I hurried out the front steps, struggling to find my sunglasses in my oversized bag before sliding them on my face.
I groaned as my eyes landed on a sleek silver car that was parked next to my car, making it impossible to pull out.
Yanking open the front door, I screamed, “Ezra, get your ass out here and move this piece of tin before I have it towed!”
Ezra laughed and strolled leisurely out the door, hitting the button on his key fob and causing the car to chirp as it unlocked. “Why don’t you stay home today and hang out with me?” He asked.
“Not a chance. I’m already late so could you please hurry?”
“I might be inclined to go a little faster if you, I don’t know, invite me to this little gathering you’re planning.”
“No.” I stomped my foot like a petulant child.
His keys fell to the ground. “Oh, look… I’ve dropped my keys.”
“Fine! You can come. Just… try not to embarrass me… or screw any of my friends.”
“That’s my girl.” He winked before grabbing his keys and slipping into his car to pull it forward. I hurried to my vehicle, struggling to maneuver my way between them without having to touch Ezra. “No kiss goodbye?” He asked, jutting out his lower lip.
“Kiss my ass,” I snapped before yanking open my door.
***
EIGHT
Riley
I had never been more thankful for the weekend to arrive. My father and Ezra were on set, and that gave me the house to myself… almost.
“Do you think this color is weird?” Piper held out her hand, wiggling her freshly lacquered teal nails.
“It’s fine,” I grumbled before breaking a piece off of my muffin and popping it in my mouth.
Piper sighed, shoving her hand in my face. “You didn’t even look.”
Rolling my eyes, I looked down at her hand and gasped, grabbing her fingers tightly. “What the hell is that?”
Piper beamed, yanking her hand free from my grip as she rubbed over the large princess cut diamond in her finger. “He asked last night. He said he was going to wait until New York but, he was too excited.”
“He’s also still married.” I felt like I’d been slapped across the face and my mind raced with how I would break the news to mom. It would kill her.
“Well, that’s really just a matter of paperwork.” She shrugged, never taking her eyes off her ring. “Now for the good news for you. I want you to be my maid of honor!” She squealed, and I was sure if there were dogs within three miles they must be howling at the sound.
“Um…” I shoved to my feet, grabbing my purse and tugging it up on my shoulder. “I have to go. I forgot, I had plans.”
Piper frowned. “I thought we could celebrate. We’re going to be family now, Riley. You can’t keep ignoring me.”
“Maybe… maybe some other time.” I gave her a small smile before yanking open the front door, struggling to catch my breath. I rushed to my car and hurried off the property as fast as I could.
I traveled down the winding roads as quickly as I could manage without getting into an accident before I pulled over in a parking lot for an abandoned building.
Pulling out my phone, I could barely see the screen as I scrolled through my contacts, stopping at Hill Creek Rehabilitation Facility.
The phone had ringed three times before a cheerful voice picked up on the other end.
“Hi, um… I’m calling to speak to my mom… Lauren Vaughn.”
“Just one moment, dear.” Music began to play as I looked around the unfamiliar surroundings. I clicked the GPS on my dashboard, and it said it was trying to obtain a signal.
“Hello?” The voice returned on the other end.
“Yes, I’m still here.”
“I’m sorry, but the patient has checked out.”
“She what?” My chest felt like it was tightening as tears slid down my cheeks. “I just… how could she do that?”
“The program is only twenty-eight days.”
My father had to of known that she was out of the treatment, but he never bothered to let me know.
“Thanks anyway.” I clicked to end the call before a sob ripped from my chest. I hung my head, letting the emotion take over for a few more seconds before swallowing hard.
My phone vibrated in my hand. Clearing my throat, I clicked to accept.
“What?” I snapped.
“You said you’d see me Saturday. I have other things to do, Princess. Not everyone can just sit around and wait for you.”
I choked out a laugh as I caught my reflection in the mirror, running my finger under my eyes to removed my smudged mascara.
“It sounds like that is exactly what you’re doing. How did you get my number?”
“From Tatum’s phone. She always leaves that damn thing lying around. Are we meeting or not?”
“Um…” I looked out of the window. There was nothing but trees around me. “That’s the problem. I think I might be lost, and my stupid GPS isn’t loading.”
“Tell me what you see.”
“Trees. I see fucking trees.”
“What else?”
“I’m in a parking lot of an old building that looks like it was closed down a hundred years ago.”
“Good. That’s good. Is there a sign?”
“Yeah. I think this is a sign from God that I don’t belong here.”
He laughed. “I’d have to agree with him on that. I meant a sign on the building.”
“No. None that I see.”
“Did you get out of the car to look?”
“I’m not an idiot,” I groaned before unbuckling my seat belt and opening the car door. It dinged loudly, and I heard him laugh again.
“See anything yet?”
“Um…” I walked closer to the building before turning the corner. “Walden’s Grocery.”
“Stay put. I’ll be there in five.” The call ended and I hurried back to my car, slipping inside and pressing the lock button.
