Scarred Hearts (Blackrock) (23 page)

We get out of the water and dry off; I open my body cream and begin to apply it. Knox is sitting on the side of the bath watching me; I smile at him through the mirror. "So what are your plans for today?" He towels off his chest "I have band practice at two for about an hour or so then I am free, why did you want to hang out?" "Always" I say straddling him. "I have unleashed a monster," he says grinning at me. "Awe babe, are you being mean?" I kiss him before he can answer. "Ok lets eat," he says standing up with me, I wrap my legs around him as he travels down to the kitchen then deposits me onto the counter. He opens the fridge looking through the food "Are you going to cook for me?" "Yes, omelet ok for you?" I nod, I watch him as he starts to prepare the breakfast. His moves are graceful just like when he is in the bar with Max.

"How long have you and Max been working in the bar?" "Two years, since we moved here, basically when uncle George took us in he said we would have to work. I think he wanted to keep an eye on us" "Oh yeah, why are you two trouble makers?" He laughs "No, but some shit went down with my dad and us so we took off". "Oh, I know how parents and shit go together" he kisses me and rubs his thumb across my lip. I watch him finish the omelet then we sit at the table to eat. "Oh man, you can really cook, you are going to make some lucky woman very happy one day" I say eating my food. He doesn't say anything just keeps eating cutting a glance at me.

After breakfast we clean up the kitchen, we both get dressed although, I do like being around him in my robe. His hands seem to find different parts of me as we walk around each other. It is still early, "Do you want to go for a walk around the lake?" I say over my shoulder to him. "Sure anything you want to do" I continue brushing my hair "Anything huh?"

He is laughing, "You are a dirty girl you know that?" Walking out of the bathroom I throw my hairbrush in his direction "You did it to me"

Standing up he smiles "Yes I did, twice" I laugh along with him "Come on dirt bag lets go". By one thirty we are saying goodbye, 'I'll call you later" he says getting on his bike. "Ok, I will do a few hours study, try catch up from last week" "Ok" he says rubbing the back of my leg, we kiss goodbye then he starts the engine, he is just about to pull away when he stops and waves me over. I walk back over to him; he reaches for my top and tucks it into my jeans. "No more flashing the neighbors" he winks and takes off.

I study for three hours and give up, I am not in the mood and my thoughts keep returning to last night, I pick up my phone to text Knox.

Me: Hi. I figure he is still with the band so I start clearing away my books when my phone beeps.

Knox: was just about to text U

Me: lol beat you to it

Knox: Are you coming into town now?

Me: Do U want me to?

Knox: Yes darlin get your butt down here

Me: ok be there in twenty

Racing upstairs to grab a jacket. I put on some lip-gloss and mascara grab my wallet and leave. I make it down the hill in fifteen minutes. Pulling up at the side of the bar Knox is standing at the wall waiting for me. "Hi" I say getting out of my car, he walks over to me "Hey" "You ok?" he nods linking his finger through mine. "So what you want to do?" he asks me, "I need coffee, I haven't had one all day" we walk towards Coffee Joe's, I don't know if its me but things are a little off. I look at him trying to find out if something is wrong but he has his expressionless face on today "Knox, are you ok?" he turns to me and smiles "Yeah, darlin just thinking" we reach the coffee shop stepping into the warmth "What are you having?"

"I'll have a white chocolate mocha and some kind of fattening desert" I smile at him walking over to a window seat. He comes over with a slice of carrot cake for me "thank you" he kisses my head "Anything for you beautiful". "How did band practice go?" he shrugs his shoulders, pouring sugar into his coffee, I reach over placing my hand on his "Are you guys breaking up? It always happens when one person gets more ass than the rest," he laughs out loud shaking his head. "No, we tried some new songs but some of the guys were hung over so it didn't go well, but who would be getting more ass in that band?"

I reach over running my hand up to his crotch "I have no idea" I smile, leaning in for a kiss. He complies with a tender, soft kiss making me melt into a puddle. "Did you finish your assignments?" I groan "No, I got bored, had other things on my mind" "Yeah, like what?" I sigh, "Some dude I picked up at a bar" he lifts his eyebrow as a smirk forms at the side of his mouth "Well Bailey, you better not let your boyfriend find out. I hear he will kick anyone's ass who touches his girl"

"I should hope so, I don't date wimps" he shakes his head at me "You're beautiful, you know that?" I smile moving closer to him, "You're not too shabby yourself". We finish our coffees then take a walk downtown; the streets are quiet as we walk along. I look at all the orange and red leaves falling off the trees; the wind is blowing gently which makes me smile. "What are you smiling at?" Knox asks, I look up at him through my lashes "Eh the wind" I say a little embarrassed he caught that, he furrows his brow "The wind?"

