Taking Chances (Blackrock Book 2) (26 page)

“I did miss you, darlin’,”
he says between kisses.

“I
believe you, babe. Now who wants lunch? And if you guys don’t
mind, I was hoping to do a quick stop at Summer’s grave to tidy
it and leave some flowers.” I look at each of them to see if
any or all don’t want to do that last part.

Knox
rises off the lounger stretching. “Nope sounds good.”
After looking through the fridge and cupboards, we decide to go out
for lunch and walk down to Rosie’s again, only because Max
declared that they have the best milkshakes he has ever tasted and
wanted another one. We end up sitting in the same booth as yesterday
and I place my bag of polish, gardening sheers and other tools on the
floor between my legs, which I have been getting made fun of all the
way here.

“Still
planning on robbing a bank, darlin’?”

Rolling
my eyes, I ignore their not so stifled laughs as I order my lunch.
“With a side of dynamite,” Max adds to a very confused
waitress.

“I
have no idea why I allowed you lot to come with me.” Shaking my
head I sigh at them, prompting Knox to wrap his arm around my
shoulders pulling me over.

“Awe
don’t be like that, darlin’. You know you love us.”

“Of
course I do, but you are all still assholes.” They burst out
laughing at me as our food arrives. I joined Max and ordered a
milkshake with my sandwich. I see my younger cousin Jen walking over
to me.

“Hey
baby, what are you doing here?”

She
cocks her hip resting a hand on it while tilting her head. “Bailey,
you can’t call me that anymore. I am fourteen now.”

I
raise my hands in surrender and chuckle. “Sorry Jen.”

She
smiles, helping herself to my shake. “You ready for tonight?”
she asks, grinning at me.

“Nope.
Who is going to be there?”

Rolling
her eyes, she lists off some of the people she knows and some she
doesn’t like Quinn. “He is such a looser, Bailey. Oh and
Corey will be there,” she sings the last part, nudging me with
her elbow raising her eyebrows.

“What’s
that supposed to mean?” I ask pulling my shake out of her
hands.

Shrugging
her shoulders, she sings, “Corey and Bailey up a tree,”
as she skips out of the diner.

“Weird
ass kid,” I say to her retreating back while Knox clearly wants
an explanation as to her little song.

“Corey? Should I be
worried?” he asks sighing,

“No
babe, you have nothing to worry about.” I slap his thigh just
to let him know he is my one and only.

After
lunch I stop by the store to pick up a bunch of white roses. We walk
back to the graveyard with my bag of tools in hand. I stop in front
of her grave and I kneel down.

“Hey,
we will wait by the tree.” Knox points and I nod thankful that
they are giving me some privacy.

“Hey
Summer. Hope you don’t mind me bringing some friends here but I
am sure you already know about them.” I start as I pull up the
few weeds left from yesterday. “Knox, yeah the sexy one leaning
against the tree, he is my boyfriend and he keeps me safe, on my toes
and doesn’t take my shit either.” I laugh as I trim the
grass edges with my garden sheers.

Taking
out the polish and cloth, I spray some on the pinkish colored stone
her parents picked out and rub it until all the dirt is gone and it
shines in the sunlight.

“Okay,
there you go. Shining just like you, Summer. I have to go now but I
will come back before I leave this place I promise. Cara is having a
party tonight so you know what that will be like.”

I sigh packing my bag again.
Leaving the flowers in the little gold pot, I stand saying bye then
walk over to Knox. “Okay?” he questions and I smile
wrapping my arm around his waist.

“Yes
babe thanks.” He kisses my head as we walk a few paces behind
Max and Paige who are playing around.

“You
know I love you right?” he asks looking at me.

“Yes
I do, and I love you.” I drag out the last word in question and
frown at him wondering what’s brought on his sullen mood.
“Knox, don’t listen to Jen. She is a kid. Corey is Brad’s
brother, the EMT who found me last year so you have nothing to worry
about, babe. I am yours and only yours.”

“I
know, darlin’. I don’t get worried about other guys with
you; I trust you. It’s them I don’t and two spring to
mind.” He smiles.

“Which
two?”

Stopping
he cups my face in his hands kissing me lightly on the lips. “Brad
and Roger.”

Pulling
back, I look at him. “Roger?”