A few minutes had passed before I heard the roar of a motorcycle engine pulling up behind me. I watched him take off his helmet through my side mirror before walking up to my door and knocking on the window. I pressed the button, and the window slid down.
“I’m sorry, I don’t give handouts. I’m sure there is a shelter around here somewhere.”
“Very funny.” He bent down to eye level. “What are you doing out here by yourself? Summoning demons? Sacrificing children?”
I shrugged, flipping my phone over in my hand and swiping my finger across the screen to remove the fingerprint smudges. “Just wanted to get away.”
“You already flew across the country. You go much further you’re going to need a boat.”
“Did you come out here just to crack lame jokes?” I asked, looking over at him. His smile faltered, and I knew he could tell I’d been crying.
“Christ. What happened?”
I shrugged looking out of the windshield again. “Like you care.”
“Follow me. I’ll get you back to civilization.” He didn’t wait for me to respond before walking back to his motorcycle. He got on the bike and pulled out onto the road, and I followed behind him over the winding hills.
Within a few minutes, we were driving through a small town and my GPS finally loaded.
I pulled off into a parking lot behind him and grabbed my purse, pulling out some concealer and dabbing it under my eyes so I didn’t look like such a mess.
“What’s this place?” I asked as he walked to my door and I stepped out into the blinding sunlight.
“Starlight Diner. I figured we could get some food while we talked.”
“At a diner?” I groaned as I looked over the neon lighting over the entrance to the old building that looked like it was made out of a giant can.
“They may not have that kale bullshit or coffee drinks no one can understand, but I think you might actually enjoy yourself.”
“I wouldn’t count on it,” I grumbled as he placed his
palm on my lower back and guided me toward the door.
“Just the two of ya’?” A girl about my age asked, her long brown hair gathered in a ponytail and tied off with a red ribbon.
Knox nodded as she grabbed two menus and showed us to a small booth in the far end of the building.
“Would you like to start off with our famous vanilla shake? I can bring you two straws?” She looked at me and winked, grinning like an idiot.
“You want me to share my beverage with this vagrant?” I asked, and the waitress’s smile fell as she looked at us.
“Um… I could bring you your own. We also have chocolate.”
“No thanks,” I squinted, reading her nametag, “Beatrice, I’d like for my ass to still be able to fit in a booth like this in ten years. Not that I’ll be here.” My eyes locked on to Knox’s. “I’ll have water. Bottled. And chilled with a straw. Think you can handle that?”
She nodded, her tongue running out over her lips before turning to Knox, pen poised above her notepad and ready to see what he wanted.
He grinned, leaning forward on his elbows. “You make those shakes yourself, Bea?” He asked, and she let out a nervous laugh before nodding.
“Yeah.”
“I’ll take one of those then. One straw.” He winked, and I wanted to kick him under the table. Was he actually flirting with this girl why he was sitting here with me?
I waited for the waitress to walk away before scowling at him. “Could you try to keep it in your pants while we’re here?”
“Are you jealous?”
I felt my cheeks heat. “I just don’t want to be subjected to the mating habits of the less fortunate while I try to eat,” I snapped, as I picked up my menu trying to find food that wasn’t fried and covered in grease.
“I know we don’t have much in common, but I’m pretty sure we fuck the same way, Princess. Although it's hard to imagine you enjoy it, or anything in your life for that matter.”
My mouth popped open, uncertain if I’d heard him correctly. “You’re disgusting.” I glared at him as Beatrice returned with our drinks.
“Have you decided on what you’d like to eat? I can give you a few more minutes if you like.”
“No, we’re ready.” Knox grabbed my menu and held them up to the waitress. “We will both have the Betty Burger Deluxe.”
“Coming right up.” She gave him a big smile before leaving us again.
“Seriously? Did you just order for me? I don’t think you need to act like we’re in the fifty’s just because we are in this time-warp.”
“You can’t come here without trying the burgers. It would be a sin.”
“I didn’t peg you as the religious type.”
“Nah, I’m not. But I do believe in this burger.”
“So, are we going to talk about food all day while you flirt with the help or are we going to get to planning this party?” I took a drink of my water as Knox took a big sip from his milkshake, moaning at how good it tasted.
“The help?” He snorted. “A girl like that works hard for everything she has. It isn’t handed to her. That’s the type of girl you take out and treat like a queen, and she will appreciate every second of it, without expecting any of it. What are your ideas for this party, Princess?”
“First, my name is Riley, not Princess. And did you seriously just act like if this were a monarchy, she’d be higher up than me? Queen Bea?” I rolled my eyes, but his expression remained impassive.
“That girl would reign like Elizabeth, the current Queen, not Tudor… and you’re more of the Bloody Mary type if you know what I mean. It’s apples and oranges.”
“Ugh. And now you’re boring me to death with history. Perfect.”
“It’s not my fault if you can’t keep up. Why are you in public school, anyway? Shouldn’t you be somewhere rolling up your uniform skirt and getting scolded by nuns?”
“My father thought I could learn something from being around ordinary people.”
