Knight: The Wordsmiths Book One

by Harlan, Christopher

  31

  Knight

  “Well, would you look at this shit?”

  I don’t mean to wake Everleigh up, but that’s exactly what I do. I stayed over last night. I woke up early to get some work done, but instead I blurt out some shit that wakes her right up. It’s another one of those impulsive moments that I should probably be controlling, but unlike beating up her ex, I think she’ll give me a pass on this one. I usually don’t bring my computer into bed—I like to keep writing separate from other activities in my life, but my phone was dead when I woke up and I felt like clicking around social media a little.

  Turns out I should have stayed off. “What’s wrong?”

  “Oh, I’m sorry,” I say, feeling bad that I woke her. “Nothing, go back to sleep.”

  “Yeah, that’s not happening now.”

  “I’m really sorry.”

  “No, it’s fine, I was starting to wake up anyway.”

  “Liar.”

  “Okay,” she says. “You’re right I was dead asleep, but I should probably get my butt up out of bed anyhow. What time is it?”

  “7:00 am.”

  “For a Saturday that might as well be three in the morning.”

  “How did you sleep?”

  “Well, I think, but I’m still half dreaming.” She lifts her arms over her head and yawns. She’s still naked from the night before, and my eyes are drawn to her breasts, and the way her hair is all messed up and falling over them. It’s so beautiful that I almost forget the bullshit I just saw on Facebook. Almost.

  “I think I’m having a nightmare, myself.”

  “What is it, Captain Dramatic?”

  “Come here, look.”

  She scoots over towards my side of the bed as I shift my computer to her lap. She looks at it and I look at her, waiting to see the recognition on her face. It takes about three seconds. “Oh, hell no.”

  “Now you see why I woke you up?”

  “Now that I’m seeing this I’m amazed you didn’t yell louder.”

  “I’m practicing my self control.”

  “I’d fucking lose it if I were you.”

  The post is from last night, but I’m only seeing it now. It’s on KL Steiner’s author page, and it reads:

  “Readers & Followers—I have a double announcement. First, I’m pleased to announce the formation of a new reading group I’ve created called The Brotherhood. I’m pleased to be joined in this group by author Roland Rays and author Johnathan Logan, whom you all know and love from their takeovers in my reader’s group. I can’t wait to get some great writing done with my new brothers. Please see the link in the comments of this post to join our new Brotherhood Facebook group. Secondly, I’m excited to announce that my new book is available for pre-order and will be released a few weeks before RAAC.”

  I read the whole thing one more time because I’m not sure which part I’m more offended by, the fact that he stole our idea for an all-male fraternity of authors, or that he literally stole my WIP and is now going to publish a book he basically pirated. The second. Definitely the second. But the first one is a bitch move, too. “What an unbelievable piece of shit,” Everleigh says.

  “I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. What did I think he was going to do with my story?”

  “Was it a full book?”

  “Not even close, no. Maybe that’s why I’m not so bent out of shape about it.”

  “I’d be loosing my shit.”

  “Aren’t you supposed to be helping me control my anger?”

  “I am,” she says, smiling. “But we can get back to being calm after this. This is some. . .”

  “Fucked up shit, I know.” I understand that I should be raging right now, that I should be able to justifiably throw this computer across the room in a fit of rage. I’d be justified in doing that. But I don’t. I don’t do anything of the sort. I don’t scream, or yell, or punch anything. In fact, the longer I stare at the screen I start to notice the weird reaction I’m having internally—which is no reaction at all.

  “Should I be worried?” I ask her.

  “Worried about what?”

  “About the fact that I’m not bothered by this, I’m not upset. I don’t feel like tracking him down and beating the shit out of him.”

  “I guess you got that out of your system already this week, huh?”

  “How long is it gonna take to live that one down?”

  “Don’t know,” she jokes. “Check back with me in a month or so.”

  “Seriously, though, I don’t feel like I thought I would have. I feel. . .”

