Taking Chances (Blackrock Book 2) (47 page)

“So
how’s it going Chase?” I smile when he brings my drink.
“It’s going; same old stuff at least its busier now that
school is about to start.”

I
nod looking around at the mostly full bar. “Yeah I’ve
been watching all the dorms fill up over the last week, have a
perfect view from my window.” I laugh.

“Yeah
my little sister is starting here next week. She just moved into her
dorm today.” I smile at his worried face.

“So
is she coming over tonight?”

He
nods then rolls his eyes. “Yeah unfortunately. Now I can’t
work my mojo.” We laugh just as Amber stops beside us taking
off her jacket.

“Hey
guys, ready for another fun filled night?” We nod.

“Yeah
I am waiting to meet Chase’s little sister.”

Amber
looks surprised. “Cool where is she?”

Chase
points at us “Stay away, both of you,” he warns smiling
then walks away.

“He
is worried he wont be able to work is chick magic.” We both
laugh then Amber grabs my hand.

“Holy
shit, are you and Knox?” She looks at me and I nod.

“He
asked last week” She hugs me laughing.

“I
am so happy for you guys; you are cute together.” I thank her
and watch a group of new faces enter the bar. I see one of the girls
wave at Chase and he rolls his eyes. Pointing to the end of the bar
where I sit, I watch her bounce over and smile. She looks like him
with her short dark hair and big brown eyes. She stops beside me and
waits talking with two other girls and a couple of guys, Chase
strolls over “Hey sis” he gives her a hug while she
introduces him to her friends and her boyfriend, Broady.

“Hey
Bailey, this is Freya my sister and this is the boss’
girlfriend,” he says smiling. I say hello then wave my ring to
Chase; his eyes grow large and scoff’s. “What, you got
engaged to Knox?” I nod as he puts his face into his hands
pretending to cry, “Why Bailey I thought you loved me?”

I
punch his arm laughing. “Maybe in the next life.”

“In
the next life what?”

Knox
slips his arm around my waist kissing me. “Oh Chase is in love
with me.”

Knox
rolls his eyes. “I know, now get back behind the bar.”

Chase
laughs holding his fist out for a fist bump. “Congrats man,”
he says, stepping behind the bar. Knox follows and grabs a beer
checking his watch.

“Have
you seen Max?” he asks me.

“No
babe, not yet.” Taking out his phone he calls but he doesn’t
answer. Knox checks his watch again,

“Stop
worrying, babe. He will be here.” Knox kisses me again then
sits down to drink his beer. “Hey remember this time last year
was when I first met you.” He nods grinning at me. “You
were so rude, trying to kick Paige off the chair.” He barks a
laugh at me shaking his head.

“No
I was just trying to make you talk to me.”

“Really?”
He nods taking pull from his beer and I kick his leg playfully.
“Asshole.”

We
both laugh remembering that night Knox checks his watch again. “I
have to get on stage. Can you call Max?” I nod watching him
stop at Eric and Dave’s table. I pull out my phone and call Max
but he doesn’t answer so I step outside to call him again when
I see him run across the street.

“Hey
bro, Knox and I have been calling you.” He nods at me then
opens the door of the bar with some force and heads straight for the
stage walking inside Knox looks at me from the stage but I shrug. Max
grabs his guitar and waits for Knox to start, sitting in my chair I
watch as Knox swaps places with Dave at the keyboard.

“
I’d like to dedicate this
song to my mom.”

Max
hangs his head as Knox presses a few keys. “Courtesy of my
fiancé, she introduced me to this band and I thought this song
fits.” Knox plays the keys and I stand to record him sing ‘If
you could see me now’ by the Script.

My
heart aches for him and Max but also for my Nan and Summer. I can
barley stand while he sings this song. Max keeps his head down for
the duration of the set I watch him closely as they sing the last
song and he stays on stage talking to Knox. Both of them head into
the office so I sit at the bar clearly something is up and they need
time, pulling out my phone I text Knox.

Me:
Hi babe you guys need a beer?

Knox:
yeah please and a shot each xx.

I
wave for Chase and order the drinks for them. Knocking on the office
door, Knox opens it and allows me in. Max looks upset and keeps his
face hidden away from me putting the drinks down I kiss Knox.

