I wake up the next day at one in the afternoon; I pull on my sweats and a t-shirt and head downstairs. I don't hear anyone about, I guess Max is still in bed and uncle George is at the bar, he likes to go in on Sundays to take inventory. I put on the coffee and start making a grilled cheese, I hear Max coming down the stairs, he sounds like a heard of elephants, he walks in and nods. He's not a morning person at all "you want one?" "yeah" he grabs the plates, knives and forks and puts them on the table. "You want to go for a ride today?" he asks, "Yeah but after I clean off that shit from the tank". "So you not gonna call her then" he asks laughing. "Fuck off" I say joking, "Here eat this and shut up".
"Thanks bro, I was thinking about going up the hills and around lakeside" I nod "Ok we haven't been up there for a while" I sit down and dig into my grilled cheese looking forward to getting out on the Harley's.
I wake up at ten am, on Sunday morning. I still can't believe Knox banned me from the bar I spent most of the night crying, for what I don't know but I did. Now my eyes are puffy and stinging. I get out of bed and pull on my dressing gown, heading to the kitchen. I decide to make an omelet for breakfast and some toast. About twenty minutes later I sit down to eat my omelet when my cell rings, I pick it up and see my mother calling again. I have been ignoring her calls since my birthday.
"Hello mom" I answer. "Bailey, finally why have you been ignoring me?" Ugh here we go. "I have been busy mom, you know college". "Oh I didn't know you started college," she says. "Don't sound so surprised mom, I am not a total looser" I hear her tutting "You are not a looser honey, who ever told you that?" I take a bite of my omelet and ignore that remark. "Anyway sweetie, I was calling you to tell you, my mother is not doing well the doctors said she only has a few weeks left and she has been asking for you" I drop my fork onto my plate "What? Why are you only telling me this now, you could have left me a voice mail" "Bailey calm down I sent you about ten emails" she says. Fuck I have been ignoring her calls and emails, my nan is dying I can't believe it.
"Where is she staying?" I ask my mom "she is in a nursing home in Fairfield". "Where is that" I ask her, she sighs through the phone "It is about one hour and twenty minutes away from you, did you not learn geography in school" I take my phone away from my ear and look at it, "Ok mom I will go see her today" we say our good byes and I hang up. I clean up my dishes; I call my dad to let him know about my grand mother. We talk for about an hour, discussing school and his job. He tells me how to get to the nursing home, I really miss him, more that I thought I would we say goodbye and I promise to let him know what's going on with my nan. I look up the nursing home on my computer, I call them to see if my grandmother is up for visitors, the nurse tells me that they do not allow visitations between 2-4pm as they do the residents lunches.
I hang up and look at my watch it is noon so I decide to go for a run, I change into my running gear and head outside, I ran the trail yesterday so I decide to run the main roads surrounding the lakeside community. I put my iPod into my arm band and take off, It feels good to get out and run to clear my head especially of all the shit that went down last night. I am running for about forty minutes when I finally reach the other side of the hills, I take a few minutes to stretch out and start to run back the way I came, I don't mind running on this road it is really quiet, I have only seen two cars pass me by since I started out.
I reach my half waypoint, I am working up a good sweat and my legs are burning. It feels good; at least I can burn off some of last night's alcohol. I come up on the hairpin turn and hear a roar of engines I keep to the side of the road by the bushes, I can't get too far in because there is a drainage ditch on my right. I hear the noise get closer as I am turning the down grade of the hill I hear them come around the corner behind me, I move in a bit more praying the drivers see me. I can feel the heat off the engines when they get beside me; I look over and see Max smiling at me.
I put my hand to my heart; thankfully it was him and not some maniac I look behind to see Knox smiling as well. They both slow down and stay beside me as I run home, I shake my head at them, and I look forward and keep my pace. They are doing a good job staying with me but I am probably way to slow for them, I turn the last corner. I need to cross the street because my dads drive way is hidden from this direction, I point to show that I need to cross and they separate further between them, Knox drops back and lets me run through. I reach the gate and stop running. Walking down the drive I check my pulse and using the walk as a cool down.
They drive ahead of me and park their bikes by the house. When I reach the porch they are both standing looking around.
"So this is where the beautiful Bailey lives" Max says and whistles. I continue past him to the porch and put my leg up on the railing and start stretching out my muscles. "Yep, why what were you expecting" I say to him breathing hard. He shakes his head "I dunno, a dorm room on campus or an apartment in town".
