by Autumn Reed
I watched as Jackson and Ethan played pool. Jackson was relaxed and carefree, playing and chatting all the while. With Ethan, however, I detected an undercurrent of intense competitiveness. Unlike the poker game at the cabin, Ethan seemed invested in winning, especially as Jackson sunk consecutive balls in the pockets of the table. What is Ethan trying to prove?
Knox gave Jackson an amused look. “So, Jax, are you still having dinner with Uncle and Kenneth tomorrow night?”
Jax leaned over the table and shot a red solid ball into a side pocket. “Yes, I can’t wait.” His dry tone gave away his sarcasm. “Thankfully, Liam will be there as well. He’s always useful for dinner meetings; I swear he could charm the stripes off a zebra.”
Knox chuckled, “True. Where is Liam tonight, anyway?”
Ethan smirked, “He has a hot date, of course. Apparently her trust fund is as big as . . .” he glanced at me and cleared his throat, “. . . her hair.”
My stomach dropped. Liam was on a date? I’d always known about his playboy reputation, but it was still strange listening to the guys discuss his exploits. Deep down, I knew that some—if not all—of the guys were dating. But, I wasn’t used to hearing about it. I guess the gala really isn’t a date.
Knox, Ethan, and Jackson changed the subject to sports and I zoned out. I couldn’t help but notice Chase hadn’t spoken a word during the entire exchange. I grabbed a couple bottles of water from the mini fridge and sat down in the corner of the sectional, facing him.
“What’s the score?” I asked, handing him one of the bottles.
Chase took the water and looked up at me, but his eyes were glazed over. “What? Oh, um . . .” He glanced at the TV before responding. “The Angels are down by one.”
I lowered my voice so the other guys wouldn’t hear. “I can tell something is wrong. Do you want to talk about it?”
Chase grimaced, and I immediately knew what he was going to say. “Right. You can’t talk about it.”
He shook his head. “Sorry.”
I forced down my frustration at once more being kept in the dark and tried to cheer him up instead. “Do you want to play pool? I’ve never played, so you’re guaranteed to win.”
Chase stared down at his phone. “I’m not really in the mood tonight.”
“You sure?”
He finally returned my gaze. “Yeah.”
Searching his crystal blue eyes, it was clear that he would sincerely rather be alone. I rose from the couch and had just barely turned away when Chase caught my wrist in his hand. He gave me a forced smile and quietly said, “Thank you for caring, Haley. Really.”
Knowing nothing else needed to be said, I nodded and headed back to watch the guys play pool. It was Knox’s turn against Jackson, and he was sinking ball after ball with what appeared to be very little effort. In this case, it seemed that his confidence was absolutely deserved.
When Jackson finally had a turn, he stretched over the table right in front of me, and I couldn’t help but stare . . . his polo drifted up and I could see the dips and curves of his muscular lower back. The exposed skin was as tan as his arms, suggesting that he spent plenty of time outside with his shirt off.
“Want me to teach you?” Ethan’s deep voice snapped my attention away from Jackson. Oh god, did he notice my wanton staring?
“I don’t know . . .” I tried to stall as images of Ethan “teaching” me to play pool flooded my head. Somehow I didn’t think he would be able to resist getting physical with his lessons, and I didn’t want to act out that particular scene from pretty much every cheesy romantic comedy.
Chase’s phone rang, providing a reprieve from Ethan’s question. His voice sounded concerned when he spoke. “What’s going on?” After a short pause his voice rose, his tone transforming to panicked. “WHAT?”
Chase ran from the room with the phone to his ear. Jackson, Knox, and Ethan shared looks of silent communication that I couldn’t decipher before getting back to the game. Seriously, what is going on?
After a few minutes, Chase reentered the room, agitatedly rubbing the back of his neck. “Jackson, I need to speak with you.”
Jackson handed his pool cue to Ethan. “I’m going to call it a night. Haley, thanks again for dinner.”
