Like You

by Rachel Leigh

  Today, though, I have this. I have this moment in his arms, as we share plans for the future.

  Tomorrow, I’ll face reality and remember that my future is a dark tunnel, and I don’t know what’s waiting for me at the end.

  But, it’s not Knox, and there is no white picket fence or a beautiful life, waiting for me with open arms.

  17

  Claire

  It’s been over a week since Knox and I started this crazy, beautiful thing. I don’t even know what it is, and I don’t care. All I know is that he feeds my soul and brings life back into this cold heart of mine. Day by day is all I can do right now, and each day, all I want is him.

  I’ve done my best to avoid Zeke, but it seems like every time I turn around, he is there watching—waiting for something, I just don’t know what. I think he knows something is going on with me and Knox.

  I walk outside into the night air and through the dark, empty parking lot. Parent/teacher conferences are not my cup of tea, that’s for damn sure. I can barely hold a conversation with people I know, let alone people I don’t. I pretty much told every single parent the exact same thing, your child is doing great. Even if most of it was bullshit. I just wanted to get it all over with. It’s not that I don’t care about their futures. If I were a math teacher or an English teacher and I was teaching them something that they would use, I would treat it differently. I’m not, though, I’m an art teacher. Some grasp it, some don’t. That is their choice.

  I’m reaching for the handle of the car door, when something catches my eye.

  You’ve got to be kidding me.

  I give the flat tire a swift kick, hurting my foot more than I hurt it.

  I don’t even hesitate when I pull out my phone and call Knox. This past week, he’s become that person for me. One that I can call when life throws curve balls at me. Someone I can lean on when I’ve had a bad day. To an extent, that is. I still keep the big stuff bottled up deep inside and have no intention of opening it up.

  He picks up on the third ring. “Everything ok?” he asks. I never call, we usually just text.

  “Hey, I have a flat. Are you busy?”

  “Not anymore. Where are you at?”

  “The school.”

  “On my way.”

  I open the door and pull the lever to pop open the truck, then lift the old dusty carpet that hides my spare tire. I wouldn’t even know how to try and get this thing out, so I just wait. Leaning against the back of the car with the hood open, I thumb through my phone, when headlights appear.

  That was fast.

  I walk to the front of the car and toss my phone inside, and it bounces off the front seat, falling to the floorboard.

  Only, it's not Knox’s Jeep. I squint my eyes to get a closer look and that's when I realize who it is.

  “Zeke,” I mutter under my breath.

  It’s fine. He probably just forgot something inside and noticed me here. Everything is fine. Yet, I can’t help the sick feeling that pools in the pit of my stomach.

  He pulls up next to my car and rolls his window down. “More car problems? You don't have much luck with this thing lately, do ya?”

  “It’s just a flat. No biggie.” I cross my arms over my chest, shielding myself in my own subconscious way.

  “Do you have a spare?” He begins to open the door, but I hold my hand up to stop him.

  He can’t stick around, especially since Knox is on his way.

  “Yeah, but I’ve got it. Thanks, anyways.” I start walking toward the back of the car and bend over, pretending like I know exactly what I’m doing. I give the tire a couple shakes, and it doesn’t budge. Damnit.

  When I tilt my head to look over and see if he has any plans of leaving, I see him standing there. Right next to the side of my car. Chills shiver down my spine. A loud bang of thunder ripples, and a bolt of lightning streaks the sky.

  “Let me, please. I insist.”

  I move to the side and look at the front of the parking lot and see Knox pulling in. My heart drops. Let’s just hope he plays this off as a coincidence.

  Zeke’s head jerks up quickly, and he steps to the side. “Looks like we have more help. Wonder who that could be?” His voice holds anything but wonder—it’s amplified with sarcasm.

  For a minute, I think that Knox will turn around and leave, but he doesn’t. He pulls right up next to Zeke’s car. Killing his lights and shutting his vehicle off. I take steps toward him, meeting him halfway, but he keeps walking past me.

