Page 16 of Demo
“I’m great,” he answered, grabbing a celery stick and scooping up a golf-ball-sized dollop of blue cheese and plunging it into his mouth.
“Ummhmm,” I said as I deposited more bones on my plate and licked the fiery sauce off another finger. “You sure about that?” I used a napkin to wipe my face, then my hands and under my fingernails.
He leaned over with another napkin and wiped something off my left cheek, then used his unsoiled knuckle to brush a strand of hair back off my face.God, I must look so attractive right now,I thought.
Then I realized his forehead was really getting shiny. “I’m good,” he stood firm, draining his water and chomping down on some ice.
I leaned back in the high stool and crossed my arms over my chest, turning my body toward his. And waited.
“OK! Goddamn, these things are like hellfire lava!” Knox practically shouted as he reached over for my glass of water, and I let out a burst of laughter.
“Milk,” I said through tears threatening my eyes. “Milk will help.”
“Yeah, well I’m not about to ask the bartender for a glass of milk, so …”
“Why didn’t you get less spicy ones?”
“It’s emasculating.”
“Oh, paaaleeeease.”
“Whatever. I’m fine. I’ll be fine.” Knox was blowing his hot breath into a napkin, in an attempt to rid the heat from his body. “The pain aside, why is it that wings taste better at,” he looked at his phone, “three o’clock in the morning?”
“It’s three o’clock in the morning?!” I practically shouted.
“You got a curfew?”
“No, I just … damn.”
Another chuckle. “Alright, Cinderella, I’ll get you home.”
Just as we got to the door our attention was drawn by a girly squeal. “Knox!”
We both looked toward the sound and saw a petite female with strawberry blonde hair bounding toward us—or him—arms outstretched, midriff on display beneath a black crop top and low-cut jeans that showed off her protruding hip bones. He had to raise his arms to catch her. Really, he had to, otherwise she would have just body-slammed him.
“Ally. Uh, hi,” he said as she hung on for dear life. “What’s up?”
I stood awkwardly to the side as she pulled back but kept a hand on his chest. “Why haven’t I heard from you?” she asked, all pouty.
Great, he’s into the fake cute, “look at me” type.
Darting his eyes to mine and attempting to step out of her reach, Knox shoved his hands in his pockets and addressed Barbie. “I, uh … Yeah, I guess I’ve just been busy.” He ran a hand through his hair.
Oh, snap. He was giving her thetake a hint it was just a hookupbrush off. I’d know that anywhere.
Holding in a smile and a laugh, I turned and exited the pub, with Knox hot on my heels. “Sorry about that,” he said. “Ally was just—”
“A hookup,” I finished for him.
Knox dipped his head and blew out a heavy breath. “There was a lot of brown alcohol, and other stuff, involved that night.”
“Hey,” I said, holding up a hand. “You don’t have to explain anything to me.” I started heading in the direction of the truck, a little disappointed.
“Actually,” Knox jogged to catch up with me, “I know I don’t have to, but I want to.”
“Seriously, it’s fine.” I waved him off. “You think I don’t have guys I cringe at when I run into them?”
“Well, no. But it doesn’t mean I want to meet them while we’re on a date.”