“Ah, yes. Us common folk are chalked full of cautionary tales and the occasional folk song about our woes.”
“Are you making fun of me?”
He leaned in closer and lowered his voice. “Maybe if you didn’t go to public school, you would be able to pick that up a little quicker.” He took another drink of his milkshake. “This is seriously the best thing I’ve ever tasted.”
“I’ll have to take your word for it.”
“Yeah. I guess when all you have going for you is your looks, you need to make sure you watch your figure.”
“You know what? This has been fun, but I just remembered, I have plans with Tatum. I’m going to teach her how to give a blowjob.” I stood from my seat as Knox grabbed my wrist.
“Fine. Playtime is over. Sit.”
I rolled my eyes as I sank back down on the vinyl seat. “What do you have in mind?”
“We need to think outside of the box.”
“Maybe do a karaoke thing but have someone famous show-up?”
“Karaoke is fun. Kind of… basic.”
I scoffed. “People love to meet rock stars.”
“Umm… I think famous people just have their heads so far up their own asses that they believe everyone worships them.”
“Classy.” I took another sip of my water, wishing it was a milkshake.
“So, what do you have in mind?”
He shrugged, taking another drink.
“People around here just want to have fun, not be shown everything they could have if they had won the genetic lottery.”
“Alright. What is it you hillbillies do for fun?”
“We laugh at people like you.” He grinned as he leaned back in his seat and Beatrice sat our plates of food in front of us. I’d be lying if I said it didn’t smell amazing. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d eaten a burger, and this one was the size of my head.
Grabbing my silverware that was rolled up in a napkin, I began to cut the sandwich into bite-size pieces. Knox picked his up and took a large bite, struggling to keep his mouth closed while he chewed.
“Why were you crying?” He asked, as my face contorted with disgust.
“Could you at least not talk with your mouth full?”
I ate a bite of my sandwich, my eyes falling closed as I savored the taste.
“Is that your way of avoiding my question?”
“Yes, Knox. I am avoiding answering a personal question asked by someone I barely know. It’s called boundaries.”
“Fine.” He shrugged as he took another large bite of his food and I could feel his eyes on me as I chewed.
Sitting down my fork and knife, I looked back up at him. “What?”
“Boyfriend troubles?” He asked.
“What part of it being none of your business did you not understand?”
“I’m sorry, it’s just weird.” He shoved a French fry in his mouth before taking a sip from his milkshake.
“What’s weird?”
“I didn’t think someone like you even had feelings, let alone cried.”
I rolled my eyes as I picked up a fry from his plate and bit off the end.
“You have your own fries.”
“Mine are all hard. I like the smooshy ones. And I wasn’t crying. It’s allergies. I’m not used to so much nature.” I cringed, and he shook his head, snatching a fry from my plate and dipping it in his shake before popping it into his mouth.
“I’ll eat the hard ones, but you’ve got to try it in the shake.”
I picked up another soft one from his plate and dipped it into his drink before taking a small bite. “Woah.”
“Right?”
We continued eating, and before I knew it, Beatrice was at our side asking if we’d like anything else before placing the check face down on the table. On the back was her name with a smiling face. I rolled my eyes as he pulled his wallet from his pocket, leafing through a thick stack of bills, and placed cash on top of the paper. I couldn’t tell how much he’d left, but it was d
efinitely more than what we owed, even with a tip.
“I can pay for myself.”
“I’m sure you can.”
I grabbed my purse and dug around for my wallet. Knox reached across the table and put his hand on my arm, causing me to still.
“When we’re together, your money is no good. Understand?”
“Why?”
“Life lesson.”
“Which is?”
“I could tell you, but it’s better if you experience it.”
“Where did you even get that anyway? Are you a drug dealer?”
“It’s called work, Princess.”
“Where do you work?”
“Tell me why you were crying and I’ll tell you. A question for a question.”
I raised my eyebrow, intrigued. “My dad proposed to Piper,” I confessed, and his smile fell as he leaned back in his seat. “He’s not even divorced from my mom yet, and now it seems like it is going to be impossible...” My voice trailed off. “She already got out of… the program she was in, and he’s not there. I don’t know what will happen to her if she is out there much longer without us.” I braced for him to ask what type of program she was in.
“That’s why you want Piper gone.”
I nodded, fresh tears pricking my eyes and I swallowed hard, refusing to let them fall.
“Shit. Come on.” He stood from his seat and held out his hand for me, I reluctantly took it, and he pulled me effortlessly to my feet.
We walked outside, and I got into my car as he rounded my vehicle and slid into the passenger seat.
“What are you doing?” I asked as I pushed the button on the dash to start the car.
“I’m going to show you where I work.”
Knox
“You drive like shit,” He grumbled as I turned off the highway onto Mable Road.
“It’s not my fault I have to swerve around potholes every five feet,” she countered, causing me to chuckle.
“We should have taken my bike.”
“There is no way I am getting on one of those death machines.”
“We’ll see…”
“So, that girl…”
“What about her?”
“You know her?”
“Most of us have lived here our entire lives. What do you think?”
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