After Chase and Jackson left, my mind churned with the possibilities. Did the apparent crisis have something to do with Theo? His text said that he was stuck on campus, but who knew if that was the truth. Of course, if Theo was in trouble, Knox would be involved, so that couldn’t be it.
Knox’s voice jolted me out of my ponderings. “So, Haley, I’m going running in the morning around seven-thirty. Do you want to join me?”
I didn’t even take a moment to think about it before exclaiming, “Yes!”
Ethan’s lips tipped into his typical half-smile. “You may need to repeat that. I’m not sure the next town over heard you.”
I scowled and punched him lightly in the arm. He slowly backed away with his hands up. “No need to be violent.”
Knox shook his head before saying to me, “Oh yeah, how did the self-defense training go?”
This time I stole Ethan’s smirk while he just watched me with a pleading look on his face. “I don’t know . . . you’ll have to ask Ethan how I did.”
Ethan responded, all signs of amusement gone. “She was great. A regular pro.”
Knox looked back and forth between us. “Nope. I’m not buying it. Something happened.”
I crossed my arms and glared at Ethan, patiently waiting for him to explain. He copied my stance and crossed his arms over his chest, his biceps straining against the fabric of his T-shirt. When it was clear that Knox wasn’t going to let the issue go, Ethan finally relented.
“Fine. Haley may have distracted me and taken me down.” He spoke the last few words quickly, as if to disguise their meaning, before looking at the floor.
Knox stared at him in shock before exploding in laughter. Between guffaws, he said, “Haley, you are . . . without a doubt . . . my favorite girl. Ever.”
Holding On
I ignored the chilly air stinging my cheeks and relished in the crispness of early morning instead. Even though it had only been a little over a month since my last run outdoors, it felt like a lifetime ago. Thankfully, I’d been able to use the treadmill in the loft for the last few weeks to build my endurance back up, but it wasn’t the same.
Heading away from the loft, I took in the unfamiliar landscape. We’d passed mostly industrial buildings for a couple of blocks before following a windy road through Natural Bridges State Park. The trees obscured the view of the ocean, but I knew we were closing in on it; the smell of the salty sea air was getting stronger, and I could hear the distant squall of seagulls.
I stole a look at Knox, trying not to stare at the way his snug navy T-shirt molded over his broad shoulders and sculpted chest. At first glance—especially in his usual jeans, boots, and leather jacket—I wouldn’t expect him to be a runner. A weightlifter or a boxer, sure. But after watching his powerful stride eat up the first mile without so much as a heavy breath, my opinion had definitely changed.
Bursting through the trees, we caught our first sight of the ocean and I gasped in wonder. Just a few minutes past sunrise, the sky was a symphony of muted colors; soft shades of orange, pink, and blue reflected in the mostly calm water. It was stunning in a completely different way than the magnificent sunsets California was known for. There was a peacefulness to it that made me feel both relaxed and happy.
Knox paused at the edge of the sidewalk. Pointing to the right, he said, “Sometimes I run on the beach but only during park hours. We can go another time if you’d like. It’s a great place to look for whales.”
“Really? I’ve never been whale watching, obviously, but it’s something I’ve always wanted to do.”
He turned the opposite direction and started jogging along a designated pedestrian path. “Fortunately, there’s whale watching practically year-round in Santa Cruz, so
that shouldn’t be too difficult.”
I soaked up the view of the rocky cliffs along the shore while we ran. Knox set the pace, and I could sense his surprise that I was so easily keeping up with him. Inwardly, I was gleeful. It was gratifying to be equal to Knox at something like running, especially considering his undeniable athleticism.
Noticing a few surfers wading in the distance, I asked, “Isn’t it too cold for surfing?”
“Nah, it’s not that bad with a wetsuit on.”
“Do you surf?”
“Sometimes I go surfing with Jax, but mostly I go kiteboarding.”
“Oh yeah, I’ve been wondering about that ever since Theo mentioned it. What exactly is kiteboarding?”
“It’s kind of a combination of wakeboarding and surfing with a really powerful kite attached.”
“That sounds dangerous.”