He
shrugs as he steps closer to me again. “Yeah, I owe him for
hurting you.”

Rolling
my eyes, I keep my mouth shut only because I don’t want a
fight, especially in a graveyard. Arriving home I find my mom and her
new man Thomas in the lounge. We make the introductions and I wink at
her, making her blush. Thomas and the guys get right down to talking
Harley’s while I go about making the hair clips for Paige and
me.

“Mom, where’s the hot
glue gun?” I shout from the kitchen.

I
hear her heals clicking as she walks in the door. “Bailey, no
need to shout all over the house.” She clicks her tongue at me
and pulls the gun from under a bunch of crap in the drawer.

“Thanks.”
I wave it at her.

Paige
watches as I transform a sad looking flower into a cool hair
accessory, gluing the black crystal beads into its center and
attaching it to the clip. I smile, handing it to her.

“Thanks
Bailey. That is cool. I never pegged you for a crafter.”

Starting
on my own I shrug. “Yeah, I did a lot when I was younger but
not really anymore. Summer and I would always make sure we had one of
a kinds.” I smirk, remembering our early teens. Finishing my
own, we both leave the kitchen to get ready. Walking by the lounge, I
poke my head in seeing Knox and Max alone.

“Hey
why are you guys in here?”

“Oh
Thomas and your mom left a few minutes ago.” Knox smiles.

She
didn’t even say she was leaving; sometimes I don’t get
that woman at all. “I’m going to get ready. We have about
thirty before we have to leave.”

Knox
jumps off the couch. “Better get to it then. We don’t
want to be late.” Swinging me into his arms, he walks up to my
room.

“You
want to shower first?” I ask, brushing his hair out of his
eyes.

“Na darlin’. Go for
it, I’ll wait.”

“You
can always join me,” I sing from the bathroom, turning on the
shower. Knox appears in the doorway smiling as I take off my clothes.
“Well you coming?” I ask, opening the glass door to the
shower. He nods and pulls off his t-shirt and jeans.

For the first few minutes we just
stand under the spray of hot water. Knox stands behind me arms,
wrapped around my body holding me to him as the water pounds over his
head and down onto me.

Moving
out of his arms, I wash my hair with some help. “All done.”
He kisses my neck. After rinsing out the conditioner and I quickly
wash my body while he does his hair.

I
Step out while Knox stays in for a little longer. “You okay,
babe? You seem distracted.”

“Yep
I’m good,” he says before turning his face into the
water.

I dry my hair and after curling
it, I pull it over one shoulder, clipping it with my new homemade
flower clip and slip on my dress and shoes.

“Wow,
look at you.”

I
smile, seeing Knox in dark jeans and a green shirt, which brings out
his eyes. I can smell his cologne as he walks over, helping zip up my
dress. “Wow, look at yourself,” I say and he smiles at
me, taking my hand as we walk down the stairs.

Max and Paige join us a few
minutes later. I smile at Paige and we twirl together making our
dresses fan out. She has her hair in a French twist and has secured
it with her new hair clip.

“Like
your hair.” I smile as we leave the house. Knox opens the truck
“Oh we can walk, babe. It’s only two blocks.”
Locking the truck, he takes my hand and we set off.

Passing
Summer’s house, I point it out. “This is the scene of
many crimes.” I smile as Paige smirks.

“Summer’s
house?” I nod as we keep going to the end of her street,
turning left to the street my cousin lives on, and we see it lined
with cars on both sides.

“Good
grief. Who did she invite?” I moan, slowing my pace a little.

“Come
on, darlin’. Let’s get this shindig over with.”

Knox pulls me along the street
just following random people into my cousin’s house. I see my
mom rushing around fixing little things and of course, my aunt and
uncle.

“Bailey,”
my aunt cries, gripping my shoulders as she gives me two air kisses.

“Hi
aunt Jane.” Stepping back, she looks me up and down then smiles
when she meets my eyes. “Still lovely. I bet your dad is happy
to see you again.” I just nod because I know she wants
information that I am not willing to share.

My
aunt Jane and my dad are brother and sister who used to get along
until my parents split up, but now Jane and my mom are friends and
neither speak to my dad unless they have to.

I introduce my friends and we
swiftly move out into the back yard, which has a large white tent
with clear plastic walls. I can hear soft music coming from inside.

