I smile at her "Thanks, I am happy I can keep you enlightened in class" we both laugh. Knox is sitting quietly looking at me from the corner of his eye; Max is smiling "So how was the old hairy dude?" I look at him pretending to be mean "I will have you know that cat is my travel companion" Max just laughs when Knox opens his mouth "You can have Spike, he is a pain in the ass" "Hey, no she can't" interrupts Max "Who is Spike?" I ask them. Knox laughs "He is our cat" Max looks at me over his menu "Yeah and no you can't have him" Knox just shakes his head at Max laughing. It's nice to hear his laugh again.
I put my hand on his leg casually which stops his laugh, shit maybe it doesn't want me to touch him so I take my hand off. He catches my hand linking his fingers with mine under the table, rubbing his thumb across my knuckles. My skin is on fire from just that touch and my heart sings with joy. "So who wants to share a curry?" I ask "Ugh no my stomach couldn't handle it" announces Max, Paige shakes her head no so I turn to Knox "Knox you want to share with me?" he looks at me rubbing his mouth with his hand trying to hide a smirk "Sure darlin anything you want" I squeeze his hand under the table "See at least some likes to share" I say to Paige and Max they both smile "Yeah only cos he has too" Max supplies.
"No I don't" says Knox "I don't really like curry but I will try it". Turning to him I frown "It's ok you don't have too. I Probably need the calories anyway" Knox questions me with his eyes but I shrug it off, I don't need him to know I have lost five pounds this week. During dinner Paige asks me about my class, I have to use both my hands to eat so Knox puts his knee against my leg. We finish our meal by eight forty five then get up to leave, Reaching into my wallet, Knox puts his hand on mine to stop me "I got it" "Thank you" I smile at him.
Max and Paige walk just a head of us; Knox takes my hand in his without speaking. Pulling him to a stop "Hey can we talk tonight?" I ask looking into his handsome face, his eyes show fear for just a second then he nods starting to walk again. I let his hand go as we walk putting my arm around his waist, he smiles at me then puts his arm around my shoulder kissing my temple "I am sorry Darlin for everything" I just hug him closer as we cross the street feeling his heart thunder in his chest. He smells so good I missed everything about him.
Knox and Max take the stage just after we arrive, Paige and I look at each other then the bar "How are going to get a drink now?" I say to her, Lucy is off on the floor actually working and Uncle George is behind the bar looking at us standing there "What can I you ladies?" he asks us somewhat pleasantly, Paige and I look at each other in shock then back to him, I order quickly just incase he changes his mind. We sit at the end of the bar in our spot listening to Knox sing when Sean approaches "Hey Bailey, Hey Paige" he looks sober which is good. "Hey Sean how are you?" he nods at me "Good, good, listen I was wondering if you guys want to come to my pre Christmas, Christmas party next week?" I look over at Knox who is watching me curiously "I don't know Sean, Knox and Max work from Thursday to Sunday so it would be hard to go without them" I say to him. "No Its on Wednesday up at the lake house, I usually get them to play but I haven't given them the date this year I had to change it around" Paige shrugs "Ok sure if they play we will go, I already spent the last week away from my man, need to make up for lost time" I say smiling at him also letting him know neither of us are single "Cool I'll see you guys there, Max knows where it is" he tells us walking away smiling.
"So you want to make up for lost time?" Paige smirks at me "I only said that to Sean but I want to talk to Knox tonight" looking over I see him glancing my way every few seconds, I don't know what it is about him but he really gets my heart going. I look around the bar noticing a few of the regulars and then I spot her sitting in a booth with two other girls "Fuckin bitch" I say boring a hole into her head with my eyes, Paige puts hand on my arm. Pulling my eyes from "her" I turn to Paige "Don't worry about it she has been in here nearly every night just to annoy Knox but he ignores her and stays way away from her" she nods at me. I want to go over and punch her in the mouth, but that won't solve anything, it will give me satisfaction but only for a little while. I glance back to Knox who must have been watching me; I see the alarm on his face as he sings.
"I need a shot Paige, maybe two" turning to the bar I wave George over ordering four shots and two beers, it's almost break time for the band. I down my shot then another, seeing Paige gaping at me "Bailey slow down" she laughs sipping her drink. Lifting my Jack & Coke to my lips taking a sip savoring the sweetness as the coke kicks in. I keep my back to the stage as the music stops, using the mirror to watch Knox and Max step down, within a second she descends upon them grabbing Knox by the arm. I am hit with a sense of deja Vu, turning I march over to them and body check her "Get the fuck away from him, this will be your only warning" I growl at her stepping into her space, she is shorter than me which gives me an advantage but I feel strong arms around my middle "C'mon darlin she is not worth it" Knox says as he pulls me away.