  “What?”

  “At peace. I feel peaceful.”

  “Is that a bad thing?”

  “No,” I say, contemplating her question. “Not a bad thing. The opposite. I think what was really bothering me was the idea of losing you. I honestly haven’t really thought much about the stolen laptop or anything else in the book world for a while. I’ve just been focused on finishing my book and my story for the anthology. And now that I’m basically done with both I don’t really care about this other shit. Let him have his group. Let him have whatever few pages he stole from me. He can have it.” I look over at Everleigh. “I have the only thing that matters to me.”

  “That’s. . .that’s amazing of you to say. I feel the same way.”

  “So when do I get to tell everyone?”

  “We talked about this already,” she says. “You know how I feel.”

  “I do. But I also know that I’m not going to treat you like some dirty little secret. It’s time that the world knew about us, Everleigh. I’m sick of hiding it.”

  “That’s up to you, Knight. I’m not going to tell you what to do. It’s your career. I’m okay with whatever you choose.”

  “Listen,” I say, changing the subject quickly. “How about we all go to dinner. I should have my book back from my editor and formatter within a week and a half. Why don’t we go to dinner with the guys? You and me.”

  “I have a better idea,” she says. “How about we go to dinner with the boys, and I invite some special guests.”

  “Okay,” I agree. “Who did you have in mind?”

  32

  Everleigh

  “No way, Ev. I’m not getting set up with some author.”

  Harley protests too much. At least Rowan gave in right away, even though this isn’t technically a set up for either of them. “It’s not a blind date, it’s just dinner. Michael wants to celebrate his new book with me and the guys. I’d feel more comfortable with you guys there. Then we’d be all balanced out. Three guys and three girls.”

  “Ha! See, I knew it. It’s a set up. You’re pairing us off.”

  “I am not, what’s wrong with you? There are three of us and three of them. It’s really just about the math.”

  “Uh-huh,” Harley says. “I just don’t like being set up. It’s never really worked out for me.”

  “Okay, Harley, you have to listen to my words. I’m-not-setting-you-up, okay? I just want my girls around me like he’ll have his boys. Plus he’s paying for everyone, and that’s kind of a big deal.”

  “Why?” Rowan asks.

  “Because he believes in this book so much that he knows it’s going to make money. That might not be the smartest thing to do with money you haven’t even earned yet, but I’m going with it because he finally believes in himself again. That’s worth more than a dinner. Come on, Harley, you’d be helping his career, for God’s sake.”

  “Ooooh,” she says sarcastically, as her humor fills the room. “So by going to this not-a-set-up-at-all dinner, I’ll actually be making Knight a better writer, is that it?”

  “Yeah, you get it.”

  “Jesus, Ev, did you ever consider going into politics?”

  “That’s a hard pass for me, but thank you?”

  “Not sure it was a compliment,” Harley says. “But I’ll go because you’re my girl and I’m here for you, always.”

  “You’re the best!”


  “Hey, what about me, I said yes right away. Why aren’t I the best?”

  “You’re also the best,” I reassure Rowan. “You’re both the best.”

  “We can’t both be the best. Then there’s no best.”

  “Well I make up the rules and I say you can be. Seriously, I love you both.”

  “We love you too,” Harley replies. “But one question.”

  “Yes?”

  “Which one is for me? I have a preference but want to make sure we’re on the same page.”

  “Wait, what do you mean?” I’m confused, but Harley is unpredictable like that. She goes from hating an idea to loving it within seconds sometimes, like now. I’m not sure what she means, though.

  “I want Chase. He’s the hottest one. No offense, Ev.”

  “None taken. I’m surprised, though.”

  “Why so shocked?” she asks. “You don’t think he’s hot?”

  “He’s gorgeous, don’t get me wrong, and Michael has said nothing but good things about the guy, I just didn’t think. . .”

  “That I was interested? I know, I wanted to fool you a little. I’m in.”

