Taking Chances (Blackrock Book 2) (24 page)

“Can I use your phone?”
I ask the waitress who points to a dinosaur pay phone in between the
glass doors. “I don’t have any money but if I could use
your phone I can get it to you.”

She
places her overworked hands on her hips and glares at us. “No
money, then I call the cops.”

Paige
squeaks in distress as I think of all the ways I am going to hurt
Knox. Paige starts arguing with the waitress about using the phone
and promising she would get the money to her, but this lady is not
budging. We are standing there for about fifteen minutes stranded,
purse-less and seriously pissed off when Max strolls back in paying
the bill and walking out without a word. Paige and I run after him. I
grab his t-shirt and am about two seconds from punching his face when
Knox grabs me laughing his ass off.

“Darlin’,
chill. You should have seen your faces.”

“What?
Get off, you ass.” Struggling only makes him hold tighter.

“Calm
down, killer. It was a joke. The waitress was in on it; we heard the
whole thing.” He laughs again so I stop struggling and he makes
the mistake of letting me go. Turning, I punch him in the gut as hard
as possible causing an, ‘ooff’ to slip out of his mouth.
Smiling and satisfied that I got my own back, I march to the truck
and climb inside beside Paige who is ignoring Max.

I
put my headphones back on and Paige reads a book as Knox pulls back
onto the road. I can hear him groaning about the next three hours
being fun, so I kick the back of his seat as a warning. Paige and I
glance at each other and try not to laugh as we pretend to be pissed
off. We text back and forth for a while making fun of them. Kicking
off my sandals, I rest my feet in the center console and Knox
immediately rubs my legs. Still pretending to be mad, I kick him off
earning a headshake and a groan. Sliding over to Paige, I take off my
headphones and we both hide behind a magazine giggling. Knox tickles
my feet so I bite my lip trying not to laugh but he keeps doing it
while Max reaches behind to squeeze Paige in that spot just above the
knee that makes you jump. Finally we give and talk to them. It’s
been an hour of silence already and I am missing the fun too.

We
mess around listening to music and dancing in our seats; all of us
sing, even Paige. After a while we got bored and decide to play eye
spy, which was going good for a while until Knox and Max kept eye
spying female body parts, so we stop that game. Looking out of the
window the scenery starts looking way too familiar and my muscles
tense up.

“Only
about twenty minutes to go,” I announce, still looking out of
the window. The closer we get the more my heart speeds up. I am not
sure if its excitement or anxiety but either way, it won’t slow
down and I feel my chest tighten. Rolling down the window, I take big
deep gulps of air and close my eyes until it passes.

“Which
way, darlin’?”

Opening
my eyes I see downtown and my throat constricts. “Straight,”
I squeak out. Knox eyes me in the mirror, frowning as Paige claps
with giddiness. “Make a left on Magnolia then a right
Beachwood,” I say as we pass through. Looking at the stores and
Café rouge on my left brings back so many memories it hurts.
Watching where Knox is going. “Right on Ashbrook and it’s
the white house on the right, third one up.”

Knox
pulls up to the gate, which is closed so I hop out punching in the
code and wave him on as I walk up the drive. I am sure my mom closed
the gate on purpose considering it’s been years since it was
closed and I figured it was stuck in the open position. Reaching them
Knox hugs me. Taking his hand, I lead them up the steps. I click the
lock and frown as I pull out my keys and unlock it and then silence
the alarm.

Max
whistles as he looks around. “Damn didn’t know you were
loaded”

Shaking
my head, I hit his arm. “I’m not; my grandparents owned
it first.” Walking into the kitchen, I find a note on the
table. “Just like always,” I mumble, reading it; my
mother has gone to one of her meetings and will be back for dinner
and I should make myself at home. What the heck does that mean?

“Who
wants food, coffee?” They all shake their heads as they stand
looking at me. “Okay, I’ll show you the place and we can
figure out what to do then.”

Walking
back to the hallway I show Max and Paige the guest room they will
stay in and we head upstairs to my room, which I am surprised is
still the same only emptier.

There
are still some of my things here that I didn’t or couldn’t
bring with me, namely the huge montage of photos on the wall. Every
one of them has Summer and I, and a few with Roger and Brad.

“Nice
pics.” Paige smiles looking at them.

“Thanks.”
Dropping my case on the floor, I open the windows to let some air in.

