“So this is the famous Knoxville lake house?” Bria asked, pulling her bag up onto her shoulder.
“I don’t know about ‘famous,’” he said, “but this is it. This is probably my favorite place in the world.”
Bria could see why.
Inside was even more breathtaking. The kitchen, complete with cherry cabinets and a center island of gleaming granite, opened up to a vast, but cozy great room furnished with two soft leather couches and a huge, two-story fireplace in the center. Floor-to-ceiling windows lined the back of the house, allowing for an unobstructed view of the massive, frozen lake in the distance. Bria’s eyes bugged out of her head as she took it in, mesmerized by the contrast of the flat, solid ice next to the piles of fluffy snow gathered on the edge, untouched except for the footprints of a few woodland creatures.
“I see you found my favorite view, huh?” he asked from behind her, startling her a bit.
“Yeah, I could stare out there all day,” she said.
“Well, we only have about a half-hour or so left of sunlight. You wanna go for a walk down to the water?”
“Sure.”
The layers of snow and ice hanging off everything shimmered in the last bit of sunlight, making everything around them shine bright. Bria was surprised at how far the walk down to the water actually was; from the house it had seemed so close.
Knox led her down the path through the trees.
“I can’t believe you’ve never been up here,” he said, holding back a branch for her to walk through.
“Me either. It’s so nice.”
“So, heard anything more from Mr. Dreamy Eyes?” he asked. She scrunched her nose and gave him a sarcastic smile. ‘Mr Dreamy Eyes’ was Matt Thomas, who had been texting Bria incessantly for the last two weeks. He was sweet and her friends had gushed about his “dreamy blue eyes,” but for whatever reason, she just wasn’t feeling it.
“Yeah, he texted me this morning, actually,” she said, trying to get a gauge on Knox’s reaction.
“Oh? And what did he want?”
“I think to marry me. And for me to have his babies. Casual,” she said. Now he gave her a snarky smile.
“He should be so lucky,” he said quietly. Just then, as she took a step, she planted her foot smackdab in the middle of a patch of ice. She felt herself going down, and reached for the nearest branch, bringing with her what seemed like a hundred pounds of snow onto her head. Knox froze, waiting for her reaction. She quickly rolled herself around, pulling her fist up under her chin and kicking her feet up behind her, posing glamorously with a pile of snow on top of her head. Knox couldn’t control it anymore. He burst out into a fit of laughter.
“Wait, wait,” he said, as she was about to get up, “this has to be captured.” He whipped out his phone, snapping what felt like a million pictures as she rolled around, switching poses, pursing her lips, raising her eyebrows. “Oh yeah, work it!” he said.
She held her belly as she laughed uncontrollably like a little kid. Finally, he reached out a hand to pull her up, and when he did, she slipped, again. But this time, he was there to catch her. And she couldn’t help but notice how close their noses were. She could smell his breath, and the smiles quickly faded from both of their faces.
Beep, beeeeeep. The rest of the crew had arrived. Bria felt Knox’s shoulders drop just before he set her back on her feet.
“Let’s go, Clumsy,” he said, “they’re here.”
“Let the festivities begin!” Teddy shouted, as he opened the trunk, unloading what looked like an endless supply of alcohol.
“Jesus, Ted, did you rob a bar on your way up here?” Knox asked, helping him unpack the car.
“Hey, hon!” Becca Shin called out in her obnoxious, shrill voice. She threw a horridly fake hug around Bria before trotting off toward the house, leaving all of her bags for Teddy. They had been dating for about a month now, and Teddy was head over heels.
Darren Downs, the full-back, hopped out of the passenger seat, and, to Bria’s surprise, Courtney Blake rolled out from around the back, totally stopping Bria in her tracks. Knox likely didn’t mention that Courtney was coming because he knew how Bria felt about her. She shot him a look that could kill as Courtney followed Becca inside.
“Hey, Bria,” Darren said, giving her a warm hug, “glad to see you could make it.” She smiled back at him.
