Hollow (Hollow Point #1) (10 page)

“What the hell is a dippy egg?” I asked as I picked up my fork and poked at the yoke. He rolled his eyes as he sat down in front of me with his plate. “Relax. It’s regular eggs. Over easy.”

“Oh. Thank you.” I picked up my glass of water and drank nearly all of it in one gulp. “Why don’t you look as bad as I feel?”

The front door opened, and Tatum stepped inside, laughing as she said her goodbyes to whoever was on the other side. She closed it and turned to walk across the room, stopping when she saw me.

“Riley, what are you doing here?” She asked as my head snapped to Knox.

“She dropped by to see if you wanted to hang out.  Oh,” He slipped his hand into the pocket of his jeans and pulled out a phone. “You forgot this here yesterday before you left. How many times have I told you to make sure you have your phone when you leave?”

“Oh, thank God! I thought I’d lost it.” She grabbed her cell and slipped it into her own pocket before looking me over. “What did you want to do today?”

“Plot a murder.”

“Careful, Princess. That’s premeditation.”

I couldn’t wipe the smirk off my face as we finished eating our breakfast. Riley was glaring at me the entire time which made the whole situation even funnier.

“What did you get up to last night?” Tatum asked as she took a sip from her orange juice.

I shrugged. “Nothing much.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you smile so much. What’s her name?”

My eyes cut to Tatum and my smile fell. “Can’t I just be in a good mood?”

“Seriously? No. No, you can’t. I’m pretty sure it’s impossible. You forget that I know you.”

I shook my head as I leaned back in my seat.

“Oh, God. It’s Bea, isn’t it?” Tatum laughed excitedly.

Riley looked to Tatum, her eyebrows pulled together. “Bea? The waitress?” She looked back to me as I grabbed my plate, shoving my chair back from the table as I stood.

“How do you know Bea?” Tatum asked, and Riley cleared her throat.

“She works at the only diner in town, Tatum. Everyone knows her.” I replied.

“She your
girlfriend
?” Riley asked, and I knew she remembered our conversation in the car where I told her I didn’t do the girlfriend thing.

“It’s none of your business.” I tossed my plate in the sink and headed out the front door.

The rain was just beginning to dot the sidewalk as I pulled away from the curb and headed out to my shop. I wondered if Riley would confess to Tatum that I’d tricked her, but I knew the last thing that girl wanted was to feel even more embarrassed.

***

TWELVE

It had been nearly a week since I’d spent the night at Knox’s house and even though we’d hung out a few hours together since then, we still hadn’t even begun to plan the party. He kept telling me to trust him, but it was hard to do when he wouldn’t tell me anything.

We were supposed to meet last night, but he said he was busy with work. I’d assumed busy meant he was out with a girl.

My phone beeped with a text from Knox.

Sorry about last night. Want to meet today?

I groaned, typing back a quick response.

Did you blow me off to go on a date?

His response was immediate, and I could picture his cocky grin.

Are you jealous, Princess?

Tossing my phone on the bed, I headed downstairs to get something to eat. I fixed myself a chef salad, and as I poured Ranch onto my lettuce, someone buzzed at the gate. Piper hit the entry button and within a minute, the doorbell rang.

“I bet that is the party planner,” Piper squealed as she rushed across the room as fast as she could in her mile-high heels.

“Why are you hiring a planner?” I groaned, shoving a bite into my mouth. “Don’t you just sacrifice the soul of your first born child and eat the heart of a kitten or something?”

“I’m not a witch,” Piper yelled back as she pulled open the front door.

“Duly noted,” I heard Knox reply with a laugh. Rolling my eyes, I shoved another bite of food into my mouth.

“Hey, Princess. Stress eating?”

“What do you want?”

“You didn’t respond to my text. I was worried. But now I see you were just hanging out with your younger sister.”

I made a gagging sound as a piece of lettuce lodged in my throat, and Piper took the opportunity to giggle, placing her hand on Knox’s arm.

“She’s
not
my sister,” I snapped before stabbing a cherry tomato and shoving it in my mouth.

His eyes danced over the binder she’d had laid out on the island. “Planning a party?”

