The next morning I went to met Knox by myself. I didn't want to tell Leah in case it didn't work out. Plus I wasn't so sure how happy she'd be if I woke her up early again today for this. Sunday's were her sleeping in days. I've learned years ago to never bother Leah when she's sleeping.
So despite the freezing temperatures outside I trekked from my apartment to The Busy Bean yet again. I was a regular here since it was so close to my place but this past week I've been here way too much. I think the waitress's were starting to wonder what I was really doing there; especially with different guys each time.Having gotten no sleep last night I was in desperate need of some coffee. For some reason I couldn't get my mind to shut off. I thought about work and the huge promotion which just stressed me out. Then I thought about today and Knox which made my stress levels go even higher. It was literally just one thing after another last night.
Walking through the door of the cafe I gazed around the room to see if Knox was somehow here first, even though we weren't suppose to meet up for another ten minutes. But to my surprise I found him sitting in a booth near the back window.
Today he had a black beanie on and even from here it made him even more handsome. The dude was too attractive for his own good.
Not sure if he'd seen me yet I quickly went and ordered a coffee before weaving in-between tables to get to him. As I headed for the table I noticed almost all the women in the place were trying to secretly check him out and of course he seemed oblivious; looking down at his phone the entire time. I couldn't help but smirk."Hi." I spoke as plopped myself in the chair across from him. Knox merely glanced up at me before looking back at his phone. Okayyy. "You're here early." He just made a 'hm' noise.
I hated silence. Ever since I was a kid I couldn't handle silence at the dinner table or if I was alone with someone. So I always had to be speaking or it made it awkward. As the silence enveloped around us I found my hands fidgeting in my lap.
Speak damn it! I silently urged Knox but he continued on sitting there typing away at his phone. When the waitress placed my coffee down and he didn't even glance up I narrowed my eyes. I wasn't going to just sit here in silence until he finally said something.
"Are you going to tell me what changed your mind?" I finally asked after a few more minutes of silence. When he still didn't answer I felt my anger starting to build. "Look its clear you don't want to be here and talk to me. So if you don't want anything to do with this then I'm going to go home."
I wasn't going to sit here in awkward, tense silence when I could be home in my PJ's where its warm. Right as I was about to get up and walk out Knox put his phone down and looked at me.
"Why did you put an ad out for a fake boyfriend?" He instantly asked, not beating around the bush. "Why couldn't you just ask some random guy on a date and take him home?"
"You clearly don't know how many weirdos there are here."
"I'm pretty sure its the same thing as putting an ad up and meeting them here.""I mean-"
"And why do you need to bring someone home anyways? Its not a law saying you have to bring someone home for the holidays." Knox leaned back against the booth, crossing his arms over his wide chest and staring at me. Those green eyes were so unnerving as they stayed focused on my face.
"I..." I shook my head not letting him get to me. "I have my reasons on why I am doing this." I crossed my own arms trying to look just as intimidating as he was being.
"Yeah that isn't a good enough reason for me." Annoyed that he was probably wasting my time I placed my hands on the table and leaned forward.
"Look, I am not some psychotic, stalker, murderer. I got mostly straight A's in high school, then got a full ride to University of Vermont where I earned my Masters in computer science, communications,
All I need is someone to take home to my family in Rutland where we will pretend to be boyfriend and girlfriend until Christmas over. Then you are free to go your own way. We won't have to see each other again." I rattled off, slightly out of breath from all my talking.
The entire time I spoke Knox just sat there, his expression never once wavering. He finally tilted his head to the side.
"Are you going to be this annoying the entire time?"
I snapped my jaw shut, my anger flaring once more. The nerve of this man! There is no way in hell am I going to be able to spend days with this guy. I doubt his big head could even fit into my car!"You little-" Knox interrupted me instantly."I'll do it under one condition."
"You can't...wait what?" It took a second for his reply to register.
"I'll go along with this idiotic plan of yours if...my little sister can come along."It took a full minute for his words to really sink in. As I tried to get my brain to finally function Knox sat there patiently waiting for my reply. He seemed almost frozen in the same position, kind of like he was use to being in one position for hours on end.
"I uh...yeah that's fine." I finally got out. I was pretty sure my mom would love another girl in the house and someone to spoil. That shouldn't be an issue at all. "So, your okay with all of this?" Why are you questioning him? He just agreed to it!
"I just said yes didn't I?" I narrowed my eyes at him.
"Why?"
"Why what?""Why are you agreeing? Yesterday you were hell bent on saying no and getting rid of me." In less than 24 hours he changed his tune so I was now very curious on what made him change his mind.
"I have my reasons." He shot my words back at me. I watched as slow smirk began to form on his face. Oh he definitely knew he was getting to me. And by the looks of it he was enjoying it.
I had a feeling this was going to be the longest week of my life.