That first night was actually fun. Judging by the rest of the company, Bria thought for sure that it would be a miserable weekend. But after a few drinks, she felt herself letting loose. Until she saw Courtney, legs draped over Knox on the couch, running her finger up and down his ear. Fucking Courtney.
“So, how’s good old Dalesville High?” Darren asked, pulling up his chair weirdly close to Bria’s. Out of the group, only she and Courtney were still in high school.
“Ah, you know,” she said, “same old. How’s college?”
“So much better than high school,” he said with a grin, throwing his head back to suck the last few drops of beer from his bottle. “So, do you know what you’re gonna do after high school?”
“Um, not positive. I mean, go to school somewhere, but not sure where,” she said.
“Do you know what you want to be?” he asked, making nauseating slurping sounds as he licked the bottle clean. Seriously, she thought the label might come off in his mouth. But she thought for a moment, then answered him.
“A mom,” she said. He snorted.
“A mom? That’s it?” he asked, a stupid grin on his face again.
“Not just a mom. I want to be a mom. I want a career, too. But I want kids,” she said. He nodded, the sarcastic smile still across his lips.
“Geez,” he said. “I don’t even know if I can handle a dog. You’ve got it all planned out, huh?”
She nodded. Knox had always had the same reaction, whenever the subject of the future came up, which was rare for the two of them. He thought he might want to try to be a cop, or maybe a teacher. He wanted to move around the country a bit. That was all he knew, and his mind changed a lot. But for Bria, she knew she wanted a family. And he’d always laugh and shake his head at a concept that was so foreign to him.
Just then, a shriek of excitement came from the living room, as the bass of an Usher song blasted through a speaker. Becca was in the middle of the floor, getting down with her bad self.
“Court, come on!” she waved. Courtney hopped off Knox, as if it were choreographed, and leapt across the room to Becca, swaying her butt back and forth, running her fingers through her hair. She occasionally looked up at Knox seductively, and Bria actually had to stifle a laugh.
“You don’t want to join the girls?” Darren asked, scooting even closer to her.
“I’m good,” she laughed. Suddenly, she felt his hand on her leg.
“I’d like to see you do that,” he said to Bria, pointing to them again. “I have a feeling you know what you’re doing on the dance floor.” He was sort of whispering now, his lips just inches from her ear, his breath smelling heavily of whatever cheap beer Teddy had brought. Out of the corner of her eye, she felt Knox glaring at the two of them. Ever since she’d dated Brett and learned that she could get a rise out of Knox, she liked playing these kinds of games with him. But right now, she kind of just wanted Darren to get the fuck off of her.
“I’m good,” she said, gently pushing his hand off her thigh. Not wanting to make a scene, she stood and walked to the kitchen, dumping a few empty bottles into the trash can. She didn’t want to be the lame high schooler that brought the party down. She could handle Darren. She’d just avoid him. But to her dismay, there he was again, popping out from behind the kitchen wall.
“Hey, you wanna go downstairs, maybe watch some T.V. or somethin’?” he asked her.
“I think I’m gonna just hang up here,” she said, refusing to make eye contact with him. She hated how anxious he made her; after all, she was in a house full of people. What could happen? But as she washed out a cup in the si
nk, she felt him press up against her.
“Aw, come on, Bria,” he said. She could feel specific parts of him. And they weren’t soft.
“Stop, Darren. I’m good up here.” But he didn’t budge. “Darren,” she said, sternly now, raising her voice.
Out of nowhere, Knox seemed to fly across the room, ramming his fists into Darren’s chest, and pushing him up against the wall behind her.
“Did you not fucking hear her, Downs?” he asked.
“Jesus, Knox, what the fuck?” Darren said, shrugging Knox off of him. The music stopped as the rest of them looked on.
“Knox,” Bria whispered, grabbing on tight to his arm. “It’s okay.”
“No, it’s not,” Knox said. He kept his eyes laser focused on Darren’s. She’d never seen such seriousness in him; such anger. “Leave her the fuck alone.”
Darren backed a few steps away from them, and looked at Bria.
“I’m sorry,” he said, holding his hands up. “I’m sorry.” He disappeared downstairs to the basement.