“Well, trying to but the guy I hired is forty-five minutes late,” Piper answered as she tucked her hair behind her ear, batting her fake eyelashes. I smiled to myself as I thought of the email reply I’d sent pretending to be her, canceling her appointment because she didn’t feel right about stealing another women’s husband. I may have also attached a half-naked pic of her for good measure.

“I happen to be a party planner. Right, Princess?”

They both looked at me expectantly. “Umm… I guess you could say that,” I replied trying to figure out where he was going with this.

“I could help if you like,” He said, turning his attention back to Piper.

“I mean, yeah… I guess that’d be okay. Just want to plan an engagement party. Nothing big.” Her cheeks turned pink even under the mountain of makeup caked on her face.

“Great. We can start tomorrow.” He held out his hand, and she took it, shaking it gingerly. “A deal’s a deal.”

His eyes cut to mine, and I ducked my head, smiling down at my food. He was really going to help me get rid of her.
Deal's a deal
.

***

I grabbed my purse and hurried out to my car where Knox was waiting on the steps.

“You’re still here,” I groaned. 

“Has Tatum said anything about how things are going with Bryce?”

I shrugged as I opened my passenger door, tossing my purse on the seat before shoving it closed.

“Just that she loves him,” I sighed as I turned back to face him.

“She doesn’t know what love is.”

“And you do?”

“I know what it
isn’t
.  It isn’t what they have. Trust me.”

“Why are you so sure he’s no good for her? He seems to care about her, even if he does like to stare at my ass.”

He shook his head as he stood. “He has good taste, I’ll give him that.”

“Was that almost a compliment?”

“Just promise me you’ll keep an eye out. I don’t trust him.”

“You keep saying that but so far he doesn’t seem like such a bad guy. In fact, the only person around here that seems to have a problem with lying is you.”

“Because you don’t know him. And I haven’t lied to you, I just haven’t told you the entire story. Big difference.”

“Tatum knows him, and she doesn’t seem to think anything is wrong with him.”

“I’m not asking you for your opinion of him. I’m asking if you’re going to keep your word.”

“A deal’s a deal.” Slipping into the driver’s seat of my car, I waited for him to get on his bike and take off down the road before heading in the opposite direction to school.

***

Bryce was standing next to Tatum’s locker as walked down the hall.

“Hey, Tate,” I called out, and Bryce looked over his shoulder. I gasped when I saw his face. “Jesus. What the hell happened to you?”

“Practice got a little rough,” he replied casually. His eye was purple, fading out into a yellow over his swollen cheekbone. “Took a ball to the face.”

I couldn’t help the snort that escaped me. “Getting hit in the face with balls a regular occurrence for you?”

Tatum smacked my arm, but she was struggling to contain a laugh as well.

“What? It’s a legitimate question.”

“I gotta get to class,” Tatum groaned before kissing Bryce on the cheek.

Bryce and I began walking toward our classroom when Landon stopped in front of him.

“What the hell happened to you, man?” He asked as he leaned in to examine his face.
Why wouldn’t Landon know he hurt himself during practice when they’re both on the team?

“I’ll tell you about it later,” Bryce stuttered.

“I have an appointment later, but I’ll be at practice tonight.”

THIRTEEN

I groaned as the light in my bedroom snapped on, blinding me. “Time for school, Princess.”

My eyes snapped open to see a smiling Knox next to my bed. I grabbed my blanket and pulled it up over my chest.

“What the hell are you doing here?”

“I’m here to help your evil step-mother plan her ball. She gave me your gate code.”

“She is
not
and
never
will be my step-mother, I hissed, tossing off my cover and storming into my closet. I began yanking clothes from my hangers as I pulled my camisole over my head, dropping it to the floor beside me before pulling on a t-shirt with my back turned to Knox.

“So,” I turned around to face him, pulling my hair from under the collar of my shirt. “What is your plan?”

“My plan?” He asked, sinking down on the foot of my bed.

“You have to have some sort of plan to get rid of her.” I kicked at my closet door to give myself some privacy as I shimmied out of my shorts and pulled on a pair of panties and jeans.

“I figured I would charm her with my personality and good looks. If that doesn’t work, I’ll show her my cock.”

I yanked open the door, glaring at him as he tilted his head back and laughed before laying back on my bed. “I don’t want you to sleep with her. I just want her to leave.”

