by Smoke, Lucy
Harlow: Meet at Alex's Diner for lunch.
Almost instantaneously there was a reply.
Grayson: Will you be coming alone? Do you need me to pick you up?
I flinched before typing a message back.
Harlow: No... Knix is coming.
When Grayson didn't immediately reply like the last time, I knew he was upset. I set the phone to the side and pulled on my shoes over my socks and began tying the laces. I was halfway through the second set when my phone buzzed.
Grayson:They can't just leave you alone, can they?
I frowned.
Harlow:It's not like they're stalking me and forcing me to do anything.
Grayson: It doesn't seem like it, does it?
I wasn't sure what that meant, but before I could respond, he sent me another text.
Grayson: I'll be there.
Someone knocked on my door and I shoved my phone under my thigh as I called out for them to come in. Knix stepped in and propped his shoulder on the door frame. I finished tying my shoes and stood.
"Ready?"
I nodded – and so the day began.
* * *
Sweat dripped into my eyes and my muscles screamed at me to stop. I grunted as I clenched my thighs tighter and pushed with my hips. Knix sighed and reached back, cupping my thigh.
"This is not working, Little Bit," he said patiently. "Just let go."
"No!" I yelled. "I've got you exactly where I want you. Any second now and you'll be begging for mercy." I squeezed my arms around his neck and pulled back. His low chuckling cut off.
Ha! I thought. Let that teach him a lesson. Now...if only I could figure out to get him laid out on the ground. I looked over my shoulder and down...and down some more. That might be a bit more difficult.
"Little Bit," Knix huffed. "You are getting better, I promise. But this is not the way to prove yourself."
"I have nothing to prove to you," I replied.
Whoa. It was really high up here. Was the air thinner?
Knix chuckled again and I narrowed my eyes at the back of his head, readjusting and tightening my hold. He sighed and reached up to pull my arms away from his neck easily, as if I offered no resistance. "Jumping on me during a break to catch me by surprise is not what I've been teaching you," he said.
I groaned. "Yeah, well, if I don't catch you by surprise then there's no way I can beat you." I let my arms rest lazily over his shoulders and he reached back with his other hand, both now under my thighs, holding me up.
"Are you going to get down now?" he asked.
I sighed. "It's a little high up for me."
"How did you get up here?"
"I leaped."
The backdoor opened as Knix crossed around the area of the yard we had set up as our sparring corner and stepped onto the stones. I peeked over Knix's shoulder as Texas stood by the door with no shirt and low sagging trunk shorts that had a giant red Hawaiian flower on the side. His mouth dropped when he saw us, and he blinked a few times as if he couldn't believe what he was seeing. I grimaced and just waited. I didn't have to wait long.
"What–" Texas choked off as he started laughing. "I-I can't...she's..." I rolled my eyes as a blush stole over my cheeks. "How did–no–no, don't tell me, she jumped on you, didn't she?"
Knix chuckled and I thumped my forehead on one of his shoulders. "She did," he replied. I yanked back and glared at his blond head, wanting to smack it. But I also didn't want him to drop me, so I didn't.
"Spider-Monkey." Texas shook his head as Knix turned and lowered himself so that I could let my legs drop and touch the ground.
"What?" I peered around Knix's big frame before stepping towards the backdoor.
"Your new nickname is Spider-Monkey," he clarified. "I can't believe you climbed Knix!"
I nodded my head and despite my blush, I puffed out my chest. "Like a tree," I snarked.
Texas laughed even harder, his eyes watering. "Spider-Monkey!" He gasped, trying to inhale even as he choked on his own laughter. I rolled my eyes and headed inside.
"I've gotta shower," I called over my shoulder.
"Meet me out front when you're done," Knix called back.
I nodded and waved a hand over my shoulder as I disappeared into the house, heading for my bathroom. By the time I was freshly showered and dressed in jean shorts and a tank top, it was already 11am. Stepping out the front door I was surprised to see that Marv was outside as well as Bellamy. Both stood on either side of Knix as he leaned against the SUV, his face a mask of concentration as he listened to them intently. I wasn't sure if they knew I was there, so I reached back and closed the front door a little harder than necessary.
