Page 2 of Knot Falling in Love
As if the universe hasn’t already taken out enough of its anger on me lately. First the breakup, then the agency downsizing and ‘shifting their focus’, which really meant ‘we’re replacing you with AI’. I can’t believe I’m starting allover at 36.
To make matters worse, I have to see Elijah and try to repress 18 years of pent-up feelings and resentment. At least with Max, I knew it was the end. With Elijah, I never got that sense of closure, I just ran away.
Life is funny that way. Turns out I’m still running after all these years, but this time I was running back to the place I found comfort, the place I always considered home. I just somehow forgot this is his home too.
“Dammit.” I pop the hood and grab my purse from the passenger’s seat then white-knuckle my phone like a lifeline as I climb out of the car, gravel crunching uncomfortably under my ballet flats.
“This should be easy, right?” I say to no one or perhaps the bridge trolls, staring down the hood of my car, the lights illuminating my shins. “We have self-driving cars. I should be able to figure out what’s wrong.”
I bend over and reach under the hood to feel for the release, thunder rumbling a warning in the distance. It’s too late though, the sky opens up above me, and I’m pelted with rain until my hair sticks to my bare shoulders.
Maybe I should have gone to hang out with the bridge trolls.
Behind me, an engine growls, and I turn just in time to see the orange blur speeding down the road before doing a tight u-turn and coming to a rolling stop behind my lonely little sedan. I hold up my hand to shield my eyes from the bright light, squinting to make out the driver’s silhouette. He cuts the engine, leaving me standing in the dusk under the spotlight of my own headlights.
Blinking away the afterglow, there is Elijah watching me from behind the wheel of his Camaro. After a moment, he grabs the keys and climbs out of the car, closing the door behind him.
“Maisie Echolls.” He says, blue eyes doing a sweep down my body before his mouth sets into the usual devilish grin. The one that suggests we’re sharing a secret, though I am never included.
“Elijah Davies,” I yell above the sound of the rain, brushing my damp bangs to the side.
“You should’ve stayed in the car.”
Yeah, that would’ve been the smart decision, but when it comes to Elijah,my brain has always gone a bit fuzzy. Call it a crush. Call it delusion, but he’s always been able to disarm me with a single look.
Once upon a time, I’d celebrate my victories with him. He was always there for me, sometimes more than Hannah, especially when she started dating Jacob during senior year. Foolishly, I thought I was more to him than his little sister’s annoying best friend.
He set me straight and shattered my heart.
Elijah has barely changed, he still has the same ruggedly handsome features, the piercing deep blue eyes that command attention, and his brown hair is desperately in need of a trim. His dark navy t-shirt clings to his lean, muscled chest, speckled with rain.
He advances on me in long strides until he’s in front of the car, forcing me to stumble backwards. My ballet flats sink into the ground, splattering the lower half of my leggings with mud, but thankfully save me from falling flat on my ass. With a smirk, he turns and places his hands on the hood of my car, pressing it down.
“Get your stuff, Magpie.” He plucks the keys from my fingers and places his hand at thesmall of my back, “Let’s get you out of the rain.”
Magpie. And with that, it all comes flooding back. Not just the anger of overhearing him telling Chet Powell that I was ‘gross’ after my graduation.
It’s the feeling of being sandwiched between him and Hannah in the cramped backseat of his old Camaro, while he plucks the candy out of our shared popcorn bucket. It’s him driving halfway across town to pick me up after my first date ditched me at the mall.
Every memory of him has been branded on my very soul. The good and the bad, culminating in that familiar warmth spreading across my chest.
No, this was supposed to be my weekend away. My break from being the universe’s punching bag. For the record right here, right now, I am not falling in love with Elijah Davies.
If I can help it.
Chapter Two
Elijah
"Here," I reach into the backseat and grab a flannel, giving it a quick sniff to make sure it's good before tossing it on her lap. "Dry off a little."
Maisie looks at me, and then reluctantly begins toweling her hair with the long-sleeved shirt.
"Don't want to ruin your fancy leather seats.” She says, with a lot less venom than I expect.
"Fuck the seats. I’m more concerned with you catching a cold.” I start up the engine and flip the air conditioner to heat,directing the vents towards her. I'm not as bad off, but I also didn't get the worst of it trying to fix my car. "What were you thinking, standing out there in the middle of the road?”
“It's just a little rain, and I was on the shoulder.” She looks over at me, brown hair already beginning to dry into effortless waves that remind me of summers down at the lake.
