Scarred Hearts (Blackrock) (45 page)
Knox walks into the house locking the door behind him "You're a mean drunk Darlin" he hangs his jacket on the back of the chair. I watch him for a minute while holding myself up against the wall "Can you even stand on your own" he laughs walking over to me, I don't answer just lock my lips to his, I don't know how long we are there when he pulls back "Ok I think you need to go to bed" carrying me in his arms he takes the back stairs "Bailey have you lost weight?" Avoiding the question I nuzzle his neck, Kissing up to his jaw finding his lips as he enters my room. "Drunk sex is hot," I whisper against him as he lies me on the bed "Yeah, drunk make up sex is hotter" he says smiling down at me.
The next morning I wake with a horrible hangover, my head hurts and my mouth is dry, groaning I roll over to an empty bed. Where is he? I open one eye scanning my room but its empty and quiet putting on my sweats and top I stroll down to the kitchen.
"Knox?" I call seeing that the room is empty no coffee cups in the sink, no sound from my dad's office checking my phone I see its noon, crap I need coffee. I sit on the window seat looking out at the lake rippling in the breeze; the leaves are swirling to the ground in a dance of oranges, reds and browns. It's almost Christmas but here the leaves are still falling, California has some strange winter weather. I see a few people out walking their dogs around the track reminding me I haven't been for a run in weeks, my body really needs it. Savoring my vanilla coffee my phone beeps with a text.
Knox: Hi darlin you Up?
Me: Yes where are you?
Knox: lol took UR car on my way back now
Took my car huh, I will have to hurt him. Deciding I need a shower before he gets back I race up to my room, the water is barley warm as I scrub away last night smiling to myself. I remember Knox's lips all over me making me feel beautiful, stepping out I dry off quickly throwing on jeans and a t-shirt. I brush my teeth and hair as I hear the door open "Hey darlin I'm home" I take the stairs in to the kitchen "Hi babe, where did you go?" I kiss him hello "Home" he murmurs against my lips "Why" I murmur back "Needed clothes" pulling away I look at him "You have clothes in my room" he nods "I know but I needed warm clothes darlin because we are taking a ride today" I look at him questioningly "What do you mean a ride?" he smiles wrapping his arms around my waist "On my bike, you and me" I am in shock.
"You are allowing me on you're precious" he laughs at me "Yes Gollum now put on those boots from last night so we can get going" I jump up and down like a cheerleader then take the stairs two at a time, holy crap he is taking me on his bike yay! I pull off my clothes quickly changing into a nicer pair of jeans and my blue fluffy sweater; I put on my riding boots as requested then grab my leather jacket. Coming into the kitchen Knox is laughing "What?" I ask defensively "I knew you would change your clothes" he hands me a slice of toast "Thanks, not up to your usual standard" he takes my hand pulling me into the garage.
We arrive at his house about thirty minutes later "I just need to grab my old helmet for you" taking my hand he brings me inside. The house is bigger that I expected it has wooden flooring and a big staircase. I hear meowing coming from behind a door, Knox walks over opening the door that leads to the kitchen. I see a black cat run out then circles Knox's legs "Ok Spike, where is Max?" the cat stands up on his hind legs stretching against Knox's leg he picks him up taking him into the kitchen, I follow. The room is nice and cozy with a well-used wooden table by the far wall and big French doors. Knox feeds the cat talking to him "Hey buddy, watch your back she might kidnap you" he nods in my direction. Rolling my eyes I laugh at him.
"Ok give me a minute" he kisses my head then thunders up the stairs. I watch Spike watching me as he eats his dinner when the French doors open "Hey Bailey" Max says stepping inside "What are you doing here?" he looks at me then the cat, I laugh holding up my hands "I am not going to take your cat relax Max" he smiles at the cat rubbing his back, Spike purrs his approval still eyeballing me. Knox walks back into the kitchen wearing a black knit sweater that really shows off his muscles, my throat goes dry looking at him.
His biceps are bulging and his chest is stretching the wool to its limit, wow he is hot. "See something you like darlin?" he questions from the doorway, I feel my cheeks burn as he laughs at me, asshole. He knows very well I think is damn fine he just likes to mess with me. Max is chuckling by the sink "Hey where have you been I was here earlier" Knox asks him "Cleaning my bike" Max nods out the window, turning I see a detached garage that looks like a little cottage with the doors open. I can see both bikes and their truck. "I'm taking Bailey for a ride do you want to come?"