"Sorry to disappoint Max but I live with my dad". They both look around, like he's going to jump out from behind a tree or something, "What are you looking for?" "Your dad" says Knox. I laugh at him; "Away on business" they both visibly relax. I wave them in and grab some water from the fridge, "Water anyone?" "Sure" they say at the same time, which brings a smile to my face.
"So you always run on dangerous roads," Knox asks. "Well you know me, I like to live on the wild side, causing bar fights and running on dangerous ground, I'm a regular delinquent". Max is nosing around the kitchen and Knox looks at me "I am sorry Bailey" I shrug my shoulders "No biggie, I should probably stay out of town anyway, Just incase Red decides she wants to have me jacked up by the cops for walking on the same side of the street". Max picks up a photo of my dad and I, "This your dad?" "Lets see" he waves the picture at me "Oh no that's some dirty old man I was dating". Knox laughs and Max sighs putting the photo back "Always with the sarcasm" he says shaking his head in mock disapproval. "Wow Max you sound just like my mother" I snort and finish off my water. "So what brings you guys up to my neck of the woods?" "Just taking the bikes out for a spin," Knox answers. I nod my head and check the time. "You want us to leave Blondie?" "No I still have time, I don't have to be in Fairfield until four".
"Fairfield, why you going all the way out there?" I frown "my grandma is in a nursing home, she wants to see me before she dies" I tell them. They both look at me astonished "Shit Bailey sorry, are you going by yourself?" Max asks. I nod he looks over at Knox. "Hey Knox can go with you if you like he doesn't work Sunday's at the bar" Knox glares at Max and then turns to me. "It's a long enough drive, I can come if you like," he says. "Sure but I reserve the right to ban you from my car if cause any problems" I say smirking at him. Max laughs and picks up another photograph, I look over at him "Max, nosy much? Stop picking up all the photos I cleaned".
He smiles "I like you Bailey, that is why I will ignore your last cruel comment" I bust out laughing "Man you're such a woman" I say, Knox claps his hands and starts laughing too. "Fuck off both of you". He picks up one of the photos of Summer and I last Christmas and whistles, "Bailey you little hottie, who's the friend?" I give a sad smile "That's my friend Summer". "Did you guys go to different colleges?" Knox asks me, I shake my head "No she died in June" I tell him. "Oh sorry Bailey" Max says and puts the photo back on the shelf. "It's ok I can't bring her back, although I wish I could because she sure as hell would give you a run for your money" I say smiling over at Max. We chat for another thirty minutes about nothing really, then I excuse myself to go shower. I send them into the living room to watch TV until I come back down.
MAX
"Hey Knox" I look over at Max who is whispering "What? You tool, you don't need to whisper". "I know what you're thinking" "And what is that" I say flipping channels. "You're thinking of Bailey naked in the shower with suds all over her" He says wiggling his eyebrows. "No I wasn't you pervert" "No?" he asks, "But you are now" he says and starts laughing. "You're a fucking ass, how are we related," I say back.
A few minutes later Bailey walks in, she is wearing a light blue dress that is about three inches above her knee and some gold sandals. My mouth instantly goes dry and I have to swallow hard. Max whistles and she does a twirl and that damn dress raises into the air so I can see her toned thighs, holy shit, I think I am going to have a heart attack.
Both Max and I stand up "well you two kids have fun, I'm out" he turns to look at me and I know what he is thinking, that finally I can let go of all the Lindsey shit.
********
I walk into the garage and open the door; Knox looks at my dad's car and whistles "Nice" he nods at it. "Yeah it was his new life crises buy" Knox gives me a funny look "Do you want me to drive?" He asks. I look over at him "Do you want me to drive your bike?" he smiles and shakes his head "I didn't think so". "You can put your bike in here if you want, I don't really know the crime rate round here but I don't want to see you cry like a bitch if your bike gets taken" I say joking with him.
"Yeah good point I don't think you could console me if my baby got taken" he says walking out of the door, I pull my car out and watch him push his motorcycle into the garage, I watch his biceps bulge beneath his t-shirt, and his ass as he pushes, wow its perfect, the way his jeans hang off his waist and curve around that ass and hug his muscular thighs, I can feel heat pooling between my legs and an ache right there. I watch him walk towards me, he is hot so fucking hot and I have to sit in a closed, confined space for the next ninety minutes, Oh man how am I going to get through this.