  “I’ve got this.” Knox reaches for the tire that Zeke now has sitting against the side of the car. His outward behavior throws me off guard.

  So much for a coincidence.

  “Shouldn’t you be getting ready for bed.” Zeke rolls the tire back toward him. “You have school tomorrow.”

  “My neighbor called and needed a hand, so here I am.”

  “Oh, I see.” Zeke nods. “She never mentioned that.” His gears shift, and he looks at me.

  “Yeah, I don’t know too many people around here, and Knox has been generous enough to lend a helping hand when needed.”

  Zeke nods. “Ok, I’ll get going then.” He turns to Knox. “You sure you got this?”

  “We’re good.” He ignores Zeke’s lingering presence and walks to the trunk of the car.

  “Thanks, Zeke. See you tomorrow?”

  He saunters toward me, placing a hand on my shoulder. “You betcha.” Then he removes it and continues to his car.

  I let out a sigh of relief when he starts driving away.

  I turn around, and Knox is coming at me with a grin. “Not yet.” I shake my head. I look back and watch, as Zeke’s headlights fade into the darkness. “That was close.”

  “Too close.” Knox cups his hands under my ass and lifts me up, my legs wrapping around him. “I missed you, but you didn’t have to get a flat tire just to see me.”

  I take his face in my hands and press my lips to his, giving him a soft and subtle kiss. The way he takes my breath away, by simply being, is undeniable. “If that’s what it takes to be with you, I’d flatten all four.” I kiss him again.

  “I better get this done. That heat lightning is getting pretty intense.”

  “Alright, I’ll just stand over here and admire your skills.” I give him a wink and pull back, but he pulls me in tighter.

  “One more.” He kisses my lips. “I’d risk getting struck by lightning for this.”

  With that, he finally gets to work on my tire, and I do exactly what I said I would. I stand back and admire. He’s so gorgeous and confident in everything that he does. Knox isn’t the type of guy who shows off for attention, he gets it just by being himself. For reasons unknown to me, he likes me. I think he likes me a lot, and that both scares and excites me, at the same time.

  “Hey, Claire,” He lifts his head.

  “Yeah?”

  “You didn’t really slash your tire did you? That was all just a joke, right?”

  I let out a chuckle. “Of course, it was a joke. Why?” I lean down and watch, as he runs his finger over a weathered chunk in the tire.

  “I don’t think this was just a random flat. First of all, you would have noticed air slowly leaving. Second, this is a pretty big gouge. I may be thinking too much into this, but I think someone intentionally slit your tire.”

  My eyes widen, heart sinks, and stomach drops, all at the same time. I slap my hand over my mouth.

  “Have you pissed anyone off recently?”

  I’ve pissed a lot of people off in my life, but none who know where I am. If this were back home, I could understand. Not only did I attract the hate of people I didn’t know because of Malcolm, I also grew my own list of haters, through my acts of recklessness.

  I shake my head, unable to speak. I stand back up and bite my lip, as I think hard about it. I don’t think this was Malcolm, then again, I can’t be too sure.

  “What was Mr. Jones doing here? I never did ask.”

  “He ju
st happened to show up, I guess. He didn’t say. Do you think he’d do something like this?”

  “I mean, I know he’s sort of a womanizer, but I don’t take him to be malicious. Then again, he has been popping up at convenient times.”

  It’s true. First, my house and now this. He has been acting strangely, and I’ve been getting creeper vibes from him.

  “Do you think he knows about us?”

  “Nah, how would he?”

  “Think about it. He could have done this knowing that I’d call you. It could have all been a setup.”

  “I don’t think he’d go through all that trouble. It’s possible, though.”

  Another streak of lightening lights up the sky, followed by a thunderous boom that startles me. I all but jump in Knox’s lap. We need to hurry up.”

  He stands up. “It’s just from the heat, it's millions of miles away,” he says, trying to comfort me. He does. More than he knows.