“Well, now that that’s over,” Becca said, reaching for Teddy’s collar, “I think you and me have some business of our own to tend to upstairs.” Teddy smiled, leaning in for a kiss.
“Night, ya’ll,” he said.
“Yeah, I’m a little tired, myself,” Courtney said. “Knox, did you want to come up, or. . .?” Bria looked down at the ground. Sometimes, she actually felt a little sorry for Courtney. She played it off as if the whole no-strings-attached thing didn’t bother her; that she was mature enough to handle a purely sex-based relationship with no other feelings. But Bria could see right through it, anytime that Knox wasn’t feeling it, or was hanging on somebody else.
“You know what, you go ahead, I’m not super tired, yet,” Knox said. Bria raised her eyebrows. She’d never known Knox to turn down a hook-up, especially from a hot blonde. Courtney looked like she had been slapped in the face.
“Oh, okay. Night,” she said, turning on her heels and running up the stairs.
“Night,” Knox responded, softly.
Bria stood over the sink again, washing the dishes that were left.
“You don’t have to do all those,” he said, walking toward her.
“Oh, I don’t mind. You’re letting us stay here for free. It’s the least I can do.”
“You ok, B?” he asked, leaning across the counter toward her. “I’m really sorry about that. He’s so drunk. I know that’s not an excuse, but. . .”
“I’m fine,” she said, “thank you.”
“Look,” he said, visibly nervous, “do you wanna crash with me tonight? I’m gonna stay in the master down here, and I just want to keep an eye on ya. Not sure where Darren went, and I just don’t want him bothering you anymore.”
She felt her heart beating excessively fast again.
“Um, sure, yeah, okay,” she said.
“Can’t have Mrs. K mad at me,” he said, smiling. She smiled back.
Bria walked into the bathroom, digging through her bag and staring into the mirror. Holy shit. She was about to sleep with Knox. Well, not sleep with him. Actually sleep. Or. . .maybe? No. He said so himself. It was just to keep an eye on her and make sure Darren didn’t mess with her anymore.
But that didn’t stop her from brushing her hair, pulling on her extra-short pajama shorts, and even dabbing on a tiny bit of perfume behind her ears before she walked back into the room. Knox was propped up in bed, flipping through the channels. He was wearing a Dalesville football t-shirt and his baggiest sweatpants, but he looked sort of delicious.
“Hey,” he said, “will the T.V. keep you up?”
“No, I’m good,” she said, “thanks for letting me stay in here.”
“Hey, it won’t be the first time we slept together,” he said with a wink.
She slipped under the covers, laying close enough to him to show him that she was comfortable being next to him, but not close enough that he would think she was making a move. A re-run of Friends was on the television, but Knox barely seemed to be watching.
“B?” he asked, scooting his hand immeasurably close to hers on top of the covers.
“Hmm?”
“Despite what Dickhead Darren tried to pull tonight, I’m really glad you’re here. And I hope you know that I wouldn’t ever let anything happen to ya.”
She smiled, looking deep into his eyes. She knew with her whole being, she could believe him.
“I’m really glad I’m here, too. And thank you for saving me from him today.” And she reached her hand over, letting it gently graze the top of his. But she was careful not to rest it there too long or let their fingers interlock.
And neither rolled over toward the other, pulling the other into them, kissing their lips, and cheeks, and neck. Neither let their hands explore the other.
Neither told the other how much they meant, how long they’d waited for this.
Instead, they laid there with their hands barely touching, while Ross told Rachel that it had always been her on the television.
THIRTEEN
Now
“So, do you wanna go?” Sam asked, dropping a box of Spongebob macaroni and cheese into the cart.
“I guess,” Bria shrugged, crossing granola bars off of her list. “I haven’t been to a Dalesville football game in years.”
When Friday rolled around, Bria dug through Sam and Katie’s closets, trying to find some old Dalesville gear to wear. She pulled on a pair of her old track sweatpants, and one of Katie’s new hooded sweatshirts. As she pulled her hair up into a messy bun, she couldn’t help but smile at herself in the mirror. If someone didn’t know any better, they’d probably think she was still a high schooler.