“It is considered an extreme sport, but it’s not horribly dangerous as long as you’re properly trained. Not that I’d recommend it for you, of course.” He gave me a stern look, almost daring me to disagree.
I smiled at his protective response. “No worries. I’d be happy just to swim in the ocean at this point. But, I would like to watch sometime.”
We passed a few runners and people walking their dogs, but we mostly had the trail to ourselves. I thought more about kiteboarding, and while it sounded exciting, I had a feeling it would be nerve-racking to watch.
“What is it with you guys and extreme sports, anyway? Kiteboarding, surfing, rock climbing, martial arts? Anything else I don’t know about?”
“Hmmm . . . not unless you count sailing, and I don’t.”
“Ooh, let me guess. Sir Liam is the sailor?”
Knox chuckled. “Liam and Jax are both pretty into it. They’ve gone sailing with Uncle for years, but now they usually just borrow his boat.”
Would Liam offer to take me sailing? The idea was appealing, but I knew I shouldn’t get ahead of myself. Liam had yet to give me the tennis lesson he promised, and I was already imagining him teaching me to sail as well.
“Speaking of Liam, he wants to teach me how to play tennis. I’d like to learn, but I’m assuming he’s good, and I could be embarrassingly awful.”
“I doubt that. Running is a big part of tennis, and clearly you have that skill down. As long as you have decent hand-eye coordination, you should pick it up fairly easily.” He paused, “You know, I could give you a few pointers beforehand. That way you’ll feel more comfortable for the lesson, and Liam will be surprised by your ‘natural’ talent.”
I smiled at the slightly devious suggestion. “That would be great.”
“No problem.” Knox grinned, “We can’t let Liam’s ego get any bigger than it already is; any chance to knock it down a peg is a win in my book.”
Choosing to stay near the water, we turned around and ran back the way we came. The sun was higher above the horizon, and while the sky was still beautiful, it was nothing like the initial sunrise. My heart was pumping and I felt energized, my mind clear. Returning to the industrial area and streets near the loft, our paced slowed until we were walking up the sidewalk to the loft.
Knox stopped at the front door of the loft and nudged my shoulder with his. “I’m impressed. I wouldn’t be surprised if you could outrun me given the chance.”
I bit my lip, holding back a huge grin that was begging for escape. “Thanks; I had fun.”
“I usually run four or five days a week. You’re welcome to join me if you want.”
“Really?” This time I didn’t even try to contain my smile. “I’d love to. I miss running outside.”
Knox turned to unlock the door and held it open for me. “As long as you’re okay with early mornings. On days I go in to Zenith, I usually head out around six-fifteen.”
I groaned inwardly. I would definitely have to start going to bed earlier. “I’m not that much of a morning person, but I’m sure I can handle it.”
“Good. I need to take a shower and get a little work done. But after that, I thought we could go for a ride on the black beast. What do you think?” Knox’s expression was a tad mischievous, hinting that he thought I might chicken out.
My heart leapt and my stomach dropped simultaneously. I’d wanted to ride on Knox’s motorcycle ever since I found out about it, but the thought of making myself so vulnerable to the open road was intimidating. Not to mention holding on to Knox for an unknown length of time.
I attempted a steady voice. “Sounds great.”
“Okay, meet you back here in an hour and a half. Make sure to wear jeans, boots, and a jacket.”
After washing and drying my long hair, I braided it tighter than usual to make sure it would stay out of my face. I slipped on a hunter green fitted tee and skinny jeans before pulling a pair of camel-colored riding boots on over my jeans. Checking my outfit in the full-length mirror, I decided Theo would approve. It didn’t exactly scream “biker chick” but it would do. I grabbed my only jacket—a thin rain jacket—and hoped it would be warm enough.
With about thirty minutes to kill, I got comfortable in my favorite chair in the living room and opened a book. After reading the same paragraph at least three times, I closed the book and grabbed the remote. I tended to only watch TV when one of the guys turned it on, but I was too anxious about the black beast to focus on anything else.