  Knox finishes up the tire, then agrees to follow me home. The entire drive all I can do is get tangled in my own thoughts, wondering who would go out of their way to destroy my tire, and why? Who would pay all that money to have my car fixed, and why? All signs point to Malcolm, but he’s never been one to play games like this. If he knew where I was, he’d drag me out of this house and take me back to California, without even letting me pack my bags first.

  I pull up in front of the main house, really wishing that they would just make me my own driveway that leads me back to mine, but that’s not possible. Knox pulls into his driveway, and we share a glance, before we go our separate ways.

  Another eventful day in the books.

  I can’t help but fear what tomorrow will bring.

  18

  Knox

  The last week flew by uneventfully. School during the day, practice and work in the evenings, and sneaking over to Claire’s at night.

  Knowing that today is a half day of school has me feeling extra chipper this morning. I get to spend the first hour admiring the beautiful girl who is getting ready to walk up to this door that I’m leaning against. The only thing dragging me down is the fact that I have to train for two hours after class, then help mom prep for tomorrow’s rehearsal dinner. The wedding is Sunday, and damn, if my weekend isn’t packed full. After dinner tomorrow I have to head straight to the ring for my first fight. Let’s just hope my face is still intact for the wedding photos.

  “Hi Knox,” Taya says, as she walks up with her notebooks tucked tight to her chest. “I was wondering if we could talk for a minute.” She seems flustered.

  “Yeah, of course.”

  “Somewhere else?” She squeezes her books tighter.

  I see Claire walking toward us with her keys dangling in her hands. I was hoping to sneak in a minute before the classroom filled, but it looks like my plans have changed.

  “Sure. Come on.” I nod toward the end of the hallway.

  I give Claire a glance over my shoulder, as she stands at the door, watching us walk away side-by-side.

  We reach the end of the hall and go into the study lounge. “Everything okay?” I ask, taking a seat on the arm of a couch.

  “Oh yeah, everything is great. I just wanted to talk to you about prom?”

  Fuck my life. She’s about to ask me to prom.

  “Damn. I’ve been so busy that I forgot prom is coming next month.”

  “I know that we both agreed to just be friends, and I think that’s been going well for us. Don’t you?”

  “Of course. You’re a great friend.” I try to emphasize friend, hoping that she will understand that’s all we are.

  She looks back when she hears some voices outside the door and waits for them to pass. “I agree. That’s why I wanted to ask how you would feel about me and Kip going to prom together.”

  I let out a sigh of relief. Not because I would have any problem going with Taya, as friends, but because I see how Kip looks at her. He deserves some happiness and a good girl. “I think you and Kip going to prom together is perfect.”

  “You do?” She seems surprised.

  “Yeah, he’s a good guy. I’m glad you’re giving him a chance.”

  She smiles. “Thanks, Knox.”

  “Anytime.” I swing my arm over her shoulder. “We better get to class, the bell is about to ring.”

  Just as we hit the hallways, the bell sounds.

  Damnit, I hate being late. Especially for this class.

  I pull open the door, while Taya continues to her class. I walk in, and all eyes are on me. I maneuver through the chairs, until I get to my seat at the back table.

  “Knox, I’m going to need to speak to you after class,” Claire says, with a scowl on her face. One she pulls off pretty well, but I can see the hidden smile behind it.

  I bite the corner of my lip and look down, opening my sketchbook.

  I need to be late more often.

  Class drags on for what feels like hours, but it’s only one. This has got to be the most boring class I’ve ever taken. Claire is many things, but a teacher who engages with her students is not one of them. There is the occasional project, one of which we start next week, but the majority of our days are spent drawing a random object that she sets on a stand. I’m not complaining much; I could sit and watch her for an entire day while doing nothing. Her cute expressions that she doesn’t even realize she’s making. The ones she makes when she’s concentrating are my favorite. Her eyebrows weighed down, and her nose scrunched up. Watching her right now, as she sits at her desk, all I can focus on is every inch of her body that I want to explore.

