Taking Chances (Blackrock Book 2) (40 page)

“I
do actually I must go see the fur ball” we lay together in bed
for a while staring at the ceiling “Do you want to hit the
beach today?

We
can stay at my dad’s place” I nod running my fingers
lazily up and down his arm “Will Paige be fit to travel?”
I feel him shrug but he doesn’t answer.

“Are
you guys doing ok?” I ask noting how they have grown distant
with each other, “I don’t know, she told me in the
hospital that she loved me but a few weeks ago she said she didn’t.

I
am fine with it for now maybe one day I will have what you and Knox
have” turning around I rest my arm across his chest looking
into his eyes “You’re a good guy Max I hope you find
someone who loves you back” he smirks at me then kisses my head
“yeah one day I will.”

He
tickles my ribs making me scream and the pounding in my head echo’s
splintering my brain with shards of pain.

“Owe
stop you mean brother,” I laugh while he climbs on top of me
his fingers digging into my ribs over and over.

Finally
he stops and flops down beside me “Now lets go swimming”
we climb out of bed in search of food and coffee, Max surprises me by
making pancakes.

“You’re
a liar Max Porter” I point my fork at him “Me?” he
grins shoving half a pancake into his mouth.

“Yes
you know how to cook yet you let Knox do it” he holds up his
hands in surrender “no I know how to make pancakes” he
corrects but I don’t believe him for a second.

About
an hour later we are in Paige’s apartment cajoling her out of
bed “C’mon Paige up you get we are getting some serious
sun today,” I say pulling her comforter off revealing a fully
clothed Paige in last nights clothes.

Walking
into her closet I find her a swimsuit tossing it at her “five
minutes” I warn leaving the room. I walk into the kitchen
finding Max making a strong coffee to go. Paige follows me a few
minutes later scowling “Not a morning person?”

I
tease smiling at her.

“No” she huffs taking
the coffee from Max “So where did you sleep?” she asks
him sounding a little annoyed.

“Over in Knox’s”
he smiles at her ruffling her already messy locks batting his hand
away she shakes her head.

“So you couldn’t have
come back here?

You
know walk the whole hundred feet across the sidewalk?” Max
frowns at her resting his hands on his hips.

“I was talking to my
brother for most of the night.”

I
feel like I should slink out of the room like a cat burglar, and not
be privy to this little episode, but Max is blocking the doorway and
so I do the next best thing,

Slide
down the chair, to make myself invisible while they go at each other.

Paige
calling Max a liar as to his whereabouts and him accusing her of over
reacting as usual, good grief I want the building to rattle in true
California fashion and swallow me up in its depths.

“Fine
stay here!” Max shouts and I snap back to attention I look
between them for some clue as to what just happened but Paige glares
at me.

“Some
friend Bailey” leaving the room she slams her bedroom door
“Let’s go” Max says grabbing his keys from the
table.

We sit in the truck in silence as
we zoom down the freeway towards Marion he parks in the driveway of
his dad’s house and we climb out.

I follow him through the house
and out onto the back patio taking a seat as he walks back inside,
this is going to be one hell of a day.

On
his way out he smiles at me “Sorry about that” he says
shrugging his shoulders taking a seat opposite me at the table

“What’s
going on with you guys?” because clearly I am so out of the
loop, “She just gets jealous sometimes” I am stunned to
hear this and I really can’t comprehend why Paige would be
jealous.

“Why
what is she jealous of?” Max smirks at me, “Us” now
I really don’t get it.

“What
do you mean us? There is no us” I shake my head looking at him.

“I know that I mean the
fact that we are close and get along like brother and sister,”
he says looking out at the ocean.

“I’m
sorry Max I don’t know what to say” he waves me off.

“Forget it lets go
swimming” jumping up he walks into the house as I pull off my
top and shorts, swimsuit ready.

Max
returns a few minutes later in grey swim trunks and a surf- board
“What the heck is that?”

I ask pointing a humongous piece
of fiberglass secured under his arm “We’re surfing”
he smiles so much like his brother it sends an ache deep into my
being.