She climbed the bleacher steps, following her dad’s whistle as she pushed her way through crowds of familiar faces, waving, hugging, and patting her on the shoulder. There was still a half-hour till the game started, but people got to the school early for home games. After all, if you weren’t there to save your seat, you might be left standing on the track the whole game. Dalesville rules.
“Hi, hon,” her mom said, patting the bench next to her. “How was work?”
“Oh, it was fine,” she said.
Bria looked out over the field. She hadn’t sat here in such a long time, but the landscape had barely changed. The water tower sat perched on the hill, with “Dalesville” painted across it in big, green letters, the church steeple rose up from the other side, poking through the trees. The bright lights bordering the track made everyone under them look just the slightest bit fluorescent. For all her jokes about the sleepy cow town, Bria had actually missed this.
As she took stock of all the parents who hadn’t changed in years and the kids that had grown into young adults, she saw him walking across the bottom of the bleachers. Knox pointed up to a different person with every step he took, waving, winking, yelling back to them with his deadly smile.
“Oh, hey, there’s Ben!” Louise said.
“Yep,” Bria said, keeping her eye on him as he strutted the whole way across the bleachers, never even thinking to look up in the crowd for her.
At halftime, she made her way down to the busy snackbar. As she stood patiently in line, someone sneaked their hand around her and snatched the five dollar bill she was holding right from her hand.
Knox.
“Hey!” she said, snatching it back.
“I see your reflexes have improved greatly since your teen years,” he snickered, letting her take it back. She playfully shoved him.
“Very funny,” she said.
“Enjoying the game?”
“Oh, of course,” she said. “It’s actually good to be back. It would be more fun if you were still out there, though.”
“Yeah,” he said with a thoughtful smile. “You going to the afterparty after this?”
“Wow, they still have those?” she asked. All through their teen years, after every home game, a different family in town hosted a massive afterparty. Player
s, coaches, cheerleaders, seemingly everyone in town showed up to these things. The adults often stayed inside, drank, and gossiped, while the kids hung outside, taking advantage of their parents’ inebriated states.
“Yeah,” he laughed, “I think tonight it’s at the Hardens’,” he said. The Hardens lived two houses down from her parents.
“Oh, well, I guess I could make that. You going?”
“If you are.”
After the game, she parked her car in her parents’ driveway and ran up to her room. She changed out of her baggy sweat clothes and into some tight yoga pants. She dabbed a little bit of perfume behind her ears and fluffed her hair.
As she made her way to the Hardens’ backyard, she spotted him, already claiming his spot by the bonfire, his feet up on stump and a beer in his hand.
“Hey,” he said, holding his hand out to the empty chair next to him. Teddy sat next to Knox, standing up to give her a hug as she walked toward them.
“Bria Kreery!” he said, bending down and picking her up for a big hug. Sweet Teddy. He tried so hard when they were in high school, to be liked, to be the ladies’ man that Knox was, but it never quite worked for him. It was surprisingly nice to see him. Teddy was a friendly guy, but he was also a little too comfortable being in Knox’s shadow. He hadn’t played sports, and was kind of a loner in high school. It was a surprise to many people that Knox and Teddy were actually friends; their social lives were very different. But they had been buds since grade school, and despite Knox’s rise to Dalesville High fame, he had never left Teddy behind. That was one thing Bria loved about Knox. He was unapologetically loyal. Didn’t matter who was watching.
“Mr. Teddy Bill!” she said, squeezing him back. “It is so good to see you! How have you been?”
“Ah, you know, same old. Stuck here in cow-town with this guy here,” he said, playfully rubbing Knox’s dark hair. Knox swatted his hand away.
“You two haven’t changed a bit,” she giggled.
“So, Knox finally convinced you to come back to Dalesville?” Teddy asked. Knox didn’t say anything, but he glared at Teddy so viciously that Teddy actually got up and walked into the house.
It Goes Without Saying Page 9
