Page 12 of Demo
“Did I not see you circle by here twice before you pulled into the lot?” he asked in return, brows pinched.
“There was a good song on the radio. I had to let it finish.”
“‘Walk the Line’ certainly wouldn’t keep someone driving,” Knox mused, catching onto my Johnny Cash reference. “‘Ring of Fire?’”
“You’ll have to go to the grave wondering,” I answered as I started to make my way around my parked vehicle.
“I was just saying, you extended your trip home. I opted for speed. Hence, me getting here first.” Knox still had his arms crossed over his chest.
“How did you know which dorm I live in?”
Instead of answering, he simply jerked his head toward the passenger side of his truck. “Get in, and I’ll show you what’s more my speed. That dance club bullshit didn’t give us a chance.”
It was my turn to cross my arms over my chest as I stood a few feet in front of him. “I’m not sure I can handle any more stimulating conversation with you. What happens if we pick right back up where we left off at the bar? It might be too much.”
A slow grin creeped across his face. “There she is,” he said to himself. Then, to me, “The night’s still young, and I think we can do better.”
Locked in a staring contest, he pushed on. “Do you trust me?”
“No.” My reply was immediate. “Not even a little bit.”
He barked out a laugh. “Good. At least you’re not stupid.”
Unfolding his arms and pushing himself away from the hood of the truck, Knox opened his driver’s side door before hopping in, closing the door and hanging his elbow out the window. “You might not trust me, but are you at least curious about me?”
Well, THEN I was.
I looked around, arms still crossed over my chest as I tapped my foot.
“Fuck it,” I sighed, as if I were doing him a favor. “But if you rape and dismember me, shit’s gonna hit the fan.”
“Duly noted,” he said as he leaned over the seat to push the passenger side door open for me. “You will be returned in one piece … Dead or alive.”
Having hoisted myself up, one foot inside the truck, the other on the footrest, I had one hand on the door, the other on the hood, and I gave him my hardest stare. “Am I going to regret this?”
“Nah, I’m harmless, really.”
“That’s what my dad said about the dog we adopted when I was a kid,” I muttered, sliding in and securing myself in the seat.
“And what happened to him … or her?”
“Ask the veterinarian who had to put him to sleep after he bit me.” I swiveled my head to lock eyes with Knox, then gave him my creepiest smile.
A blank stare met me in return. “Jesus.”
“No, I don’t think he went to Jesus. I think Beast went in the other direction.”
“Beast?” Knox asked, eyebrows raised. “That was the dog’s name?”
“Yep,” I said, popping the “p”. “I hated that fucking dog.”
Knox started the truck and pulled out of the parking lot. “Oh, come on! Who the hell hates dogs?”
I crooked my pointer finger toward my chest. “This lady, right here.”
Knox just shook his head in disbelief.
We drove in silence for a few minutes as he navigated the city streets. “Where are we going?” I asked but got no reply. Asshole.
