Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
Ryan
“ I don’t know how you do it. I couldn’t watch the same band play night after night and not go mad.”
Why in the world did I answer Rob’s call?
I was thinking about Knox saying he’d be in touch three days ago, only to be met with radio silence.
So, when my phone rang, I tapped my earbud and answered before realizing it wasn’t him.
I couldn’t have been more disappointed to hear Rob Braun’s voice on the other end of the line. I blame Knox for my current misery.
Rob is one of the many people I’ve met in the business.
He’s a music executive with a shrewd reputation.
We’ve hooked up twice, but excessive amounts of tequila were in play both times.
Once should have been enough, but the man is good in bed, and I somehow only remembered how much I enjoyed his dick and not what a big one he was.
The last time we spoke, he was an asshole, and I honestly had no intention of ever speaking to him again.
“The band is great. It’s nice getting to spend time with real people.” I sigh, hoping he’ll sense my lack of interest.
“I always forget what a small-town girl you are.”
“Proud of it too. So, did you want something?”
“Wow, you got somewhere else to be?”
“Sorry, but I’m working, Rob.”
Why did I say sorry to him? I’m not sorry, because I am working.
We’re at one of the big late-night shows and I’m in the hallway across from the greenroom where everyone is waiting to be called to set. Why did I think it was Knox calling when I was sitting in the same room as him? No freaking clue. My mind has been a mess since we sat down the other day.
The door opens and one of the show’s producers leads the band down the hall.
This is a quick trip to New York. After the band makes its appearance on the show, we’ll have dinner at Nobu and then get on the plane and fly back to Philly for the next tour stop.
Knox steps out of the greenroom, sending my heart racing.
My blood pumping so loudly in my ears I don’t hear a word Rob says.
Golden eyes find mine for the briefest of moments before he turns to follow the crew.
“So, Knox still the same prick he’s always been?”
This gets my attention. For some reason, my hackles rise with the need to defend a man who doesn’t even like me. “Excuse me?”
Keeping my distance, I follow the band, watching them settle backstage where the same producer fills them in on what to expect, but Knox isn’t listening, his attention is on his phone.
“He’s a prick. Always has been.”
“What makes you say that?” I was ready to end the call, but dammit, I want to know what he has to say. I want to know everything there is to know about Knox.
And doesn’t that just suck?
“Just some business bullshit in the past. The man has to make everything so damn hard.”
My phone vibrates in my hand with a text from an unknown number.
Unknown Number
U asked me to share more about my friendship with the guys in the band.
I don’t mean to gasp out loud, but when I do, I know I’m being watched. Slowly, I pry my eyes from my phone to find Knox McKinnon observing me, like I have many times before. As always, his face gives away nothing. But my traitorous heart still skips a beat.
“Everything okay?” Rob asks.
“What? Yes. Everything’s fine. Listen?—”
I nod at the brooding rock star waiting in the wings of the talk show stage. At my signal, he turns his attention back to his phone, his thumbs flying as three little bubbles float on my phone screen, sending my nervous system into a tizzy as I wait for his next text .
“Are you even listening to me?”
My phone vibrates again, and the next message from Knox is a long one.
“Rob, I really have to go.”
“Whatever, me too. We’ll talk again before New York.”
“Wait, what?”
“I saw the band is doing a string of shows at The Garden. I figured I’d come see you when you get back to town.”
“I’m really not interested in….”
The line goes dead. I make a mental note to text him later to make sure he heard me. But right now, I have an unhealthy need to read Knox’s text.
Knox
In high school we were each other’s support system.
Matt and I had plenty of support at home, but I did his math homework and he wrote my English papers.
The man truly has a way with words. He doesn’t just write great songs; he wooed the love of his life with those pretty words of his.
I’m sure Kristen would be happy to tell you all about it.
Whoa. What is happening right now?
Hesitantly, I chance a glance in his direction to find him shamelessly watching me once again.
I try to tamp down the smile tugging at my lips with no luck.
Mask firmly in place, he doesn’t smile back.
Instead, after several heartbeats, he gestures back to his phone with a tilt of his head and bubbles reappear on my screen.
While I wait, I save his number to my phone and try not to melt into the floor from my red-hot embarrassment. Why couldn’t I keep my smile to myself?