  My dick hardens just thinking about it. I adjust my shorts, and her eyes catch mine. She flashes me a brief smile, then returns to whatever she’s working on up there.

  “What the hell was that?” Axel whispers, as he nudges his shoulder into mine.

  “What?” I look from Claire to him.

  Axel and I haven’t said much to each other, since the night in the parking lot when I got all defensive on his ass. We’ve continued our training and workouts, but he hasn’t brought it up, so I haven’t either. That’s sort of the way it works with us. We piss each other off and move on. It’s not the first time and won’t be the last.

  “Dude,” he cracks, “no, hell no.” He slaps his hand on the table. Not loud enough to grab the attention of the entire classroom, but forceful enough, to have everyone in our row looking in our direction.

  I ignore him completely. If I feed into it, he will make a scene. Then again, this is Axel, he will make a scene regardless.

  The bell rings, and as much as I want to grab my stuff and get the hell out of dodge and away from whatever he’s got brewing, I’ve got teacher’s orders to stick around.

  Everyone leaves, and I’m hoping that he follows suit, but he doesn’t even budge.

  “Out with it. What’s going on with you two?”

  Claire looks up from her desk, watching and listening.

  “We’ll talk about this later. Let it go for now,” I mumble under my breath.

  “Oh, that’s right, because the teacher asked you to stay after class.” His voice is loaded with a mixture of sarcasm and agitation.

  I want to say boo-fucking-hoo, for once, Axel Thorn isn’t getting what he wants. I’d probably enjoy it a little too much. But, I won’t. I don’t even plan to tell him anything.

  He snatches up his book and storms out of the classroom. Fueled with anger. Not because of what I’m doing, but because of what he won’t be doing. If the boy would have heard the word ‘no’ a few more times growing up, then he wouldn’t act so entitled. This time, he loses.

  I slouch down in my seat, once the door slams shut.

  “So, Ms. Hyland, am I in trouble?”

  “I don’t know.” She pushes her chair back and stands—her arms crossed over her white blouse. One that I wish she’d wear a t-shirt under because I can see her bra line, and I’m sure every guy in this class was gawking at her. “What was that all about?”
/>
  “Axel being Axel. Just ignore his antics. Now get over here before I come over there, and everyone on the other side of that door sees us.”

  “Who was that girl you were talking to earlier? The one who made you late.” Her head tilts downward, while holding tight to my gaze. Her feet planted firmly in place, she taps the toe of her shoe to the floor.

  “Oh,” I hum, “that’s what’s wrong.” I push my chair back and move toward her.

  She looks down at the ground, avoiding eye contact.

  I’ve got ten seconds before students start coming in here for her next class. I grab her by the waist and pull her out of view of the glass panel on the closed door.

  “There is no other girl for me. It’s just you.” I take her face in the palm of my hands and look deep into her eyes.

  “What did she want?” She tries to resist eye contact, but I don’t let her.

  I’d lie if I said I didn’t like this. Her jealousy shows me so much more than just that.

  “Just to talk about prom. It was nothing.”

  “You’re going to prom with her?” Her mouth drops open.

  Before I can even finish explaining, the door swings open, and we break away quickly.

  “Let me know if you have any other questions,” she says, trying to make light of the situation.

  Damnit.

  I don’t like leaving her like this, but I have no choice—so I go.

  When the final bell rings, I’m hauling ass to her classroom, in hopes of catching her before she leaves. My feet eat up every inch of the floor in quick strides, pushing my way past the crowd of students, who are all beaming for the weekend ahead. Many of who I’ll be seeing tomorrow night at the fights.

  I’ve got twenty minutes before Axel begins snapping the whip to get me in the cage to train. That is, unless he spends the entire session wallowing in self-pity at whatever he thinks he knows.

  When I round the corner, I can see that her door is still open. I breathe a sigh of relief, but, just as I inch closer, she walks out, pulling it shut behind her and sticking her key in to lock it up for the weekend.