After watching an episode of Family Feud, I flipped through the channels until I landed on local news. On the screen was a photo of a smiling, pretty, blonde girl about my age and the headline, “Tragedy on UCSC Campus.” The news anchor explained that the nineteen-year-old student was reported missing on Friday night, and her body was discovered in the woods just off campus yesterday evening. Her cause of death was suspected to be blunt trauma to the head; the police were urging anyone with information about the incident to contact them immediately.
As more details of the incident were shared, I shuddered. Even though I’d seen heart-breaking news reports before, this one felt so close. I was used to my quiet little valley where violence was a rarity.
Knox came up behind me and took the remote from my hand before powering off the TV. I twisted my head around and looked up at him. “Did you hear about that girl on the UCSC campus? It’s horrible.”
His face was as stoic as I’d ever seen it. “Yes. And it’s a perfect example of why you shouldn’t go out alone, especially at night.” He tugged on my hand, “Come on, let’s go.”
I forced the girl’s image out of my mind and followed Knox to the garage. When we stopped in front of the huge black and chrome bike, I groaned. How did I get myself into this?
Knox must have read my worried expression because he moved in close and held my shoulders. “Haley, look at me.” I peered up into his startlingly green eyes. “I promise that you’ll be perfectly safe. But I know it’s not for everyone, so I’ll understand if you’d rather go for a drive in the Mustang.”
For a moment, I considered agreeing to his alternative. But then I remembered my birthday wish; undoubtedly that past Haley would be disappointed in me for giving up a chance like this for an adventure. I couldn’t let her down.
I pasted on a smile. “Are you kidding me? You’re not getting out of this now.”
I was sure he saw right through my false bravado, but he simply held out a helmet and said, “Okay, let’s do this.”
After helping me properly adjust the helmet, Knox climbed on the bike and waved for me to get on. I gingerly lifted one leg over the side and settled in behind him. I knew we’d be close, but I still wasn’t prepared for the feeling of being pressed up against his back. I instinctively stiffened and attempted to hold my body away from his.
Knox took hold of my arms and wrapped them tightly around his stomach. Over his shoulder, he said, “You’re going to have to hold on.”
The bike rumbled to life beneath us, and my heart started racing faster than when I’d reached the top of the Boardwalk roller coaster. Knox drove out of the garage a
nd onto the street before slowly increasing his speed. I could tell he was holding back on my account, and I silently thanked him for being so considerate.
As we made our way through city streets, I started to relax. Unclenching my hands, I spread my palms flat against Knox’s stomach. Instantly feeling the hard ridges of his abs, I realized my mistake too late. Great, now his ridiculous body is all I’m going to be able to think about.
But, when he turned onto a two-lane highway and began to deftly take the curves of the very windy road, I was sufficiently distracted. I tightened my hold on him, closed my eyes, and squealed. Even though our speed had barely increased, it felt like we were moving exponentially faster.
When I forced my eyes open, my fleeting moment of panic transformed into one of thrilling danger. I relaxed my body and attempted to lean into the curves of the road, following Knox’s movements. Finally calm enough to observe my surroundings, I realized that the road was enveloped by redwoods.
Entranced by the scenery, I began to truly enjoy the ride and the feeling of the air rushing by as we cruised along. I could understand why Knox loved it so much; it was like we were one with the road. Sure, there was risk involved, but there was also something so sensory, so tangible, that was unlike anything else I had ever done. The whole experience was exhilarating.
After about thirty minutes on the road, Knox pulled up to a ranger’s station for the Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park. He paid the day use fee before parking and turning off the bike. He motioned for me to climb off first and held out his hand to steady me. When I stood up, my legs were shaky; from nerves or excitement, I wasn’t sure.
I took off my helmet and pushed back the stray hairs that had fallen from my braid. Knox removed his helmet and ran his fingers through his hair once to smooth it away from his face. How does his hair always look perfect? So not fair.
“What’d you think? Ready to go out and buy a leather jacket and real boots?” He said, glancing down at my riding boots.