We get back to the bar and Knox releases me, I can feel my temper rise and my palms are sweaty, crap I don't need to fight what the hell am I thinking. Grabbing the two other shots I got for the guys I slam them one after another, Max is looking at me with Raised eyebrows.
"What? Max" he holds up his hands shaking his head "Nothing Bailey, I am just admiring you" "What for?" I snap at him knowing I shouldn't "For not punching her in the face because if I was a chick I would have" I laugh then give him a hug "Thanks Max" hugging me back he whispers "I understand what you are going through" we step away from each other. Knox and Paige are looking everywhere but at us. Man I was having a good night up until now "Hey who wants to do shots?" I ask looking into their faces, Knox is the first to laugh "Jesus Christ Bailey you're a lush" I wink at him "You get them, I don't think Georgie there will give me anymore" I nod towards his uncle smiling at him.
Knox goes behind the bar getting our drinks "Paige you need to drink more" I say pointing at her, she just laughs at me. I watch her and Max for a minute curious about them, Max is like Knox very affectionate and all hands but Paige is almost frigid in public like she doesn't want him touching her, she clearly doesn't know what she is missing. Knox hands me a shot then the others "To Bailey, our little brawler" we all clink glasses before drinking. I watch Knox watching me; I can feel a buzz from the alcohol and my cheeks are burning. "Why are you staring at me?" he asks leaning into my ear "Because part of me wants to hit you and part of me wants to fuck you" his head snaps back and his eyes are huge "darlin are you drunk?" "Only a bit" I say pinching my fingers in front of his face. He rakes his hand through his hair looking worried "Don't worry Knox I won't hit your girl, promise"
Next thing I know I am being pulled through the beaded curtain by Knox "Shit Bailey are you ok?" "Of course I am ok Knox, you have seen me buzzed before" he smooth's my hair off my face "I Know, but this is different. Your kind of pissed off" taking his hand in mine I kiss his palm "No Knox not pissed off, just hurt and I want to move on. It is not easy with her here every time I see you and her within feet of each other I will think the worst and I know it won't bet true but that's what I will think"
He sighs looking into my eyes "I am sorry Bailey, really I am and I don't know how to make you believe me but I am not given up on us. I really am sorry, I" cutting him off I put a finger on his lips "Knox" I roll my eyes "Shut up and kiss me" he crushes his lips to mine taking all I have to give "darlin I love you" he murmurs against my lips. Lifting me up I wrap my legs around his waist, his hand travels up my top. We hear a cough "Whenever your ready bro" Max says then turns walking back into the bar. My head is swimming from the alcohol and his kiss. Knox lowers me to the floor "I have to go back out" he whispers fixing my shirt for me. I kiss him again "You will have to drive me home, I'm getting drunk" I wink at him. He smiles at me one of his brilliant smiles that reaches his eyes "Anything you want darlin" taking my hand he leads me back out to the bar.
Knox and Max take the stage again while I sit down "So you talked then?" Paige enquires; throwing my head back I laugh, "Oh Paige, I'm done talking. I just want it back to the way it was three weeks ago" she hands me a shot "to three weeks ago" I clink her glass then down the smooth fire of Goldstrike feeling it pool in my stomach warming me from within. "Dance time," I sing grabbing her hand. We dance for our boyfriends who keep adjusting their guitars, I laugh at Knox as he does it again rolling his eyes at me he continues singing. Sean comes over to dance with us, at first I am not sure but he turns out to be cool.