“I’ll
leave you guys.” He nods squeezing my hip as I leave. I sit
back at the bar and order another drink for myself.

“Hey
where’s the boss?” Chase asks bringing my drink.

“Office,”
I answer. “So how is the mojo now that your sister is clear
across the other side of the bar?” Chase laughs swinging the
bar towel over his shoulder.

“It’s
dead in the water now that you’re taken.” He winks and
smiles at me.

“I
was always taken Chase, you need to look somewhere else, maybe the
campus café.” I laugh at him.

Knox
and Max take the stage again for the second set. Knox does all the
singing while Max goes through the motions. I listen to my fiancé’s
sing a few rock songs then Bruno Mars ‘Just the Way You Are.’
He winks at me while he sings turning his body so he faces me until
the end of the song. I feel the breeze of the open door hit me so I
look up and sigh wishing I hadn’t considering the bane of BRU
walked in guised as Lindsey Pratt, her face lights up when she sees
Knox on stage and purposely sits in front of the stage by the dance
floor. I watch as she tries to get his attention even after all this
time she is like a leech Knox looks over at me smiling and I wave at
him.

“Okay,
so last song of the night and this one is for my fiancé
because she is fucking awesome.” I laugh at him and he sings
the song I tried to get him to learn earlier this week ‘If You
Ever Come Back’ by the Script. Lindsey turns on her stool
shooting daggers from her eyes at me and I smile politely at her then
watch Knox sing for me.

I
sing the chorus with him from my chair but we sing to each other
anyway. After the song is over they pack up the equipment while Max
takes off not stopping to talk to anyone. I make my way over to Knox
with a drink and sit on the edge of the stage talking to the guys.

“Hey
congrats.” Eric says hugging me.

“Get
off my woman,” Knox growls from behind the amp smiling at us.

“No
way bro, sharing is caring,” Eric laughs, ducking behind me as
Knox throws a cable tie at him.

“Hiding
behind a chick, pussy,” he laughs at him.

Eric
stands. “Ha yeah only your chick, have you forgotten she
started a brawl?” I punch Eric on the leg.

“I
did not.” Knox laughs at him for getting hit by me.

“Come
on darlin’, let’s get away from these animals.”
Grabbing my hand, we walk back over to the bar and wait to clear it
out.

“Is
it your mom’s anniversary soon, babe?”

He
shakes his head. “No why?”

“I
thought Max was upset about the song.”

He
shakes his head at me. “Later,” he says looking around at
the crowd. Knox is looking at a group sitting in one of the booths a
few guys and some girls. “I’ll be back.” He kisses
me then strolls off to them I watch as he says something to the girl
sitting at the end of the booth and she jumps up hugging him. He hugs
her back looking quite happy keeping his arm around her shoulders
while he talks to her and her friends.

“Where’s
Max?” Amber asks dragging my attention away from Knox and his
friends.

“No
idea. He took off, I think he was sick.” She nods emptying her
tray of dirty glasses and empty bottles. “He looked kind of out
of it up there.”

“Yeah
I guess”

Knox
walks back to me smiling with his arm around this chick. “Hey
darlin’, look who I found.” He points to the girl but I
have no clue who she is so I just say hello. She looks familiar but I
can’t place her. She wraps her hand around his waist and
smiles.

“Is
this your fiancé?” she asks and he nods.

“Yeah
Bailey, this my cousin, George’s daughter who snuck back into
town with out telling us.”

I
smile at her, no wonder I can see it now she looks like a prettier
version of her father. Knox invites her to his dad’s tomorrow
for lunch both of them talking for a while catching up when my phone
rings.

“Hey
bro, what happen to you?”

Max
sighs. “Sorry I got a missed call from you so I thought I’d
return it.” I tell him his cousin is here but he doesn’t
care I can hear the ocean in the background.

“Are
you in Marion?” I ask stepping into the hallway behind the bar.

“Yeah
it’s nice here,” he sounds so sad and I feel bad for him.

“You
okay Max? Do you want to talk?”

He
brushes me off telling me he is fine and he will see me tomorrow. I
invite him to dad’s barbeque anyway just so he knows that he is
wanted. I wonder if he is feeling a little left out now that Knox is
home and he and I have been together all week. I hang up when I hear
Knox clearing out the bar and take my seat watching him mess around
with his cousin and her friends.