“Okay
come on, tours not finished.” Walking through I show them the
games room, the sitting room and skim by the office out to the back
garden.

“What!”
Paige looks at me.

“It’s
a pool Paige, relax.” I laugh, patting her shoulder,

“Why
the heck would you leave here?” She shakes her head walking to
the pool to dip her foot.

Knox
wraps his arm around my waist kissing me. “You doing okay?”

“Yeah,
I’m glad you’re here though.”

We
sit out by the pool for a while until the side gate creeks. Turning I
see Cara and Jen run over. “OMG! Bailey, I missed you”
Jen wraps herself around me.

“Wow! Look who got taller.”
Hugging her back I smile down at my fourteen, year old cousin.

“Hey
you guys came too. Sweet!” Cara waves at the others.

“Bailey, which one is your
boyfriend?” Jen whispers, still clinging to my waist.

“The
one in the black t-shirt.”

She
frowns. “They both have black t-shirts”

Laughing,
I bring her over. “Knox, this is my little cousin Jen. Jen,
this is my boyfriend Knox.”

He
smiles at her. “Hi Jen.” Then I introduce Max and Paige.
Poor Jen is confused between the two so she stays silent.

“So
Bails, tomorrow night at my house, party of the year and you guys are
coming so don’t even argue,” Cara informs me.

“All
depends on who’s going.” I shrug, drinking my soda.

“No cuz, you are coming.
It’s only the usual except for one or two.”

Giving
her a pointed look, she rolls her eyes. “Okay no Milers, no
Brad and no Quinn.”

Then
I smile. “Fine, done.” We shake hands. “Oh does mom
know you’re here?”

“Probably
why?”

Jen
glances between Cara and I then shrugs. “No reason.”

After
an hour they leave and the four of us walk into downtown to get
lunch. We decide on burgers and walk into Rosie’s famous
burgers. Taking a seat I see a few people staring at me but ignore
them.

“Why
are those bi-atches staring?” Paige asks noticing too.

“They are assholes. Ignore
them.” We order our food and milkshakes. Knox kisses me about
fifty times in ten minutes. “What’s with all the kisses?”

“Because
I can and I want to.” Makes sense to me so I smile at him.

“Well
if it isn’t my favorite trouble maker.” Turning slowly, I
see a cop standing behind me wearing sunglasses and a smile. I have
never been arrested so I am a little freaked out in case someone set
this up as a joke, or maybe he is a stripper. I wouldn’t put it
past Cara to do something crazy like I would have done.

“You
don’t remember me?” he asks, as I shake my head no.

Then
I glance down his body finding his nameplate, which reads ‘Harrison’.
Wracking my brain, I think of whom I know that is Harrison then it
hits me.

“Jason?”
I am shocked as he nods. “Holy crap, look at you.”
Standing I give him a hug. “I thought you got a scholarship for
UCLA.”

Taking
off his glasses, he smiles. “I did but I didn’t want to
play anymore, not even for UCLA.”

I
am seriously shocked because all he and Brad talked about was playing
for UCLA but Brad got rejected.

“Anyway,
it was nice seeing you again. I need to get back to work, but I’ll
see you tomorrow at the party.” I wave as he leaves smiling.

“Friend
of yours?” Knox asks.

“Yeah,
well Brad’s first but Jason was the one who stopped me getting
expelled when I attacked Emily in the cafeteria.”

Max
chokes on his drink. “See, I knew you did start fights.”

I
throw a fry at him. “No, one fight after Summer found..”
I trail off because I don’t want to talk or think about that
day when we found Emily’s video of Summer and Ben. Knox rubs my
back and glances over my shoulder.

“Incoming.”
He nods as the group of girls approaches our table,

“Hi
Bailey, nice to see you home.” Turning I look at them noticing
they still all dress the same, only color varies and I am instantly
plunged back into high school facing off with the ‘it clique’.
I shrug at her, Kate, and tell her I don’t really give two
hoots if she thinks it’s nice to see me or not.

“Well
I guess I’ll see you tomorrow at the party,” she
ventures.

“What
party?” I ask making sure it’s Cara’s, but of
course it is.

“Cara’s.
She told me there was a surprise guest but I guess I just found out
who.” She smiles a very insincere smile then waves as she
flicks her hair over her shoulder.

Sighing
I let my shoulders slump and fall against Knox.

“What
was that about?” Paige asks, eyebrow raised.

I
shake my head at her. “She is Emily’s number two minion.”