The more I dance the more I feel my anger subside, the pain is still beating with my heart but I know it will get better Knox is singing and we all join in the chorus
"Don't stop believin'
Hold on to the feelin' Streetlights people"
Paige and I sing and dance, looking at Knox I know he is singing to me, I am feeling pretty good now, maybe one more drink. I make my way to the bar still singing to myself "I don't know what he sees in a drunk whore" I hear beside me, turning I see Lindsey but I am not falling for her game, the last time I did something like that Knox banned me. I know she is waiting for a reply but I ignore her "He didn't care about you two weeks ago when his tongue in my mouth. You are just a phase so he can get close to your daddy"
I can't say her words didn't affect me but I will not let her get to me "Like you got close to his?" I smile at her and her face turns red "Fuck you, you don't know what he is like. Just wait until he gets bored of your drunk shit and watch him crawl back to me"
This chick is nuts does she even hear herself? "Lindsey crawl back into the hole came out of because no one wants you in this town. You don't know what Knox and I have and its none of you're fucking business" I order a water form George who eyes me suspiciously "Yeah we will see who wants me" Oh man she really is off her head, I need to dance. Just as I step away she grabs my arm digging her nails into me "I will get him back" looking at her hand on my arm I put my hand over hers then look at her I smile as I pull her finger back until she cries out, I push her away walking back to the dance floor. Paige is waiting for me "What was that about?" "Nothing some crazy shit" Paige nods as we continue dancing; I keep an eye on Lindsey for the rest of the night. "This is the last song guys, and I want to dedicate it to my beautiful girl" Knox announces. I turn to him smiling thinking he will sing John Mayer but no he floors me when he strums his guitar with the first notes of Nickleback's "Lullaby" It's my favorite song.
I stop dancing and just watch him as he sings to me and me alone, my eyes fill with tears but I blink rapidly holding them back. I don't even wait for him to take off his guitar at the end I just jump on stage and kiss him. The whole bar erupts in chorus of cheers and whistles "Thank you" I manage as a lone tear escapes Knox hugs me close as the house music comes on.
I let him go to take off his guitar watching him put it in its case, standing up he takes my hand helping me down off the stage. "I need a drink," he says walking us to the bar. Max hands him a beer "You want a drink Bailey?" Max asks "No thanks" I shake my water at him "who wants a hot dog?" Paige asks Max puts his arms around her waist "Sure, you guys can wait for us if you want then we can all go together" she nods "Ok"
Knox and Max start clearing the bar shouting for people to leave "Hey is everything ok with you and Max?" I ask her. She fixes her hair "Yeah why?" "You seem a little off with him" she smiles "No he is great but I am not used to PDA, Duke wasn't into it so I got used to avoiding it. Max and I talked about it" I nod "Ok I was just curious, I thought maybe he annoyed you" she laughs "No Bailey only Knox has been annoying me lately" I am not sure she was meant to say that to me because she has "oh shit" expression on her face "How come, what has he done now?" she picks the label off Max's beer bottle on the bar stalling for time "Paige" "Nothing, he just keeps calling Max at all hours to talk and Max takes off in the middle of the night" I hug her "I'm sorry that is my fault" "No Bailey it was his own and he knows it" I just nod at her now she killed my buzz. I don't notice we are the only ones left in the bar until the lights go out leaving is in darkness "Hey what the heck" I shout.
I can smell Knox before I feel him slip his arms around me "Hot dogs" he whispers making me laugh, "Ok Freddie Kruger lets go" they bring us out the back way locking the bar as we leave, I look around for crazy but thankfully she is not here. We start walking towards the hot dog cart when I stop "Wait, my car I need to make sure its ok" I run over to the corner looking around it "Ok thank god, I don't want to have to go through that again" I run back to Knox "Everything ok?" I nod at him "All in one piece". By the time we reach the hot dog stand the line is long, Max and Paige go to order while Knox and I hang out by a store front. Wrapping his arms around me he pulls me into him "Missed you Darlin" he says putting his cheek against my forehead "Yeah I missed you too" closing my eyes I can feel myself sway I am not sure if it's the alcohol or if its Knox but my head feels light. I feel his whole body tense, cracking open one eye I look up at him "She is here huh?" he turns us so his back is to the street leaning down "Yeah she is" he says kissing my temple. "Knox, Relax she won't come over here"
"I know she won't because my girl will kick her ass" I laugh at him "Maybe not right now I have a good buzz going" I feel him chuckle as I put my head back onto his shoulder.
Max comes back with the hot dogs we eat them as we walk back towards my car. Waving goodnight to Max and Paige, Knox and I reach my car "You can drive" I toss my keys to him "Yes Darlin" he opens my door waiting for me to buckle up before getting in himself.
Knox pulls into the garage "Are you sure your dad is cool with me staying over?" I laugh as I get out of the car "Who said you're staying? I just needed to get home" taking the keys from his hand I open the door silencing the alarm. Knox is still standing beside my car looking a little confused and annoyed; Laughing at him I wave him over "Joking babe"