Page 71 of The Perfect Spiral
He relaxed and looked at me with hooded eyes.
“Believe me when I say that, that’s the old me. I’m not like that anymore. Please, Alex. Don’t think of me like that anymore.” His look was pleading, and I started to feel bad for what I’d said.
But he was everywhere, how could I not believe it? He was the same in high school. I saw it with my own eyes.
“Knox, it might be the old you. But, actions speak louder than words. And why do you care about my opinion of you?”
He took my hands in his, giving them a tight squeeze. He leaned into me and kissed my forehead. Feeling his hot breath on my skin, my eyes widened in shock. I sat there, frozen.
“I just do, baby doll... I just do,” was all he said before turning back to the driver’s seat and driving off again. I remained frozen as the car started to move.
I felt as though my body was anchored to the street and the car was moving away from me. Why does he keep doing things like this? It’s so confusing.
The silence between us was thick. The low murmur of the radio in the background allowed me to drift away with my own thoughts. Celine Dion’s “The Power of Love” was playing softly.I began to hum along to it, turning the dial to raise the volume so I could sing along. This was my grandparents’ favorite song to dance to. I smiled at the memories of listening to the song.
I remembered them dancing together on an empty dance floor at Cole’s wedding while I sat at the table, admiring the love they had for each other.
I leaned my head back, singing softly to the song while allowing the memories to play in my head.
I smiled to myself, momentarily forgetting where I was. Feeling a hand on my leg once more, I turned to Knox, who wore a soft expression on his face. I closed my eyes to hide my embarrassment.
“Don’t stop,” his voice was gentle, catching me off guard.
I opened one eye to see him shifting his gaze between me and the road. I repositioned myself in my seat, looking back out the window.
I sat there in silence, not moving or saying a word. His hand began to rub my leg up and down.
“You always had a great voice, baby doll. Please don’t stop,” he pleaded, but I didn’t want to sing anymore. In fact, I wanted to turn the radio off, and that’s exactly what I did.
“Alex, please say something.”
It was a few moments before I answered.
“Something.” I heard a light chuckle from him. We stopped at a red light and waited in traffic. I heard the seatbelt being stretched and felt his arm rest against my side.
Still not turning around, I felt his hand move the hair from my face and he kissed my cheek. My breath hitched in my throat and I felt a warmth spread through me.
My heart was pounding, a rhythm that echoed the proximity of his body. This was a sensation I shouldn’t be experiencing. He was my brother’s best friend, just like Wes. I couldn’t allow myself to feel this way. It was wrong.
If we were discovered, we’d both be in deep trouble. But why was I reacting so strongly to him? It wasn’t the first time he’d touched me, or even kissed me.
“Are you hungry?” he murmured into my hair, his nose barely grazing my skin. I nodded, finally summoning the courage to meet his gaze. Our eyes locked, his darting back and forth between mine.
I found myself unable to look away, even as my stomach rumbled in response to his question. He looked amused at the sound.
Why was I feeling like this? It was just Knox.
We continued our drive to Soho, ending up at a low-key Italian restaurant. His presence seemed to elevate the energy of the place. We chose a table at the back, away from the windows.
As I perused the menu, the waitress introduced herself, her attention focused primarily on Knox. She seemed a bit star-struck.
When she returned with our drinks, I noticed her top was pulled lower and her skirt was hiked up a bit higher. She leaned in close to Knox as she recommended certain dishes. I sat there, my head resting on my hand, waiting for their interaction to end.
I let my gaze wander around the restaurant, catching the eyes of two men sitting a couple of tables away. They raised their glasses in acknowledgment, and I offered them a polite smile before returning my attention to the menu.
They were both strikingly handsome. One was the epitome of tall, dark, and handsome, with bright green eyes. The other had a surfer vibe, with sun-bleached hair, a dazzling smile, a golden tan, and bright blue eyes that rivaled Knox’s. They both looked like they spent a good deal of time at the gym.
I stole another glance at them, only to find they were still watching me. I tried to suppress the smile that was threatening to spread across my face, biting my lower lip in an attempt to hide it.
