Chapter 83

I woke up, unsure of the time. He was still there, asleep beside me. He must have been exhausted too. I felt his even breath on my cheek and looked up to see his eyes closed.

We slept. I slept. Without any nightmares. I smiled to myself, watching him sleep.

As if he sensed my gaze, he opened his eyes, those blue orbs staring back at me. He smiled at me and gently rubbed his thumb across my cheek.

“You sleep alright?” he asked. I nodded, pulling the covers up to hide my face.

“Me too,” he said softly. We lay there for a few moments, gazing at each other. His arm pulled my waist closer to him. I rested my palms on his chest, feeling his heart beating rapidly.

He just woke up? Why was his heart beating so fast?

“Your heart... it’s beating so fast. Are you sick?” I checked his forehead for a fever with the back of my hand. He didn’t have one. He shook his head, assuring me he was fine.

“Okay,” I blurted out.

“What time is it?” I reached over to grab my phone from the dresser, but he pulled me back to him.

“I don’t know and I don’t care,” he whispered, just loud enough for me to hear. He stopped me from checking the time.

“I do, I need to start getting ready for tonight,” I said, rolling my eyes.

“Don’t go out. Stay in.”

“Why? I told them I was going, I can’t bail now, Knox.”

“Please, I don’t want you to go. Stay here.”

“No, Knox. I told them I was going so I’m going. End of. You’ve got a girlfriend to keep you company,” I said, feeling a wave of passive-aggression at the mention of her.

“She’s not my girlfriend, Alex! I don’t have one. I’ve never had one. Just don’t go, please? Or let me come with you?”

“You obviously don’t know the meaning of a girls’ night out then... she is your damn girlfriend, Knox!” I gritted my teeth. He was testing my patience.

“She’s not! I’ve never asked her to be my girlfriend and I don’t plan to either. Drop the girl part and it’s just a regular night out, I’ll get the guys on board too—”

“No! I need a girls’ night out with my best friends and my sister. No boys! I don’t need guys around me—”

“Alex, dammit, please don’t go. I don’t want guys all over you... at least if I come I can get them to leave you alone—”

“That’s not up to you!” I heard a tap on my door and my sister’s voice filtered through the wooden barrier. We both froze at the sound of her voice.

“I need to be away from you guys and be with my girls! Please,” I pleaded, squeezing his shoulders and staring into his eyes.

“I think you should go, Knox. I need to get ready...” I sighed, staring into his eyes as he cupped the side of my face. His gaze cut through me, making my breathing irregular.

“I’m sorry, baby doll. I’ll fix this. All of this,” he said, sliding out of my bed. I watched him leave, Sam standing there like a deer caught in headlights as he walked to his room.

She didn’t say anything. She came into my room with clothes and sat on my bed, quietly sorting through them. I knew she wanted to ask. But I didn’t want to talk about it.

Four hours and multiple outfit changes later, we were all crammed into my room, getting ready for the night. I had started drinking a while ago because all I had left to do was get dressed.

Andy had done my hair and makeup for me. I sat on my bed, fully ready, waiting for Andy and Hannah to gather their things. The rest of the girls were downstairs, already starting the party.

I was pretty sure the guys were in the kitchen, having a guys’ night in, playing poker and whatnot.

“Okay, I’m ready! Let’s go and start drinking! Well, not you, Al!” Andy winked at me, her tight purple dress and black heels accentuating her figure. Hannah wore the blue dress I had worn on New Year’s Eve. It fit her like a glove.

I was wearing a white crop top with lace underneath, paired with a bright orange skirt and beige stilettos that I knew I was going to regret wearing.

The three of us descended the stairs into the kitchen, joining the rest of the girls. The music was blasting, filled with the girliest songs I could think of. I couldn’t help but roll my eyes.

As soon as we entered, the room went quiet, and I heard a “Damn” from some of the guys. We looked over to see them gawking at us.

“Babe, I’m not sure I want you going to a club full of guys in that tight, sexy dress...” Kyle’s words hang in the air, but at least he’s not demanding I change. I lean on one leg, jutting out a hip and crossing my arms.

“I don’t dictate your wardrobe... babe...” Andy’s tone is far from amused, so I steer her towards the drinks near the counter.

As I approach the cabinet to fetch fresh glasses, I find Knox there, popping open beer bottles. He’s clad in a white shirt and black jeans that hug his ass perfectly. Damn.

I sidle up next to him and he glances at me, then back to the bottles. He freezes, then swivels his head back to me, eyes wide, and starts to really look at me.

I watch as he clenches his jaw, muttering a curse under his breath. He leans in to whisper, urging me to act natural.

“You’re not wearing that to a club, Alex....” he insists, struggling not to let his gaze linger. I can’t help but smile, so I take a sip from one of the glasses I’m filling.

Balancing the glasses in my hands, I retort, “I can wear what I want.” As I walk away from him towards the counter, I catch my brother’s friends ogling me.

Sipping on a Jack and Coke—I finished off the whiskey last night—I feel a hand settle on my back.

“Damn, Alex, you sure know how to tease a guy just by making an entrance,” James flirts. I turn to face him, drink in hand, while his hand remains on my hip and his eyes roam my body.

His blonde hair is longer than usual, a bit messy, and he’s wearing a black fitted top and denim jeans. He actually looks good.

“What can I say? It’s a gift,” I joke back.

“Are you ladies sure you want a girls’ night out?” He addresses the group, but his eyes never leave me. “We could always keep you company, or you could stay here and we could play strip poker....”

His words are playful, but I know he’s really asking me.

“No, James! We’re going out to get white girl wasted, dance on tables, get hot guys to buy us drinks—” Andy starts listing off our plans, but he interrupts her.

“You have a hot guy right here who can make you drinks,” he grins at me, his grip on my waist tightening.

“Nice try, but no! We’re going out without you guys!” Andy pulls me from his grasp and drapes an arm over my shoulder.

“You are not getting any guy to buy you drinks, missy!” Kyle shoots a stern look at his girlfriend.

“Alright, ladies! The goal of the night is to get Alex a guy! And let’s get her laid!” Sam claps her hands, drawing everyone’s attention. I choke on my drink as she announces this like I’m desperate.

“The fuck she is!” My three brothers rise to their feet, glaring at Sam.

I roll my eyes and James leans in to whisper, “You could stay here and get both...”

I down the rest of my drink and pour another, this time straight Jack. I down that one too. I can feel eyes on me and meet his gaze. He’s sipping from the end of his beer bottle, watching me.

I’m caught in his stare, then glance to the left to see Wes doing the same. Wes is smirking.

“Cabs here!” Sam imitates the Jersey Shore accent as best she can. We fill up water bottles with drinks and head outside, the boys trailing behind us.

I don’t look back, but I can feel their stares boring into the back of my head.

I slide into the cab and glance out the window to see James biting his lip as he watches me. Knox and Wes stand behind my brothers, their gazes just as intense.

As the rest of the girls pile into the car, we head towards the club.