Page 6 of Knox
“Ian didn’t ask. He wouldn’t, you know. Just gave me a bed, and hasn’t once said I’d worn out my welcome.”
“Don’t you get paid for the stuff we do at the playhouse?”
“I do,” she nodded. “Get paid for that and mucking stalls,” she laughed, but it was a bitter sound as she stared at her fingernails. The polish was long gone, and a couple were broken.
Now that I looked at her—really looked at her—two inches of black roots didn’t blend with the ice blonde she normally dyed her hair.
Sylvie looked younger without makeup, but she was still as old as Ian and Mom. Her eyes weren’t blue either. One was brown and one was a sort of blue-gray?
“Don’t say anything,” she sighed. “It’s just Christmas, and I’m missing home is all.”
“And you can’t go? No one would keep you from-”
“Josh, all my money is gone and the house, too. I’m hoping the next film with Ian will get me back on my feet.”
“So, you’re hiding out with us.”
“Yeah. Hoping Ian doesn’t ask why I’m still around. It’s been a while.”
I smiled. “He won’t.”
She was quiet for the rest of the ride, and I pulled into the lot, parking around back beside Ian’s SUV.
Knox Daniels, whom I hadn’t seen since senior year, waited by the back door, one foot propped on the wall. He lifted his shadesand gave me half a smile when I reached him. Sylvie hurried inside, and I raised my eyebrows.
“You goin’ to the barn party tonight?” Knox asked, standing. His brown hair fell to his shoulders, those sunglasses holding the top back. His light brown gaze roamed over me before settling on my face.
“Hadn’t planned on it.” I reached for the door, ignoring the reminder that I didn't have anyone to walk out of the barn with. Ian had to go. He was Wallace's best man.
“So, could I get a ride home after?” Knox pointed at the door with his script. “I’m not going either, but my ride is.”
“Sure,” I shrugged.
Knox and I had never been friends. Considering his sister had just taken my boyfriend, I wasn’t sure we could be friends now.
I opened the door, and he entered first. Three students greeted me, nearly pushing me out the door again as they rushed me, all fussing about different things.
Knox eased between them and me. “Ladies, ladies. Let the man breathe.”
He motioned for them to back away, and they did, surprising me.
I listened to them one at a time and then made note of their schedule changes on my phone before heading towards the stage.
The final production of this play would run for one night only, the Friday before Christmas, and then the semester was over until January. Was looking forward to the break, really.
There were three main couples in the play, and Knox played the love interest opposite Lacey Mason, who just couldn’t get her shit together today. He waited for her to stop laughing and after the fourth time, Ian threw his hands up.
“That’s it. Go home. We aren’t gonna get anything done until after the barn party,” Ian sighed, rubbing his temples.
Lacey was still laughing quietly, and when she reached for Knox, he backed away, which sobered her. She cleared her throat, nodded once, and left the stage.
Ian was surrounded then, and everyone was looking at me like I was covered in goo.
“He turned him straight!” Lacey shrieked.
My heart stopped, and all the blood rushed to my toes. Of all the insults she could have flung at me, she picked that one.
Knox kept me standing while everyone stared.