Max looks between us "Damn Knox, you really are in love" Max sighs "Now I am loosing my brother time" he shakes his head pretending to be upset, Knox laughs at him punching his shoulder "C'mon get your shit on, lets go" he runs up stairs as we wait for him "Do you mind if comes with us?" Knox asks "No babe I like Max, he doesn't bother me"
A few minutes later we are in the garage getting on the Harley's "So where are we going?" Max asks, "I'm going up to the cove" Knox replies causing Max to look stunned "Why?" Knox shrugs "Just feels like the right time" Max looks at me then smiles swinging his leg over his bike "Let's go" they start their engines which is like a million horses galloping on metal, I can feel the vibrations through the saddle "Hold on tight Darlin" Knox shouts over his shoulder, wrapping my arms around his waist he puts my hands into the pockets of his leather jacket. We pull out of the drive and down the street, the wind feels amazing on my face and I smile into it. Knox rubs my leg and I look at him in the mirror, he smiles at me and I smile back.
They take the freeway riding side by side; Knox alternates rubbing my legs I lean into him resting my chin on his shoulder. He looks in the mirror at me winking, "You ok?" he shouts over the roar of the engine I nod squeezing him tighter. They switch lanes exiting the freeway at Marion; I look around as we pass through the town. I see the boardwalk where Paige and I spent the day I wonder why he took me here. A few people wave at them as we pass, I guess they recognize them from school or something. We continue through town heading down a small winding road, I can smell the salt in the air from the ocean and the wind changes to a colder temperature; Max pulls off the road into a small-unused parking area. Pulling in behind him we park up turning off the engine, I climb off the bike my legs and ass are both numb. Max and Knox stretch while rub my ass "You ok darlin?" Knox asks taking off his helmet running his fingers through his hair "Yeah just a little numb"
Max climbs up onto the rocks, looking around I notice this is not so much a cove as a scraggy rock wall far above the ocean. Knox takes my hands leading me over to where Max is sitting with his legs dangling over the wall. I look over seeing the ocean miles below then pull back shivering "What?" Knox asks as he climbs up beside Max patting the rocks beside him. I shake my head no "Are you afraid?" he questions raising an eyebrow "I like the ocean but it scares me" They both look at me "It's ok I won't let you fall" he moves over some more "Here sit between us" I reach out grabbing them by a shoulder each as I climb up "Jesus Bailey, that's some death grip" Max jokes as I sit between them. My legs are dangling precariously over the edge of the wall and my heart is thumping, linking my arm through Knox I squeeze tight "Are you that scared darlin?" glancing at him I nod, taking my hand from his arm he puts it around me then holds my hand leaning in he kisses my temple.
We sit there in silence for a while watching the ocean crash against the rocks below "Hey remember that time Billy jumped off here?" Max says to Knox "Yeah what a tool nearly killed himself" they both snort a laugh. I look at each of them lost in their thoughts although they are identical twins I can now spot the differences. Knox has pure green eyes while Max has brown flecks in his, their hair is obviously different and Knox has a shaper jaw line. Both are equally handsome "So where did you guys grow up?" Knox looks at me smiling "Down the hill from here near the beach" he nods to our right. "Will you show me?" he hesitates for a while "Sure, why not we are here now" Max looks at him "You sure you want to go there?" Knox just nods "Yeah but I'm not stopping so it will a drive by" he looks at me, I shrug. I don't care if we stop at the end of the street I just need off this rock.
We climb onto the bikes and take off down the hill, looking around the area is nice and peaceful just as we reach the end of the hill they turn left into a small cul de sac with only four houses, Knox rolls by the first one on the right then stops by the second keeping the engine idling, He points to the small house "That's it darlin" I look at the grey house with white shutters and trim. There are a few palm trees around the fence line but other wise the garden is empty, I can see a flowerbed under the front window picturing it in summer in full bloom. I catch an elderly lady coming out of the first house waving as she crosses the lawn I tap Knox on the arm nodding in her direction. Looking over he smiles cutting the engine, Max turns notching her following suit he kills his engine kicking out the stand of his bike.