He opens the passenger door and slides into the seat smiling over at me. "Ready" I nod because my throat is dry I don't want to chance talking. "Lets go baby," he says rubbing his hands together looking out of the window. Baby, he called me baby, this trip is going to kill me. We are driving for about ten minutes in silence when I ask him about his band, "Do you guys play in other bars?" "We used to during the summer but with school, we just stick at home" I nod. "Does Max play to?" He nods "Yeah we both play guitar and piano, he usually plays the electric guitar in the band and does some singing" "Piano huh, I didn't figure biker guys for piano players" I joke with him.
He smiles and then his face turns a little sad "My mom was a music teacher, so she thought us all kinds of stuff" "was" I say. He nods "Yeah she died when we were sixteen" I feel bad now for teasing him "I'm sorry". "It's ok, Max was in a bad way for a few years, he got into fights nearly every day in school. My dad was never around then so I had to take care of Max," he tells me. "But he is good now, we stuck together and put a plan in place. Now we are working on it". He looks over at me and I smile. "You guys seem closer than brothers" he smiles "Yeah we are, sometimes we disagree but we never fight. I don't know how to describe it, maybe it's a twin thing" he shrugs his shoulders.
"Maybe" I say. We reach the nursing home just after four pm; I navigate through the parking lot finding a space in front of a little green. We both get out and Knox stretches, lifting his arms above his head. His t-shirt rises giving me a little peep show of his toned abs, I let out a sigh and he looks over at me "You ok?" I snap out of it and look at him "Yeah sure, lets go".
"Do you want me to hang out here while you go inside?" "No my nan is cool, come on" I tell him; we walk side by side into the building. I stop at the nurses station giving my name, the nurse hands us a visitor badge to wear and points down the hallway, "Room 265".
I am getting nervous and stop a few doors away from my nan's room, Knox stops and looks at me. "You ok Bailey?" I nod "What if she doesn't know who I am, or tells me to get out" I look at him, he tilts his head to the side "It will be fine, stop worrying. It's your grandmother," he says to me. I take a deep breath and nod; I take a few more steps and stop again grabbing his arm "Wait do I look ok? I mean I don't look like a ho do I?" I realize I put on a short dress a little to late.
Knox smiles "No Bailey you could never look like a Ho" he laughs at me shaking his head.
I knock on her door and walk inside, she is sitting an a little sofa reading a book, I smile when she looks over. "Bailey!" she cries and stands up, I run over and practically jump into her arms. She rubs her hand down my hair smiling at me "Oh my baby" she pulls me in for another hug and a kiss on the cheek. We break from our hug but I still hold her hand, she looks over my shoulder at Knox and then back at me "Who do we have here?" she questions.
"Nan this is my friend Knox" I say waving towards him, "Come in and sit down young man, no need to hover by the door" she points for him to sit in the chair opposite the sofa. "Thank you ma'am" he says to her. "Call me Grace," she says to him. We sit on the sofa; she puts her hand up to her mouth and whispers "He's cute". I feel my cheeks burn and she laughs at me.
"How are you Bailey?" she asks me "I am good nan I started college a few weeks ago" I tell her. "Really, that's great Bailey and how is Summer, I haven't seen your other half since last Christmas" she smiles and turns to Knox "You should have seen those two" she tells him pointing at me "Double trouble the pair of them, if one got into trouble so did the other usually by default" she starts laughing. "So why did she not come with you, are you still friends?"
I cough and nod yes "Yeah nan Summer will always be my best friend but she died in June" I tell her. I see tears in her eyes and she gives me a hug "I'm sorry baby" she says rubbing her eyes, I shake my head "What happened to her? She was such a lovely girl". I take a deep breath "She commit suicide, nan" I say choking on my tears "Over a boy" I cry harder, she pulls me into a hug and lets me cry for a while.
I see a tissue being held out for me, I take it and feel Knox's hand. Shit I forgot he was there, I take a deep breath and wipe my eyes, "Thanks" I say glancing at him. Nan gives me some water and wipes my face with her hand, "It will be ok sweetheart" and she pats my hand. I nod and take a few more deep breaths. I stay talking to her for another hour she is filling Knox in on some of my childhood disaster he is laughing at her stories and enjoying my embarrassment.