We run into the ocean gasping
from its cool temperature “Holy shit” I yell as the icy
waves slosh over me again Max grabs my arm puling me out further
“Hope on” he nods to the surf board “No way”
I shake my head violently causing a minor brain rattle.

Rolling
his eyes he pulls me over pushing me by the shoulders so I am lying
on the board and my ass is in the air, he pushes said ass onto the
board of death and grins

“I
am so telling my boyfriend you felt me up,” I laugh at him as
he pulls the board out further into the ocean until I can only see
his head.

“Ready?”
he calls as panic, and fear grip me.

“Hell
no”

I
squeeze my hands on the side of the board as he pushes me towards the
shore my petrified heart beating in an erratic song against my ribs.

“Lay
down” I hear from behind so I do with all my life I lay flat as
the waves slowly roll me to shore, to safety. As soon as my feet hit
the sand I stand feeling a little exhilarated after that whole
excursion Max walks up to me “see fun” taking up the
board I smile.

“Yeah
when I hit the beach it was fun” I decline another go and watch
as he runs back out into the surf to ride the crest of the waves.

I
am enjoying laying here under the hot sun relaxing watching Max ride
the waves like a true pro, he runs out of the water shaking his hair
over me landing cool drops of water on my belly.

“Hey where did you learn to
surf?” I ask laughing at his childish antics. His face turns
sad for a beat.

“I had a girlfriend who
thought me” I nod remembering the story Knox told me about
Lindsey and Sarah.

“Sorry
I didn’t mean to be a downer” I apologize to him, “Na
its cool old news” he stretches out beside me resting his head
on his arms.

“It’s
weird without Knox,” he says looking over at me “Yeah”
I agree.

Max stares off in the distance
for a while looking a little lost,

“You
have never been apart like this?” I ask turning onto my belly
so the sun can scorch my back.

“Nope first time, it’s
always been the two of us y’know” nodding I smile at him.

“Did
you guys have a good chat last night?” his face lights up with
a smile that reaches his eyes and I can tell he really loves his
brother and it kind of makes me feel a little like an evil villain
coming in to ruin their relationship.

“Yeah
we did he was laughing at you guys playing in the music room I think
part of him regrets going over” he smiles at me. “I know
he misses you it’s killing him being away from you.”

“Yeah I miss him too it’s
weird being in the apartment alone I keep thinking he will walk
through the door,

Maybe
I should go back to my dads for the summer.”

Max
balks at me “no way sis I said I would hang out with you and
besides how else will I get to work at your dads?”

I smack his arm playfully “you
could walk you know its only ten minutes” the look of horror on
his face makes me laugh at him you’d think I just asked him to
chop off a particular body part.

We
stay on the beach for about two more hours before finally giving in
to rumbling bellies I volunteer to make a grilled cheese sandwich for
us while Max showers for work. After lunch making my way up the
stairs for the second time ever I use the shower quickly and retreat
to Knox’s former bedroom, it looks the same as the last time I
was here raiding the closet and packing up his things while we could.

After
I dress I look at the photographs he left behind that day seeing some
of him in high school with a few different girls around, he looks so
different now more rugged, more handsome if that is at all possible.
Running my fingertips over his face I turn to leave, my eye catching
a photo shoved behind another so I pull it out and cringe. Staring
back at me is my boyfriend sitting on a rock with non other than
Lindsey between his legs both smiling for the camera. I know they
were happy once but just seeing it with my own two eyes gouges a deep
cut into my heart. Replacing the photo I leave the room and go back
down to Max “ready?” I ask entering the kitchen “Yup”
he nods grabbing his keys.

We
drive back in silence listening to his iPod beat out some classic
Michael Jackson tunes, once Max pulls into the apartment lot he sighs
as his eyes glance up to Paige’s apartment.

“Hey if you need a place to
crash, you can stay in the apartment I will go to my dad’s”
I smile offering him a refuge from the storm that is sure to hit as
soon as he enters Paige’s.