I can feel my cheeks turning red, he pulls me into a hug looking down at me smiling "I love the wind, it makes me smile" I shrug my shoulders. He is looking at me with a sad expression "My mom used to say the same thing" "Oh, sorry babe" I stand up giving him quick kiss. "Its cool, I think she would have liked you" I step back from him holding up my hands, trying to lighten the mood, "Whoa, I am getting the mom seal of approval?" he puts his hands on his hips cocking one leg, "Get over here you" he says trying to grab me but I take off running. I let him catch me a few seconds later, we are both smiling standing in each others arms in the middle of the street, but we don't care at that moment.

We find a little park and sit on a bench "So what was your mom like?" He smiles a genuine happy smile, rubbing his hand over his chest where the tattoo is "Her name was Annabelle, she was my uncle Georges sister. We grew up in a town not to far from here, where she thought music in the high school. She was really cool, she never told us who was born first and wouldn't let them put it on our birth certificates so neither Max nor I could argue who was older by minutes or seconds. She did tell us that we were born really close together and that was all that matters"

"When is your birthday?" He smiles "Still trying to get that information?" I roll my eyes at him "June twenty-third" he says with a smile, my eyes pop out of my head "No wonder I like you guys" he looks over at me "What does that mean?" I smile then jump onto his lap "Summer was the twenty fifth". He wraps his arms around me smiling "So does this mean I am stuck with you forever?" I put my hands on each side of his face "Yes Knox Porter, you are doomed to be in the life of Bailey Mortenson forever" he runs a hand through his hair "Damn, I don't know how I feel about that" I punch his shoulder "You feel good, trust me".

"So you were saying before I interrupted" he kisses me on the lips "You. Are. Allowed. To. Interrupt. Me." he says kissing me between words. "Anyway, we grew up like any other middle class family, mom taught, my dad is an architect. Mom got sick when we were fourteen; she was in and out of hospital for two years before she died. She always told Max and I to get an education and follow our hearts" he shrugs. "So we did, we came to school here. Then my dad pulled some shit so we left home and moved in with Uncle George and the rest as they say is history" I nod giving him a minute with his thoughts.

"So your dad must have pulled some pretty awful shit for you and Max to leave home" he takes a deep breath "Yeah, it was bad" he says looking away from me. He checks the time on his watch "Hey we better get back, I have to let Max take a dinner break" I get up off his lap "Hey there is a nice Chinese take out down the block from my dad's office. Do you want to grab him something there?" "Yeah sure, how far is it?"

I look around spotting my dad's building about two blocks from us "There" I point over to the Mortenson Engineering building. He links my fingers with his and we start walking over that way. He is looking around as we walk then stops abruptly "You said Bailey Mortenson" I look over at him "Yeah, that's my name" he looks shocked "Holy shit Bailey, your dad is Frank Mortenson, the engineer" I start walking again "Thanks Knox, because I always wondered who he was". "Bailey, Max is going to flip the fuck out" he says with a giddy laugh.

"Knox you are creeping me out, stalker" he looks at me feigning shock "darlin, I would so stalk you" I push him away laughing. We reach the take out and order some food; Knox's phone starts beeping. He is typing away not paying much attention, when the door of the take out opens and a girl with brown wavy hair walks in. She takes one look at Knox messing on his phone and her face drops turning ghost white, she quickly leaves the take out running across the street. That was weird "Hey babe, do you know a girl about your age with brown wavy hair and big brown eyes?" He nearly drops his phone and has to catch it before it hits the floor. He looks at me with same expression mystery girl looked at him. "Why would ask that?" he sounds annoyed "Oh no reason" I smile and turn to look out of the window.