“So this is where the magic happens, eh, Princess?”

“It’s also the scene of the crime if you don’t get your diseased ass off my bed!”

“Fine. Fine. Hurry up, I want to go get some coffee before going out with Piper.”

“I thought that’s why you were here?”

“Nah. She wants to meet up at nine after dear old dad is off to work. I couldn’t sleep and I know misery loves company, so here I am to save you from your loneliness.”

Sliding my feet into my shoes, I gathered my hair and twisted it up into a messy bun. “What are we, friends now?”

“Partners in crime,” he quipped. “And it’s only seven in the morning so we have some time to kill.”

“You’re kidding, right? Are you a glutton for punishment?”

“I’d hate to break it to you, but you’re not nearly as scary as you think you are.”

“Neither are you.” Narrowing my eyes, I grabbed my purse from my dresser. “Let’s go. Your treat,” I called out as I walked out of my room.

***

I blew into the tiny hole on the lid of my coffee before gingerly taking a sip, trying not to burn my tongue. Knox took a long pull from his straw, slurping up his Vanilla Frappuccino.

“You’re like a five-year-old.”

“They’re good. Besides, I can’t drink coffee. Makes me hyper.”

My eyes danced over his face. The small slit on his lip had healed, but now there was a smudging of purple below his left eye. It was so faded it could almost be dismissed as a shadow, but knowing how Knox spent his free time, I knew it was a blow to the face.

“Save it,” He groaned before taking another drink.

“I wasn’t going to say anything.”

“This,” he pointed to his eye, “Is what happens when I get hyper. I need an outlet. Besides, everyone is a willing participant.” His smirk let me know otherwise.

“Still not saying anything,” I shrugged as I looked around the coffee shop. My eyes landed on a barista who looked like she could be a distant relative of Beatrice.

“How’s Bea?” I asked, and Knox’s lips twisted up into a grin.

“Why do you want to know?”

“Just curious.” I shrugged, taking another sip and groaning as I burnt myself.

“Bea’s cute, but she’s not really my type.”

“You mean you can’t just deflate her when you’re done?”

“Nice burn.” Knox let out a loud laugh before pushing his frozen drink across the table. “I’d say that burn on your tongue was instant karma.”

“I’m not drinking after you. Are you crazy?”

He rolled his eyes, using his fingertips to push it further. “Don’t be so damn stubborn. Drink.”

Picking up the cup, I took a small sip, letting the icy drink settle on my sore tongue. I wouldn’t admit it, but it was exquisite.

“Thanks,” I mumbled as I pushed it back to his side of the table.

“Look at you, using manners.”

“One of us has to act civilized.”

“I didn’t know you guys were friends,” someone called out from beside our table. Both of heads snapped up to see Bryce’s friend Landon with a look of confusion on his face.

“We’re not.” I looked to Knox for help, but he only shrugged.

“That’s rude, Princess.”

“You guys on a date or something?” Landon asked, and I had to kick Knox under the table when he laughed.

“Definitely not! I ran into Knox while getting my coffee and we were discussing-” 

“Tatum’s birthday.” Knox looked to me, and I couldn’t help but sink lower in my seat.
When was her birthday?
“I want to surprise her but I wasn’t really sure what she would want, so Riley was giving me some ideas.”

“Let me know if you want everyone to chip in for something.” The look of suspicion never left his face.

“Will do. Thanks,” Knox replied as Landon disappeared through the crowd and out the front door.

“Thanks for the help,” I scoffed as I took a small drink from my coffee.

“What the hell do you care if he thinks we’re friends?” Knox snapped, and I leaned back in my seat, surprised by his reaction.

“Because we’re not. You’ve made that
more
than clear.”

“Maybe I changed my mind.” He shrugged.

“You want him running off to tell Tatum that we’ve been hanging out behind her back and lying to her?”
Did he really think we could have a friendship after I ditch Tatum?

“Point taken.” He leaned closer as he lowered his voice. “Besides, keeping it a secret like this is kind of hot.”

“Ugh. I have to get to school and make sure Landon keeps his mouth shut. Call me later to let me know how the party planning goes.”

“Princess,” he called out as I stood from the table. “Call me if he says anything. I can arrange to have his jaw wired shut.”