“What the heck?” Max
asks when he sees the tent.

I
just shake my head. “I have no clue,” I answer, stepping
through the opening.

Cara
is first to appear screeching at me. “You look so cute,”
she sings then says hello to the others. “I have to go meet
some people so I will catch up later,” she waves her fingers at
me; turns on her heal and walks away.

“Well
I need a drink,” I announce hearing sighs from Knox and Max.
Making our way to the bar, we are quickly served and stand off to the
side looking around.

“Do
you even know half of these people?” Max asks me.

“Not
all but the majority yeah.” He snorts a laugh.

Shaking
his head, Knox leans down to my ear whispering, “Darlin’,
if you keep squeezing my fingers I won’t be able to play
with..” I cut him a glance stopping his words as I squint at
him, “My guitar,” he laughs, freeing his fingers from my
grasp and placing his hand over my shoulder. “It’s okay,
darlin’. I won’t let the wolves descend.” He kisses
me softly before licking his lips. “Humm caramel.” He
smiles, tasting my gloss.

A few school friends stop to say
hi and get the scoop on Knox and Max, who are getting eye-fucked by
every girl here; married or single, which only makes me smile knowing
I get to sleep with him every night.

“Oh
babe, I forgot to tell you. I have a surprise for you.” Well it
will be a surprise to him, considering I only just decided it this
morning while talking to Summer.

“What’s
that darlin’? We can bounce early?” he questions as Max
and he fist bump laughing,

“No
babe, something way better.” I am just about to tell him when I
get my hair pulled from behind.

Spinning
around, I see Corey standing there grinning at me. “Hey
trouble.” He spreads his arms for a hug so I give him a quick
one patting his back.

“Hey yourself,” I
reply smiling,

“So
what has you back here, and please don’t tell me this.”
He motions to the tent and the people in it.

“No,
just came home for a few days. Wanted to show these guys where I grew
up” I shrug.

“Cool.”

I
introduce him to Knox, Max, and Paige, who now dive on an empty table
in front of me.

“Hey,
You sticking around for the DJ?” Corey asks.

“Yeah,
for a while but I don’t plan to be here when the claws come
out.” I laugh looking around at all the girls here, most of
whom don’t like each other.

Corey laughs too, knowing all too
well that I am right. “Okay, I will catch up in a bit. Going to
check out the food.” He hugs me again kissing my cheek before
walking away.

Taking
a few steps over to Knox I slide onto his knee. “Man, I am
tired already,” I sigh resting my forehead against his temple
kissing his cheek.

“So
my surprise?” he asks, rubbing his hand up and down my back
making me smile. “Oh my god Bailey,”

I
groan at hearing that voice. I take a deep breath and paste on my
sociable smile before turning. “Hi Alma” I wave at her,
instantly feeling bad for faking it because she like me was one of
Emily’s targets. “You look good,” I tell her, which
is the truth because her braces are gone and she grew her auburn hair
out of that pixie cut she had for years.

“Oh
thanks, so do you.” She smiles. “Hey so where do you go
to school now?” I tell her about my BRU and she fills me in on
all the happenings in Florida State.

“Hey
isn’t that where Roger Burke is?” I ask and she nods.

“Yeah
he is still the same. No, make that worse. Ever since he came back
after Halloween break he just uses those chicks and spits them out.”
She motions with her hand.

Huh? Roger must be having a hard
time because if I know him, he only goes on a chick bender when he
gets stressed.

I
talk with Alma for a while before she leaves to see her friends and
my uncle comes over. “Hi sweetheart,” he says standing
behind me squeezing my shoulders.

“Yeah, hurting me.” I
slap his hands but he just laughs making Knox hold me closer to him.
“So, happy to be back?” he asks taking a chair from the
table behind and pulls it up beside me.

“Not
really. Why? Do you want rid of me already?”

He
frowns at me. “Now Bailey, no need for sarcasm. I was just
asking.” My uncle never just asks; he always has an ulterior
motive.

“Yeah right. What’s
your angle, uncle Ethan?”

Smiling
he raises his hands. “Okay caught me. But has Cara said
anything about transferring to your school?” I knew this wasn’t
just some party; he is trying to keep her here.