Knox
kisses my head, giving me a squeeze. When we leave Rosie’s, we
walk down the street stopping at Café Rouge.

“Ooh
coffee.” Paige smiles as the smell from the café hits us
on the street. “Who wants one?” she asks as I notice the
addition of a few small tables outside with umbrella’s
providing shade from the California sun. We all nod in agreement as
Max snags a table and stretches his legs out onto the sidewalk. My
gaze automatically drifts up the hill and I can feel the prick of
tears in the back of my eyes.

“You
okay, darlin’?”

Coughing
to clear my throat I answer, “Yes,” and try to compose
myself enough to enjoy the coffee.

Paige
keeps asking me questions about growing up here and school and of
course, my best friend Summer. I try to tell her as much as I can
without breaking down, but the more she inquires the harder it is to
breath and stay calm. I can feel a panic attack coming my hands start
to shake and my chest tightens.

“I’ll
be a minute,” I say and abruptly stand, making the metal chair
scrape along the pavement as I speed walk up the hill. I only stop
when I reach the small pedestrian gate to the cemetery. Resting my
forehead against the rough stone of the wall, I take deep breaths and
close my eyes as I try to get calm.

“Hey Bailey, I’m
sorry.” Startled I turn to see Paige beside me while Knox and
Max hang back.

“No, I’m sorry. I
just couldn’t breathe. I needed to get away.” She rubs my
back, looking at me with sympathy in her eyes. “I feel like a
tool, Paige. I don’t know why I can’t even talk about her
sometimes.” Leaning my back against the wall, I slide down to
the ground.

“I
won’t pretend to know what it’s like because I don’t,
but you guys had a close connection so I guess it’s going to
take more time to heal.”

I
look over at Knox and Max, both watching to see what I will do as
they drink their coffee. “Those two must think I am psychotic.”

She
laughs at me. “Eh, we all do but we love you anyway.”

I
can’t help but smile as I rest my head back against the wall.
Knox and Max walk over to us and Knox reaches down to pull me up.
“Sorry,” I tell them and they both shrug.

“We
know what it’s like,” Max answers and I nod, appreciating
the support from both of them.

“Well,
we are here now so let’s go pay her a visit.” Knox winks
pushing open the gate walking through. I take them to her grave-site;
the location imprinted on my brain. When we arrive I notice it’s
kind of messy so I begin to pull weeds and throw them into a pile on
the little walkway. Knox kneels down beside me.

“Hey, I’ve seen that
picture.” He nods to her picture on the headstone and I smile.

“Yeah
I’m on this side.” I run my fingers over it, smiling.

I
only stay for a few minutes. Needing a more private time with her, I
decide I will come back tomorrow morning.

“Okay, let’s go. I’ll
clean this tomorrow and bring some flowers.”

Making
our way back down the hill, Knox grabs my hand and pushes me away
only to pull me back until we bounce off each other, making me laugh
as he keeps doing it. Reaching the café I wave to Meg, the
waitress, who is wiping down the outside table.

“Hey
Bailey.” She waves, running over to hug me.

“Hi
Meg, how are you?” Nodding, she tells me she is good and I
introduce my friends to her. I chat for a few minutes and wave
goodbye smiling. Only for it to be wiped away when I see a black
Mercedes stop at the curb. “Excuse me,” I say, walking
over as the passenger window rolls down.

“Hi
mom. Nice of you to be home when I arrived,” I say the minute
my head can fit in the window.

“Hello
sweetheart. What are you doing?” she asks and I shrug.

“Not
much just giving a tour of Grove.” I nod behind me at my three
amigos.

“Oh
yes, sweetheart. I forgot you brought friends. Would you like to go
out for dinner tonight?” she asks, smiling her false plastic
smile at me.

“No
mom, I think we will barbeque if you want to join us.”

She
nods. “Okay, I’ll go to the store and pick up a few
things, Anything in particular?”

Holding
up a finger, I move out of the car and turn. “Hey, you guys
want anything special for a barbeque tonight? Oh babe, you’re
grilling.” I smile at him as they all shake their heads no.
“Okay mom, just grab some jack, coke, vodka and beer oh and
food.” I smile as she shakes her head in disapproval at the
alcohol. “Okay.” I slap the car door and wave as she
pulls out onto the street. “That will teach her,” I laugh
as I walk back over to Knox to continue our childish game of him
pushing and pulling me up and down the street.