“Thanks
I’ll let you know” leaving Max I collect the mail and
walk up stairs, mostly junk and a few bills for Knox so I dump them
on the kitchen counter. Pulling out my laptop I get to work studying
for my finals which start on Monday. After a few hours my eyes burn
from the glare of the computer so I quit, checking the time its after
ten too late to call my dad he is probably already asleep. Grabbing
the iPad I call Knox with giddy excitement waiting for him to answer,
but he doesn’t so I try again and again finally giving up by
ten fifteen and crawling into bed.

I
am tired but restless at the same time reaching into the drawer on my
nightstand I pull out the letter from the freezer and gently open it.

Hi
Beautiful,

I
don’t know what day it is or how long I am gone but I am glad
you took me out of the freezer!! I was freezing my nuts off. If you
did your exams I hope you passed darlin but if not, then good luck. I
know, even though I am writing this now that I miss you too much for
words, the ache in my chest will only stop when I return to your arms
and hold you tight again. If I know myself and I am pretty sure I do,
it’s taking a hell of a lot for me to not be home already,
kissing your beautiful mouth and wrapping your long legs around my
waist.

You
know if I ever suggest doing this again, kick me hard! And tell me no
because I am a fool for leaving you and I know I am but hopefully
this will help my future, our future. So before I go I will kiss you,
my lips are on yours tasting that sweet caramel sticky shit you use
lol but I love it darlin, it’s you and you taste amazing. I am
looking forward to the real thing soon,

Good
night darlin, love you Knox.

*****

The
hour’s turn into days, which turn into weeks, four to be exact
August is upon us with a heat to rival the hot desert planes of the
Sarah. Standing in my dad’s office I watch the people walk
around the city in shorts and t-shirts gulping down very large, very
cold drinks, even in here I can feel the heat bleed through the glass
warming my face. “Morning sweetheart you’re in early.”

Turning
I smile at my dad as he walks across the plush carpet of his office,
the only reason I am here early was to get dressed in the bathroom
there was no way I was wearing a suit while driving.

“Yeah
I was waiting for you what are we doing today?” I ask watching
him turn on his computer. I have been interning at Mortenson
Engineering for the last four weeks in the IT department, now it’s
time for my four weeks of trailing dad and learning the ropes. He
stands beside me grinning from ear to ear.

“What’s
up dad you look like the cat that got the canary?”

He
wiggles his eyebrows at me wrapping his arm around my shoulders “I’m
happy that you are here with me,” I can’t help but smile
back at him.

“Me
too dad” because I really am happy to be here spending time
with him even though my internship requires three days I spend
everyday here.

“Now”
he says rubbing his hands together “let’s get a coffee
and I will show you your surprise.”

We
leave his office taking the elevator to the second floor where the
employee café sits behind a double door it is not the typical
employee lounge of ugly linoleum floors and cafeteria food. No my dad
went all out and made it feel like a bistro café type of place
with terracotta tiled floor and comfy chairs spread throughout with
round wooden tables that invite employees to sit and chat rather than
ignore one another.

We
grab two coffees and take a seat by the window. “So what will I
be doing with you?” I ask.

“You
will be learning how I run this place more of the business side than
the engineering but I will have you learn a bit about that too.”

I
nod sipping my coffee wondering just what on earth he has in store
for me. “Ok lets go” he smiles bringing his cup with him.

“Dad you seem giddy,”
I say pressing the button for the elevator.

“Do I?” sipping his
coffee he steps inside pressing the fifth floor, we travel up in a
flash and exit to his not so lovely assistant sitting at her desk
ready for her work day. I don’t even say hello to her anymore I
gave up because she never answered or smiled when I did in the past,
I walk towards my dad’s office but he grabs my elbow pulling me
forward.

“I
know it’s not much but this is your surprise” we round
the corner and come to a stop in front of a door with a piece of
paper tapped to it.

“Ok
dad thanks now lets get back to work” I roll my eyes at him
then he pulls off the paper revealing a small plaque with my name
inscribed on it.