  Enter Harley. She can be weird, aloof, and sometimes says things just to throw whoever’s talking to her off a little. I should be used to it, but sometimes she can even throw me for a loop, like today. “That’s great. I mean, I don’t know if he’s looking. I think Michael just invited him out to celebrate the release of his book. I don’t think he’s going to think of it like a set up.”

  “Don’t worry, I’ll let him know.”

  “How are you going to do that?”

  “Don’t worry,” she tells me. “I’ll figure it out. I have my ways. He’ll get it.”

  Her words scare me a little, but I don’t follow up. I learned a long time ago that Harley is her own person—a free spirit in every sense of the word. She’s a big girl, and I’ve been there for more than a few questionable decisions when it comes to guys, but she’s done the same for me. I realized a while back that trying to dissuade her from anything is a waste of time. Best to let her make her own mistakes when it comes to these situations, if there are mistakes to be made. I’ll just let that one play out however it’s going to play out.

  “Are you excited?” Rowan asks me.

  “I’m so excited. I really am.” I hate to say it, but I’m not used to being so genuinely happy for another person’s accomplishments. No matter what happens with the book, what matters is that it exists, and that he wrote it. I know he wants more than that, obviously, but I’m just happy that he’ll have it out there.

  33

  Knight

  Two Weeks Later

  “This place is fancy as fuck. I apologize for being mad at you for asking me to wear a suit.”

  “It’s weird to see you in one to be honest.”

  Colton and I get there first. He looks good in a suit, but he gave me shit when I told him we were going to that type of restaurant. Had it been up to him we would’ve just gone to the local pub for a burger and a beer. On most days I’d have agreed with him. I like casual places, too. But finishing this book is more important to me than almost anything else I’ve written. I need to go fancy.

  I found the place on Yelp. It’s a new fine dining place that just opened in my part of Queens three months ago. So far the reviews have been great, so I decided to give it a try. Gray gets there dressed to the nines a few minutes later. I offered to come with Everleigh, but she wanted to bring the girls. Apparently she thinks that Harley and Colton will hit it off, but I didn’t mention any of that to him. I’ll let that play itself out, I have bigger things on my mind.

  The boys and I get seated and wait for the girls to arrive, and all I can think about is how satisfied I feel right now. Colton leans in and asks “Is it, like, weird to order a beer in this kind of place?”

  “I’d go with wine tonight, even though you’re not a wine guy.”

  “What about something stronger?”

  “That’s fine,” I tell him. “Just don’t over do it.”

  “Look who’s talking.” He ribs me in the side and I laugh. He’s right. I’m the last person who should be dispensing drinking advice. I swear I still have a headache from my bender a few weeks ago. We all get our drinks and wait, making small talk for a few minutes, when I see Grayson raise his glass.

  “Before the ladies get here, I just wanted to say something.” He looks right at me and smiles. “It was a year ago—a fucking year ago—that you were a messed up pile of shit, wasting away in your house and practically drinking yourself to death.”

  “I really hope this is going somewhere,” I joke.

  “It is, I promise you. Just listen.”

  “Okay.”

  “You were a mess. You know that. But to see where you are right now is something I find truly inspiring, and I can’t wait to see what you’ve come up with.”

  “I couldn’t have said it better,” Colt says. “It’s amazing. You’re one of the strongest people I know, man. You’ve overcome some obstacles that would’ve crippled other people, and here you are now, thriving.”

  “I don’t know if I’m thriving yet,” I say, feeling touched by the intensity of their words. “But I do know one thing. There’s no way I’d be sitting here right now without you guys. You got me off my ass and writing again, and I can’t ever thank you two enough.”

  “What are best friends for?” Colton asks. “Here’s to the Wordsmiths, and to many more celebratory dinners—only someplace where I can wear regular clothes.”

  “You have such a way with words, Colt,” I joke. “You should maybe consider being a writer.”