“One
for the road?” Chase asks and I decline. By two o’clock
Knox is still talking and I am tired so I grab my bag.

“Okay,
I’m out Chase. See you tomorrow.” He nods shrugging on
his own jacket.

“Me
too.” We both walk over to Knox.

Ok
babe, see you later.” I kiss his cheek and he frowns then
checks his watch.

“Shit
sorry darlin’.” His cousin leaves and we lock up.

“Thanks
for singing to me.” He smiles taking my hand in his.

“I
always sing to you, every song is for you” we cross the road
and start through campus my mind is on Max wondering what is going on
with him he sounded really down on the phone and he ran out of the
bar like his ass was on fire.

“I
talked to Max for a minute he sounds sad.”

I
look up at Knox who sighs, “Paige ended things and kicked him
out.”

I
stop walking and stare at Knox. “What why? You should have told
me earlier.”

He
pulls me over to him. “Max asked me not to tell you at all,”
he says, kissing my head while switching sides.

“But
why Max and I are friends.” Knox looks at me and raises his
eyebrow. “What?” I ask reading his expression,

“You
and Paige are chicks, y’know.” I huff at him pushing him
away from me.

“No
I don’t know Knox tell me.” He laughs grabbing my hand
again.

“You
chicks stick together, right?” Ignoring his remark I walk home
with him chuckling beside me. Once inside the apartment I spin around
to him making him jump back,

“Knox,
if you think I would take up for Paige over Max then you’re
wrong. I’ve known you all the same amount of time and the only
person I would ever choose over you guys is dead so you don’t
have to worry.”

Walking
away I change my clothes and wash my face while Knox follows me
looking annoyed with his arms crossed over his chest.

“Darlin’,
are we fighting?” he huffs at me keeping my head down I can’t
help but laugh, drying my face I make him wait.

“I
need to pee.” Rolling his eyes, he steps out of the bathroom
mumbling all the way into the bedroom when I walk in he is in bed
sitting with his back against the headrest with his arms still
crossed,

“That’s
a good look for you.” I nod at his arms while he watches every
move I make. Climbing into bed I bite my lip to stop from laughing
keeping my back to him. “Bailey, really are you fucking
ignoring me now?”

Looking
over my shoulder, I start laughing at him. He shakes his head
smiling. “No sex for you now,” he says lying down and
flipping off the light.

Turning
I face him still laughing. “No babe, we are not fighting. I
love fucking with you.” Turning he puts his back to me making
me laugh harder until I climb over him. “No sex, huh babe?”
He nods keeping his eyes closed as I sweep my hands over his chest
feeling every curve of his muscles.

“How
about this?” I ask and he shrugs so I keep my hands moving
lower to his hips. “This?” again he shrugs. Dipping my
head I kiss his jaw down to his neck. “This?” I whisper
as my hands roam around his back.

“Stop
I’m not in the mood anymore,” he mumbles.

“Really
then why is there a baseball bat beating against my leg?” His
body shakes from laughing and shrugs. “Well goodnight then,”
I say climbing back over him, grabbing my hips he stops me and pulls
me down kissing me tenderly.

“I
don’t like you,” he says against my lips.

“No?”

He
kisses down my neck and back up to my jaw. “No, I love you.”
He flips us over and rests his weight on his elbows.

“A
baseball bat, huh?” His eyebrow raise’s in question and I
smile.

“Of
course babe.”

He
laughs tracing his finger down my face looking into my eyes “I’m
sorry, baby. Max asked me not to say anything and he is my brother so
I have to respect that.”

I
nod, running my hand through his hair. “I know babe but I would
never choose either of them against the other.” Lowering his
head, he kisses me fiercely pulling me close to him; wrapping my legs
around his waist he pushes into me filling me up. We make love never
breaking our kiss Knox groans when I fall over the edge and he
follows, he rests his head against my shoulder.

“I’ll
never get tired of making love to you.” Lifting his head, he
kisses along my jaw before settling on my mouth.

“Babe.”

He
pulls back looking down at me. “Yeah?”

“I’ll
never get tired of you either.” He smirks wrapping me in his
arms.