Knix's eyes glanced up automatically, and I waved. He smiled and nodded towards the side of the SUV. "Go ahead and get in, Little Bit. I'll be right there."
"Okay," I replied, but watched the guys continue their conversation as I slowly descended the stone steps and headed for the passenger side of the SUV. I climbed in and clipped my seat belt. Bellamy smiled at me through the windshield and I smiled back. He turned back to Knix and Marv and said something else to which Knix shook his head in response. After a few more minutes, Marv and Bellamy broke away, retreating back inside, and waved goodbye to me as they shut the front door behind them.
Knix climbed into the driver's seat. "Let's get out of here," he said cheerily.
I wanted to ask what they had been talking about, but wasn't sure if I should. The longer I debated on it, the more I decided it was probably nothing and I settled back in my seat, turning my thoughts to what Grayson could possibly want to talk to me about. I hoped he wouldn't get too upset by Knix's presence, but it seemed he likely would. I just hoped they could both be civil to one another.
Knix pulled into Alex's Diner's parking lot and took a spot towards the back. It was a Friday, early afternoon. The place was packed with the lunchtime rush. The bell above the entrance jingled as he pushed the door open. I spotted Grayson immediately. He must have just come in right before us because a new waitress – someone I had never seen before – was leading him to a booth in the back, farthest away from the gas station portion of the building next door. Knix must have seen him as well, because as another server approached us, he waved her away, grabbed my hand, and followed Grayson's waitress.
"Do you have anyone joining you?" the waitress asked politely as we stopped just behind her. Grayson smirked and looked over her shoulder. "I do," he said. She glanced over her shoulder and nearly jumped out of her skin when she saw Knix.
"Oh, um, I'm sorry. I didn't see you there. I suppose..." She looked at me. "You're all together then?"
I nodded and smiled, moving to take a seat across from Grayson. Knix slid in alongside me. We were quiet as the waitress listed the specials, though they were already written out on the menu. I knew it was what she was trained to do and I didn't mind, but I noticed that Knix and Grayson were both tense.
I sighed and when she finished, I offered my drink order. "I'll just have water."
She nodded and scribbled it down on her notepad before turning to the guys.
"Same," Knix said.
"Sweet tea," Grayson ordered.
When the waitress hurried off, silence dropped over the table. Knix and Grayson watched each other, Grayson with narrowed, irritated, eyes, and Knix with an impassive expression. The sound of other diners was like an orchestra – silverware scraping against plates, the ding of the cook’s spatula hitting the order up bell. They were all sounds I was used to, but the sounds didn't match the atmosphere that permeated our booth. I sat back and crossed my arms as I waited for the two of them to end their silent pissing match.
It wasn't until the waitress returned and served the three of us our drinks that Grayson moved. "I think we need a few more minutes, Honey," he said graciously. I glanced at Knix, but he didn't bat an eye. I jerked up my own plastic menu and start flipping through. The waitress blushed at his flirty tone and nodded before hurrying away.
"Alright." Grayson sighed, turning back to us. "I know you didn't want her coming to see me by herself," he addressed Knix with a frown. "But do you really have to sit here?"
Knix nodded once. "I do," he said. "Whatever you say to her can be said in front of me."
Grayson's electric gaze met mine before he returned his attention to Knix. "And if she's not comfortable with you here?" he challenged.
Knix didn't look away. "Harlow knows she's welcome to say so at any time."
"Does she?" Grayson shot back.
"O-kay," I said cheerily, slapping my hands down on the table. "This is fun – really, it is, boys – but, how about we take a break. Let’s look at the menus, yeah? Stop trying to verbally murder each other.”
Grayson and Knix both stilled, staring at each other, before slowly picking up their menus to look them over. By the time the fluttering waitress returned to take our order, we were ready for her. Grayson and Knix urged me to go first. I ordered a lunch special that Grayson copied and Knix ordered the soup of the day and a side salad.