Knox
Sean didn’t need help with school, but we took care of him in other ways. Things weren’t great for him at home, but he had my family and Matt’s. We’ve always taken care of each other. Always will.
Knox
Oh, and Jay... we helped him with girls. Trevor... well he’s been the same since middle school. Always ran the show.
Okay… As long as I ignore the giddiness that takes flight every time I see the bubbles from his impending messages appear on my phone, this might work.
If texting is more comfortable for him and he continues to share, I’m all for it.
It may be unconventional, but with the way my body reacts to him, it may be the smart way to move forward.
Knox McKinnon has always had the “it factor”.
There’s no denying it. Even when performing a single song for a studio audience, the man is captivating.
He delivers his vocals and oozes charisma as though he’s performing in front of a packed arena.
It’s a combination of sex appeal, magnetic personality, and raw talent that the world has fallen in love with over the years.
In the limited time I’ve spent with him, I’ve witnessed the side of him that people fall in love with.
I may not have experienced his charm personally, but I’ve seen it aimed at others plenty.
Regardless, prickly exterior or not, I get it.
He makes you feel like a little kid who wants his attention, even if it’s not the right kind.
Negative attention from Knox still makes me feel a certain kind of way.
So much so I have to force myself not to look in his direction whenever he’s in the vicinity.
Heck, until his text an hour ago, I thought our one sit down might be the extent of our communication.
His texts have me fluttering around like a butterfly just released from its cocoon. Did he know what he was doing by messaging me moments before going on live TV? Knowing he would drop the information and then be busy for the next hour?
And what was with all the staring?
If I didn’t have the texts to prove it, I might think I made that two-minutes up in my mind.
Marie, Kristen, Jennifer, and I watched the band’s performance and interview from the greenroom.
Now, we’re hanging out while we wait for them to finish up.
The girls are chatting and snacking on the awesome spread the show provided, while I pace the room, typing in my notes app with ideas about the article.
I’m too nervous to sit and chat. Too busy wondering if the texts will continue.
If the lingering stares will persist. If he’ll actually start speaking to me?
We hear the band bullshitting in the hallway before we see them.
I push myself as deep into the corner of the room as I can, my face buried in my phone, pretending not to notice the additional ten people entering the room.
I’m not sure if I’m trying to avoid another mortifying smile crossing my face or if I’m worried that God forbid he’ll go back to ignoring me.
“Hey, Ryan!” Jay yells from across the room.
Chatter halts and my hiding comes to a screeching halt when everyone’s attention fixates on me. Except for Knox. He’s staring at Jay like he wants to murder him.
“Hey, Jay,” I say back, skeptical, wondering where this is going.
“Question for the Question Queen.”
Is that what they call me?
“Shoot.”
“Do you actually like our music, or is this just an assignment?”
Sean and Matt praise him for his inquiry and there are oh, shits and aw, damns bouncing off the walls of the small space. The only person not reacting is Knox. But he is watching and waiting for my answer.
“Your music has always been a part of my life.”
“I call bullshit!” Sean yells from the couch he and Marie are lounging on. “That’s not an answer.”
“Well, it’s the truth. Yes, they assigned me this project, but it’s also true that your music was always present in my house. It’s also true that I know every word to every song.”
Sean eyes me suspiciously. Knox stays silent, but I don’t have to shift my eyes to know he’s still watching me. His gaze is heating my skin. Even in this room of fifteen people, he’s like a magnet pulling my attention to him.
“Clarification, please,” Matt presses. “Do you know the words because our music was used as some sort of twisted torture? Or because you chose to listen to it? ”
As I open my mouth to answer, Trevor rushes in like a dad gathering up the kids to load into the family station wagon for a road trip.
“Okay, assholes. The caravan is here. Let’s move your asses and get out of here.
We’ve got the back room at Nobu, and we’ll enter through the kitchen as usual.
We should go undetected if we time it right, so, get going now, fuckers. ”
I’ve never loved Trevor more. If Knox hadn’t been staring at me, I wouldn’t have had any problem answering Matt, but admitting I like the Hollow Knocks in front of the biggest ego in the room? No, thank you.