  “I will look into that. Cheers.”

  “Cheers!”

  We sip our drinks and talk for a few minutes. I see a few figures walking in. I start to stand up because I think it’s Everleigh and the girls, but I sit right back down as soon as my brain accepts what my eyes are seeing. “I don’t fucking believe this.”

  “What’s the matter, Mike?”

  “Turn around.”

  “Why?” Grayson asks as he shifts in his seat. “Oh, fuck, you’ve gotta be kidding me.”

  He sees it. I see it. And in about two seconds Colton is going to see it also. It’s them—the Brotherhood. I see KL leading the charge, a cocky smile on his face like he just landed the New York Times bestseller list. Behind him are the other two, who I have nothing against except for their alliance with such an unethical asshole. And trailing behind the whole group is. . .is that Jenny? What the holy fuck? I see her right behind Roland Rays and our conversation the other week all of a sudden makes sense. She must be PA’ing for him. Wait, but was it him who told her about the stolen story?

  Colton finally sees what we see and I catch the expression on his face changing rapidly. He doesn’t say anything, he just stares, and so do I. It’s about as unexpected a turn of events as I can think of, and I’m not sure how to handle it. It’s the three of them, KL, Roland, and Johnathan, followed by Jenny and other women I assume are the other guy’s PA’s. All my eyes can focus on is him.

  This is the piece of shit who stole my laptop and almost ruined the momentum I had with my new book. On top of that he’s publishing the parts he stole and passing it off as his own. I’m feeling so many different things that I’m not sure what to do with myself. As they take a few more steps into the dining room KL and I lock eyes. It’s like everything freezes except the two of us—our eyes locked in something like I imagine animals experience when the prey catches the predator looking at them from across the prairie. My body feels a rush of anger, and I have to force myself to take a deep breath to control it. “Fuck that guy!” Colton says, and I can hear that he’s just as mad as I am, maybe more so. My anger tends to lead to self-destruction, but Colton is prone to actual destruction. The truth about the two of us is that we’ve saved each other many times—me when I take to the bottle too hard, and him when his anger gets him into some very dangerous situati
ons.

  “Take a deep breath, Colt.” Grayson’s trying to keep us calm, but there’ll be none of that right now. KL gives a nod of recognition our way, the arrogant smile still adorning his face. “They’re not worth it. This is just the worst coincidence ever. But let’s just leave it at that and try to have a good time. The girls will be here soon. Agreed?”

  “Agreed,” I say. “But if it’s all the same to you, can we switch spots so that my back is to the room? I don’t need to look at that bastard all night.”

  “You got it.”

  I switch positions with Gray so that I’m sitting next to Colton and my backs to the Brotherhood’s dinner party. As I’m transitioning I see the girls walking in on cue, looking as beautiful as ever. They all look great, but there’s only one whose beauty matters to me. Everleigh. This night is really about her. Not just her. This night is about us. They make their way over and I step forward to give her a kiss. “You look incredible.” She really does. She’s wearing a red dress that fits the contours of her body perfectly, accentuating her curves and daring my eyes not to look. I say hi to Harley and Rowan and introduce them formally to the boys.

  We all sort of ‘met’ at the signing, but not really. To be honest Harley and Rowan were just Everleigh’s friends to me, just two other readers in a room that was filled with people all day. But I’m happy that we all get to hang out and get to know each other.

  “You’re not looking so shabby yourself. But what’s wrong? You look tense.”

  “Nothing,” I say, lying just to avoid getting angry. “I’ll tell you later.” She doesn’t notice who else is in the room and I have no desire to call attention to it just yet. Right now I have introductions to make. “Harley, it’s great seeing you again.”

  We hug and Colton steps towards her. “Hey Harley,” he says. “We didn’t get to talk too long at the signing.”

  “I know,” she says. “You saw a lot of people. I wouldn’t expect you to remember too much. I love your books. Especially the last one.”