Page 6 of Two Minutes for Holding

Knox shut the front door, locking it, and turned toward us both. He was angry. I could see it all over his face. I should have told him what was going on way before now, instead of surprising him the way I had. I’d been wrong to do that.

“Knox, really, it’s not as bad as it appeared,” Mom cried, rubbing her forearm.

“Not as bad as it appeared? Mom, what the hell. When this was Peyton, you tore her away from the guy!” Knox shouted.

“Well, that was different. This is not the same thing.”

“Mom, please tell me you aren’t actually defending him?” I questioned, anger growing inside of me.

Knox crossed his arms and began pacing back and forth as we both waited for Mom to answer my question. When she didn’t immediately answer me, I looked over at Knox.

“That’s it. Pack your stuff,” he demanded.

I frowned as I looked over at my half-brother. “What for?” I questioned.

“We’re going to Vancouver. I don’t want to hear any more. I’m calling the airport, and we are getting on the next flight that leaves tonight.” He pulled his phone from his pocket. “We willfile a police report here when we get out there, followed by a call to my lawyer.”

“Vancouver? Knox, you are being unreasonable, and there is no reason to file a police report,” Mom said, looking over at me.

“No Mom, unreasonable is getting a panicked email from you, rushing here thinking Peyton is in trouble and that you are at your wit’s end, only to find out that it isn’t Peyton in trouble at all. Instead, I find out it’s you and that you are involved with yet another crappy guy. Jesus. Didn’t you learn from Dad and Peyton’s father?”

“Knox, please, let’s just sit down. Give me a chance to explain things,” Mom pleaded as she looked over at me, a look of disappointment on her face that I’d gone against her wishes.

“There isn’t time. I’ve got to be back in Vancouver for a game tomorrow. Now, go get packed, both of you, while I book our seats and then maybe call my lawyer now, instead of waiting. No doubt I’m gonna need one,” he said, running his hand through his hair.

The one thing about my brother that I loved and hated all at the same time was how damn protective he was of his friends and family. I remembered Clay, telling me that very thing that night back in October when I’d run into him in that dingy little bar I’d taken off to the night they had caught me stealing. The night we shared that first kiss. I’d always had a crush on Clay, but I also knew how my brother would react. Hell, he’d made me promise him I’d never get involved with any player on the team, so of course, I could only imagine how he’d have been knowing he’d kissed me.

“I’ll help you pack, Mom, and I’ll take care of things here while you’re gone.”

Knox turned and looked in my direction. “No way, you’re coming too. If you think I’m leaving you here to deal with that asshole, you’re wrong.”

“Knox, there is no reason for me to go with you, too.”

“No? Are you able to protect yourself from that guy when he comes back in a full-on rage?” Knox questioned.

I was just about to answer him when Mom put her hand on my arm.

“Honey, maybe it will do us both good to get away. Get me away from William, and you could use a break from Tor. Lord knows he’s been giving you a lot of trouble lately.”

Heat flooded my body. I didn’t even need to look; I knew Knox was staring at me, but I lifted my eyes anyway. Sure enough, he stared back at me, his eyes filled with disappointment at my lie. He shook his head.

“Knox—”

“I have nothing to say to you right now,” he grunted.

“Peyton?” Mom questioned. I could see the questions in her eyes.

“Fine, I’ll come with you, but only for the weekend, Mom.”

“Uh-huh,” Knox grunted as he turned his attention back to his phone. “I swear if I ever lay eyes on this Tor guy, I’ll do to him what I should have done to William tonight,” Knox muttered.

“Peyton, honey, plan to stay a little longer than only the weekend, please,” Mom said as I led her up the staircase.

I cleared my throat as I made eye contact with Knox. “Mom, you know I have to go to work on Wednesday,” I said loud enough for Knox to hear as I followed Mom up the stairs to our rooms to pack, leaving Knox downstairs to book our flight.

We’d beenin Vancouver less than twenty-four hours and already I wished I’d stayed home. I wandered into the living room and flopped down on the couch, pulling out my phone and checking to see if I had any messages. I let out a sigh when I saw no one had tried to contact me.

Mom had gone with Lorelai to the grocery store. They’d asked me if I wanted to join them, but I declined, hoping I’d have the house to myself. Instead, five minutes after they left, Knox came home from practice and went straight to the kitchen where he made himself lunch.

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