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Because Knox apparently had to get back to work, we had to exchange numbers so we could meet again before we leave. I had hoped we would spend the entire day getting to know each other so this whole thing could be believable.When I got home from the cafe I was still reeling that he said yes. Knox was the exact opposite of someone who I thought would agree to this. He was actually the last person I thought I'd 'date'. He had this hard exterior and this impenetrable wall around him.Knox with his gruffness and intense personality was definitely someone I'm not usually into. I mostly found myself going towards the jock type of guy. Which of course never ended well. While Knox kind of had that golden boy look about him with the blonde hair and green eyes, he was definitely the 'bad boy'. Which just equaled troubled.I knew I had to give him the benefit of the doubt. I mean this whole situation was unusual and any normal person would act the same way. So as I sat on
The next three days flew by. Between two sudden work projects, I hadn't had much time to talk to Knox. We've been texting back and forth a bit but the two of us have been too busy to really talk about the upcoming trip to my home town. We leave tomorrow and there was still so much to do."Excited to go home tomorrow?" Leah asked, laying on my bed with her feet up against my headboard. She was suppose to be helping me pack but ever since she got here an hour ago she hasn't moved."Yeah and no.""Do you and Knox have your story down?" Despite the fact that she couldn't see me I shrugged. Moving from my closet to the suitcase on my bed I answered."Yeah somewhat. We haven't really had time to get all the details down but enough to hopefully pass the whole thing off.""Think your mom will see through it?" Leah questioned."I hope not. But its only for a few days. And with Knox's sister Olivia coming it should take some of the pressure off."
The next day I was a mess. It was at 11:30 and I was running around my house like a fish with its head cut off. I was adding last minute things to my suitcase, while finishing up a few things for work, and stressing about meeting my family in a few hours.I was fine until Leah left last night. One second I was calm about this whole thing and the next I was stressing that this whole plan wasn't going to work. Afraid my family wouldn't believe Knox and I were dating and then disappointing my mom once again. And then on top of that getting this promotion.It was like suddenly everything was falling down onto my shoulders and the weight was getting too heavy to hold. Now here I was, Knox almost here and freaking the fuck out."Its okay Aubrey you can do this. Everything will work out. It has to." I told myself as I stuffed the last of my toiletries in my bag. My little pep talk did little to calm me down."This entire plan is stupid and here I am finally real
After thirty minutes of complete silence I broke. I couldn't take it anymore. Turning a bit in my seat I looked over at Knox. He looked so in control sitting there, one hand gripping the steering wheel while the other was casually draped on the arm rest. He didn't seem at all concerned about the snow alongside the road. If I was driving I would have been white-knucklingit the entire time."Tell me some things about you." I suddenly spoke."Like what?" His voice was gruff."Did you grow up in Burlington?" Lets start off simple."I did.""Woah, easy there on the information." I said sarcastically, rolling my eyes."What do you want from me?" Knox snapped, finally turning his head to look at me. I froze at those cold green eyes staring at me. Somehow he managed to glare at me and still keep an eye on the road.I wasn't going to let him get to me though. No I am going to take the high road."I want to get to know you. We are
AubreySending my mom a quick text telling her we were 20 minutes away, I started to ready myself for this week. Seeing my family after 10 months was going to be....odd. I've always come home to visit every few months but this past year I haven't. With work being so busy, and after...everything else I couldn't bring myself to do so. Only sticking to calling my mom every few weeks, and exchanging texts between my brothers.I had horrible daughter down pat."Just a fair warning..." I glanced over at Knox then at Olivia who just woke up. "My mom can be a bit too friendly. So if she asks something you don't want to answer, then you don't have to." No doubt my mom would try and learn every little detail about Knox."And if you guys are at all uncomfortable and don't want to stay, you are free to leave. You don't have to stay if you don't want. I will give you the two grand no matter what." I didn't want Knox or Olivia thinking they had to stay if they w
By time I came out of the bathroom Knox was gone. Olivia's suitcase was gone which meant he already put it in her room. I sat on the edge of my bed, tugging at the sleeves of my sweater. I've only been home a total of 20 minutes and yet it felt weird being here. Almost like years and years have passed when its really only been 10 months.Not wanting to let Knox or Olivia to get stuck with my mom, I made myself get up and head downstairs. Walking down the stairs I found myself smiling softly at the pictures once more. I paused at one of us as a family. It was about two years old and it was taken on Christmas. All 5 of us dressed in matching PJ's, grinning like idiots with wrapping paper scattered all around us.I quickly looked away and walked the rest of the way down the stairs. My stomach growled loudly as I followed the smell of food in the kitchen. The smell of cinnamon bread made my mouth water. I fully planned on pigging out this next week on my mom's food.
Episode 14The moment my older brother Lucas arrived the house was instantly filled with loud voices. One look at my nieces and they were yelling and running towards me."Bre!" The two little girls ran full speed at me. I managed to squat down in time before their little bodies collide with mine."Oh my goodness I missed you." I hugged them tightly before pulling back. "You've grown like two feet since I last saw you two. You don't have boyfriends now do you?" I mockingly narrowed my eyes."Noooo." They both giggled."Good." I swooped them both up in my arms before standing up. My legs protested as I stood. Both of their arms wrapped around my neck slightly chocking me but I didn't complain.Sophie and Charlotte were the cutest little girls. Sophie was the oldest at 4, and with her blue eyes and blonde hair she was definitely going to be a little heartbreaker when she grew up. No one was quite sure how she got blonde hair considering Lucas w
Dinners ready!" My mom yelled from the kitchen, breaking the conversations in the living room. Knox and my two brothers were busy talking about what, no clue. While Olivia and I were playing barbies with the girls.Every few minutes I found myself glancing at Knox. The grin tugging at the corners of his mouth making me wonder what they were talking about. The three of them were clearly hitting it off.Sophie and Charlotte tugged Olivia into the kitchen, followed by my brothers which left Knox and I alone in the living for a moment."You seem to be getting along with my brothers quite well." I remarked."Yeah, they are nice guys. Well aside from Jackson hitting on me a few times.""Oh god." I brought a hand to my forehead. "I should have warned you he is a chronic flirt.""I didn't know he was bi." Knox sent me a curious look."He came out a few years ago that he was." I kept my eyes on his face, bracing myself to defend my brother. Just