I climb off and Knox does the same, when the lady reaches us she looks to be in her late fifties "Oh my gosh my babies" she says embracing both Knox and Max. Pulling back she slaps them on the arm each "Why didn't you boy say you were coming here I could have made cake" she is beaming at them "Sorry Peggy, it was a spur of the moment thing" Max says. I take off my helmet fixing my hair watching as all three smile at each other "It's so nice to see you boys, come on I have a fresh pot of coffee made, put those contraptions around back" she points at the Bikes then notices me. Knox coughs "Peggy this is my girlfriend Bailey, darlin this is Peggy she is like our second mom" Peggy walks over giving me a hug "Nice to meet Bailey, now do you like coffee?" smiling I nod "Yes I do thank you" she links my arm whisking me toward her house I look over my shoulder at Knox who shrugs then pushes his bike toward her driveway.
Peggy fills us with coffee and store bought cake "Sorry boys I don't bake much these days" Knox and Max look at her "That's ok you don't have to feed us" Max says to her to which she laughs "That is a good one Max, not feed you ha!" she claps his shoulder and he laughs "Bailey do you know these two used to eat dinner at home then come over here for desert" she tells me nodding at them, Knox smiles at her "Only because you're the best baker we know and we got to lick the spoons" she howls with laughter "Those were the days" she says. Knox and Max are both looking out of the window, following their gaze I can see into their back yard. It is plain like the front but backs onto a small strip of beach, as does Peggy's.
"So Bailey tell me about you" Peggy says patting my knee, shit where do I start "Eh, I grew up in Grove, only child, I am nineteen and in college at BRU" I say, short but sweet. Peggy watches me for a second then puts her hand on my cheek just like my nan used to "You have a sadness in your eyes baby" she says then gets up out of the chair. Holy crap who is this lady, Knox and Max exchange looks then look at me, Peggy comes back with the coffee pot pouring more into our cups, she looks at Max and Knox "Don't worry he is not here, he left about a month ago" I see them both relax as they look at their house. "So how old are my boys now? I haven't seen you in years I have forgotten" they smile answering in unison "Twenty One"
"Oh already, I thought that was next year" "Nope Peggy, getting old now" Max says she tuts at him "Old look at you, you both turned into two fine handsome young men" I smile as they blush.
We sit with Peggy for about an hour while she tells me of the mischief Knox and Max caused as kids; they disagree with her on everything claiming innocence in every story. I am having a good time laughing at them; Peggy excuses herself for a minute leaving us in the kitchen. "You guys were more trouble than me," I say laughing at them, Max smirks while Knox is looking out of the window.
"We should get our shit Max," announces Knox. Max looks at him in alarm "No Knox just leave it, we have done without it up until now" "He is gone and we are here" Knox shrugs "Bro we are on the Harley's we can't get it back" Knox turns to Max "I'm sure Peggy will hold a few boxes for us" Speaking of, Peggy walks back into the room. Max smiles at her "So what are you boys up to? I know that look Knox Andrew Porter" she points at him "I want to get some stuff I left behind, could you hold on to it for me until I can get back with the truck?" Peggy looks at them with sadness in her own eyes "Of course boys you don't have to ask. I have space in the shed"
Knox, Max and I walk across the lawn to their house. Knox takes out his keys opening the door he turns off the alarm "I thought he would have changed that" Max says walking through to the sitting room. I follow Knox into the kitchen witch is the same as Peggy's in design. Knox opens a cupboard above the fridge pulling down a box of keys; he pushes them around then takes one out putting it in his pocket. "Come on darlin" he says as he heads for the stairs. I go up behind him as he opens a door at the front of the house, walking into a room with walls of deep forest green with matching carpet I look around.
He has a wall full of photographs on a huge corkboard, a desk, some books piled on the floor beside it. Knox opens his closet taking out a suitcase he puts it on the bed and starts filling it up with clothes mostly jeans and shirts. "Need help babe?" he turns to me "Sure can you take down all my photos of my mom and me and Max" he points to the corkboard. Walking over I look at the pictures considering I don't know what his mom looks like I scan the wall, Knox is beside me "Sorry babe" he pulls a photograph out of the middle handing it to me, looking at it I know its their mom. Knox has her green eyes "She is beautiful" I tell him as I start removing pictures. When I finish I put them into a shoe box Knox left on the desk for me, I walk out of his room looking for him and can hear Max next door so I head that way "Knock Knock" I say walking into his room which is the same as Knox's but painted in an earthy brown. "Need any help Max?" I watch him take a few photos down but leave the rest "No I am good, I don't want much" he looks quite sad standing there.