Chapter 4
Chapter Four
Ryan
T he mile counter on the treadmill finally hits mile three after what feels like I’ve run a half marathon. Four miles is my routine, but not today, Satan. I’m exhausted. Slowing the speed on the machine, I begin my cooldown.
If I hadn’t been waiting Knox out, I might have quit sooner. He was lifting weights when I arrived at the hotel gym this morning.
The band has the gym reserved at the same time every day at each hotel they stay in. This access extends to the road crew and because I’ve got the credentials to get backstage, I have gym access during the reserved time as well. I’ve seen the allusive star the last four mornings.
We still haven’t had our one-on-one interview.
Have I approached him? Well, no. Has he offered to sit down with me?
Of course not. For now, I’m leaving him alone.
Eventually, though, he’s going to have to get over himself and meet with me.
In the meantime, I’ll work with the rest of the band while somehow earning Knox McKinnon’s trust.
Since he walked out of our interview, there’s been no avoiding him.
He was in the Clark’s suite the same day he walked out of our interview.
He wasn’t as cold as he had been, likely because Connor was there, but I’d have been a fool to miss how quickly he left after I arrived.
The band let me come to their day of show meetings and he pretended I wasn’t in the room.
Just like he did at dinner the last two nights.
I still can’t figure out if he’s not into the project like his manager keeps telling me, or if he simply doesn’t want to work with me. He hasn’t given me the time of day. A hello or the bird. Pretty sure if I stood directly in front of him, he’d walk right through me as if I wasn’t there.
Stalling, I leave the treadmill behind, making my way over to the corner of the room, and using the foam roller to work out my tired muscles.
I may or may not have been watching him in the window’s reflection.
God was I relieved to watch him go. I couldn’t slow my machine down fast enough.
Now, I’m taking my time in the hopes he’ll be out of the vicinity when I leave.
Once my muscles are relaxed and a safe amount of time has passed, I drag my tired body out of the gym, to the elevator. I’m not sure if I’m truly tired or I’m already mentally and emotionally exhausted because I’m going home in a couple days.
Billie Eilish flows through my earbuds and I’m daydreaming about my impending nap when I push the up button at the elevator bay.
In my own little world, singing about birds of a feather, I step inside once the elevator doors open and I’m taken off guard when I feel the presence of another person stepping inside behind me.
My quiet singing comes to a screeching halt.
I know who it is without looking. There’s something palpable in the air when he’s near that always twists me up inside.
Sure enough, he’s standing in front of me when I turn around.
Well, shit.
This is it. Time to take my first baby-step to getting him to trust me. All I need to do is make some small talk. Keep it light. No pressure. Baby steps.
Turning Billie down, but leaving her on to keep me calm, I raise my metaphorical pickaxe and attempt to break through his glacier-like exterior. It would be awkward not to acknowledge him, even if he’s too far up his own ass to do the same.
“How’s it going?”
“Great,” he says in a droll tone that says talking to me is anything but.
“Excited for this weekend’s shows?”
“Beyond.”
Oh, this damn man. I must have done something vile to him in a past life or something? Don’t quit, Ry. Don’t let him win.
“Well, I can’t wait. I had never seen the Hollow Knocks live before this assignment and I’m really enjoying the experience. I can’t wait for more.”
Nothing. The man stands there in silence, looking dead ahead as though I’m not there.
Following his lead, I shut my trap and do my best not to notice the size of him.
In such a small space, his six feet and several inches in height and broad, tattooed shoulders take up most of the space.
He’s wearing athletic shorts, making it impossible to miss the strength of his thighs and calves.
He must do a lot of squats, because his butt is, dare I say, perky.
Everything about him is big. Overwhelming.
I try not to let myself wonder if the rest of him is proportionate in size.
The elevator creeps along in slow-motion, and I can’t get past him and through the doors fast enough when they finally open on my floor.
Even so, his arrogance has gotten under my skin and since I’ve never been one to keep my mouth shut, I, of course, have to speak again before I’m out of earshot. “Well, have a good day. Whatever you do, try your best to contain all that excitement of yours. I’d hate for you to combust with joy.”
Unable to resist, I glance over my shoulder, and I’ll be damned if I don’t find the brooding rock star staring at the ground with a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
Pride at my accomplishment is short-lived. As the door closes and his eyes lift to meet mine. All hint of humor has vanished, replaced by a glacier glare that sends an icy chill racing down my spine.
Baby steps, Ryan. Baby steps.
Leave Knox McKinnon for another day. You have more important things to deal with.