere. Now I am going to put my shoes on and come meet you guys… Tell Dylan to call him if he wants to know where he is… I’ll meet you guys shortly.”
I watched her hang up the phone and then scribble something on a piece of paper before grabbing her bag and heading out the door. I waited, listening to the heels of shoes click on the pavement as she walked away from where I was hiding.
When I was sure she was gone, I made my way to our room and opened the door. Shutting it behind me, I made my way over to the note she’d left and read it.
Not sure where you are, but we are having dinner at the Italian restaurant tonight. I hope I’ll see you there. If not, I understand.
I frowned at the last part of her note. What would she understand? I guess I’d royally fucked this up by leaving this morning. I knew I had.
Instead of getting changed and making my way to dinner, I dropped her note back where I’d found it and took off out of the room, making my way down to the bar.
* * *
I’d watched her from a distance all night. Dylan and Aurora kept her occupied, but it was when they left her alone to dance that I saw the look on her face.
She turned around and looked out over the water, sadness creeping into her eyes as she finished her last drink. Then she made her way over to them, whispered something to Aurora, and left the patio.
I finished my drink, then followed behind her, making sure to keep my distance. When I knew she was safe back in our room, I took a seat down on one of the pool loungers, keeping an eye on the light in our room. When it finally went out, I gave it another full hour before I decided it was safe to go back to the room. I wanted to make sure she was asleep because I didn’t want to face the look of rejection I’d seen in her eyes earlier.