We make it back to the bar by seven Knox was silent the whole way. I think I might head home. We walk in and Max pounces on the food "Damn Knox I thought you forgot about me" he gives Max the bag "Hey leave some for Bailey and I". I take a seat at the end of the bar "I'm good Max, go ahead I'm not hungry anymore". Knox walks over to me putting his arm around me "You ok darlin?" I smile and nod "Yeah I'm fine" I say lying through my teeth. I sit there staring at the TV not really seeing it I keep seeing her face. I wonder who she is. Knox waves his hand in front my face, I jump up "what?" "Damn Bailey, what's with you?" he smiles at me. I shake my head "Nothing Knox, can I get a shot of gold strike?" I ask him taking out my wallet. He looks at me quizzically, bringing over my drink. "Thanks" I down it straight away and hand him my credit card, he hands it back to me "You don't need to pay for that, darlin"

I look up at him through my eyelashes, "Can I have two more then?" "Is everything ok Bailey?" "Mmm-hum" he chews his bottom lip then gets my drinks. Max comes out from the back, "That was nice bro, good call" Max claps Knox on the shoulder. "It was all Bailey," he says putting my drinks down in front of me. "Are you coming to eat?" "No thanks go ahead" Knox scratches his head blowing out a breath, "Ok then I will be a minute" I nod.

Knox walks out back, I knock my two shots back one after another. Max comes over "What's up?" "Not much, you?" he looks at me "You look pissed off, and I know when a chick is pissed" I smile at him "You know what Max I am, pissed but not at you so you don't have to worry". He rubs his jaw looking at me, "Ok tell me what happened" he says leaning on the bar in front of me "It's ok, I am sure I have no right being pissed off but, I am a girl and we are crazy" he laughs at me. "Shit Bailey, you're the coolest chick I know, so if Knox pissed you off it must have been something big". I shrug my shoulders, "I better leave" I stand up giving him a hug "I'll go say goodbye to him" I nod toward the beads. "Ok, but don't hit him please"

I walk into the kitchen, seeing Knox pushing his food around his plate, walking over I put my hand on his shoulder, "hey, I am going to go home before I say something stupid" I turn to walk out when he grabs my hand pulling me back to him wrapping his arms around me "I am sorry Bailey" I look down at him "Sorry for what?" He sighs "I am sorry I snapped at you in the take out, you just surprised me with your question"

I lean down giving him a hug "I'm still going because I need to chill out before I say something that will hurt us both" he sighs and closes his eyes, when he opens them he looks straight in to mine "Bailey I have some stuff I need to tell you but right now I'm afraid if open those wounds I will never be able to close them again" I feel like a complete bitch now, I hug him tight to me "I am sorry Knox, I am being a bitch and it's not fair to you. I guess you did unleash a monster" I wink at him.

"Will you stay for a little while, please? I don't want to let you go right now" he is looking at me with a sadness in his eyes, clearly I put it there. What kind of girlfriend am I? "Ok I'll stay for a bit, I'm really sorry, maybe I need some exercise" I say sitting opposite him, he leans over to kiss me "Really? Is that something I could help you with?" I look into his eyes, man I could get lost in them "Maybe" he smiles at me smoothing my hair down my back. "Ok lets eat," I say to him.

We share what is left of the food although; neither of us eats very much.

"Are you in classes all day tomorrow?" I ask him, he nods "yeah Monday is my long day nine to four. Why?" "Me too so do you want to stay over tonight?" I ask hoping I don't sound to desperate; he looks at me "Why would you ask me that?" I am a little taken aback by his question. "Just wondered if you were interested, my dad will be home in a few weeks so you won't be able to stay over" Jesus I hope he buys that, its half true at least. He takes a drink of his soda, holy crap way to make a girl feel unwanted ignoring her question. I cough "You know its ok, forget I asked. You probably have stuff to do anyway" I rub my hands on my thighs and stand up "See you tomorrow" I am walking out of the kitchen when he calls me.

"Beautiful Bailey, Come back to me" I turn around to look at him, slowly walking back over, "I will go home and grab my stuff for tomorrow then head up your way" I nod "Ok, only if you want to, cause if its too soon I will understand" he growls at me "darlin I will be there stop worrying" he gives me a squeeze then walks me out to my car. He kisses me so hard; my lips feel bruised when we part. "See you in an hour" I nod "Ok".

I arrive home just before nine pm, getting my bag ready for classes tomorrow my phone rings, "Hello" I say still moving around the kitchen, "Hello?" I look at the phone number but it says private "Who is this?" I say pressing the phone closer to my ear; I hear a faint noise "You are not funny" I hang up. That is weird, I head up to my room and change into my yoga pants and t-shirt, I just start washing my face when my phone rings again, and I ignore it continuing with my face washing. I want to look somewhat decent for Knox. My phone chimes with a voice mail.