"So," I started before either of them could say anything, "Grayson, what did you want to talk to me about?"
Grayson sat back, stretching out on his side of the booth. I jerked as his booted feet touched mine and I pulled them back. He smirked but didn't comment. "Well, yeah, I wanted to talk to you. But I also wanted to know if you were doing okay." His eyes flicked to Knix before returning to me. "I haven't heard from you in a while." Grayson looked at me pointedly, but I wasn’t quite sure what he was trying to get at.
"I'm fine..." I said with a frown. "What about you? Are you getting ready to head off to college?"
Grayson's smirk dropped as he turned away to look out the window. "Nah, college isn't for everyone." Despite the nonchalance in his tone, I felt like there was an underlying strain. I glanced at Knix, deciding that now was not the best time to comment or ask him about it. Instead, I let it slide.
"So," I said, reaching for my water. I took a sip and set the glass down at the edge of the table, clasping it between my hands. The condensation wet my palms. "What are you going to do then?"
Grayson tensed before taking a breath. As he exhaled, his shoulders dropped as though he were forcing himself to relax. His lightning blue eyes traced to my gaze once more and his smirk returned. "I'll probably do some traveling in the next few weeks," he replied.
I glanced at Knix out of the corner of my eye, but his expression didn't change, and he remained silent. "That's cool," I replied. "Where are you going?"
Grayson's lips thinned. "A friend of my parents," he said before he sat forward and placed both of his forearms on the table. "Let's talk about Iris, though. I know they've told you about it, Harlow."
Knix remained quiet. "Yeah..." I hedged, pulling my water to me to take a sip.
"I think it's too dangerous for you." Grayson's hardened gaze moved to Knix and stayed. "I think you should leave Iris."
"It's...I..." I couldn't help myself. I glanced up at Knix. He looked at me before returning his unimpressed gaze to Grayson. I had the feeling he wanted to know my reaction as well. I sighed, facing forward in the booth. "I have to give it a chance," I said.
"Why?" Grayson snapped. "Why do you have to give it a chance? Because they want you to? Is it money? Do you need money? Hell, Harlow. If you need money or a place to stay, you can come stay with me."
"That's sweet," I replied, "but I can't do that.” I shook my head. “I promised them I would give Iris a chance, and I keep my promises. And anyway, it’s not as bad as you think. I kind of like it actually.” I paused for a moment, curious. “Why are you so worried anyway?" I asked.
Grayson's expression evolved from concerned to dark. "Because I know how they operate," he said through clenched teeth. I didn't know how to reply to that. Knix sighed and leaned forward.
"Her decisions are her decisions, Grayson." He spoke slowly. "It's not your place–"
"But it's yours?" Grayson interrupted.
"Please stop," I practically begged.
I could already feel other people's eyes on us, probably wondering if we were in an awkward love triangle fight or something. The waitress returned at that moment laden down with a tray bearing our food. She smiled brightly, oblivious to the tension, as she passed around our food. I thanked her quietly and Knix nodded his thanks as well. Grayson remained silent.
"Alright, well, let me know if you need anything else," she said, glancing over our drinks, I assumed, to make sure we were still good there. I bobbed my head as she left and then sighed.
Grayson stared down at his food for a beat before he pushed it away. His gaze caught mine once more. "Just be careful, Harlow," he said. "They have a way of making Iris seem important, like you're saving the world, but it can consume you. I just want to make sure you're not going to get swallowed up in it." He stood up and threw a twenty down before he cast a cryptic look at Knix. "Text me if you need me," he said. "Anytime, Harlow. Remember that."
With that, Grayson left, and I sat there for a moment staring at his uneaten burger. I pushed mine away as well. "I'm not hungry anymore," I said quietly.
Knix nodded and flagged down the waitress. I couldn't even look at her as he requested boxes and the check. There was a lead weight in my stomach as we left the building. Knix paused at the door before he pressed the keys to the SUV in my palm. "Go ahead and start the car," he said. "I have to talk to Alex real quick."
I nodded, taking the keys and clutching the boxed food. When I unlocked the SUV and crawled in, I set the box down on the floorboard and curled up into a ball in the passenger seat. Resting my head on my drawn-up knees, I released a heavy breath that I hadn't realized I had been holding. All at once, it felt like my chest was able to expand for the first time since Grayson had texted me. At least there hadn't been a physical fight, I justified to myself. It still left me empty, though, as I thought about Grayson's words.
Could I really trust Grayson? The guys all seemed to think that he was bad, and I knew there was a reason for that. They weren't the kind of people that would hate someone just because. They had their own excuses for why they did the things they did and said the things they said. Of course, a lot of those excuses were dependent on Iris, which I still didn't know much about, as Grayson had so blatantly pointed out.
I groaned, lifting my head and letting it thunk back down on my knees once more. What was the point of being in Iris if I didn't know anything about it? Maybe Grayson was right, but Bellamy had made a good point the other day. My first encounter with him definitely hadn't painted him as a knight in shining armor. Not that I wanted him to be. God, why were things so complicated? A knock on the driver's side window startled me and I realized Knix stood outside waiting for me to unlock the door and let him in. I reached over and hit the switch.
"Why didn't you turn on the car?" he asked. "It's a hundred degrees outside."
I didn't answer as he took the keys from me and turned over the ignition. Ice cold air rushed out of the AC.
"Harlow, are you okay?" Knix asked. I shrugged, staring out the window. "Don't let what Grayson said upset you, Little Bit." He reached over and pressed a palm down over my knee as I released my legs and buckled up.
I smiled at him. "I'm fine," I said.
"Good, let's get you back so you can head out with Marv." He started to back up.
"Did Alex say it was okay then?" I asked.
Knix waited a few beats to reply as he turned back onto the highway. "There's nothing wrong with Marv visiting a few family friends and asking some questions," Knix said, "but we'll have to wait for anything further."
I nodded and returned to watching the scenery pass. If anything, I hoped Marv could help the girls he was so worried about. At least going with him would take my mind off of Grayson.
Chapter 6
When we returned and pulled up to the house Marv was already waiting outside. He looked like he'd been waiting for a few minutes. I looked to Knix in confusi
on when he put his hand over mine as I went to unbuckle myself.
"I texted him," Knix said. "He's taking the SUV, go ahead and just stay here. I just need to talk to him for a moment."
"About what Alex said?" I asked.
Surely, he wasn't going to tell Marv about Grayson. Knix nodded and reached down for the box of diner leftovers before shooting me a smile and getting out. I released my seatbelt, leaving it buckled.
Marv and Knix only spoke for a few moments before they parted ways and Knix waved at me as he entered the house. Marv popped open the SUV's driver side door and smiled. "Hey, Princess." He grinned.
"Hey."
He climbed into the SUV and buckled his seatbelt. "You ready to go?" he asked. I gestured down to my buckled seatbelt and he smirked. "Alright then, let's go." I squeaked as he gunned the engine and my side slammed into the passenger side door.
"What the fuck?" He laughed as the curse slipped out. "Jesus, Marv. Are you trying to kill me?"
"Never, Sunshine." He chuckled. "Never." After that he settled down and drove at a more reasonable pace, but I continued to watch him out of the corner of my eye.
The further we drove, the more somber he became, until all of the teasing had escaped his expression. By the time Marv pulled between a set of arching, iron gates, his lips were set in a frown and his eyebrows squished slightly together, forming a few lines between them. When the car rolled to a stop and he turned off the engine, I finally glanced away. My mouth dropped. We were at a veritable mansion. It was even bigger than Marv's parents' house. Four stories high with symmetrical windows all along the front; it was something out of a country manor catalog.
Marv got out and walked around the front of the SUV as I moved to unbuckle my seatbelt. Marv opened my door and his serious expression cleared slightly at my slack-jawed look. He smirked before glancing back at the house over his shoulder. "Yeah, it's big, isn't it?" he said.
