Page 2 of Knox
I hadn’t even noticed him before. I’d been too caught up in the whole sleazy-mechanic-trying-to-sleep-with-me dilemma to take in my surroundings. But, as I turn to tell him where he can stick his chicken salad - I’ve had enough of being hit on for one night - my words get caught in my mouth.
He looks just like the knight in shining armor I’d imaged out in that parking lot. Except he’s not wearing armor. He’s wearing a tight-fitting black tee that hugs his huge, muscular shoulders. Intricate black patterns snake their way down his thick arms. A couple of days stubble peppers his large, square chin.
“I’m fine,” I tell him, keeping my chin in the air.
“No,” he says. “You’re not. And my momma raised me to always help a woman in need. So, Shirley here will bring out a chicken salad, and if you don’t want to eat it, that’s up to you. But either way, I’m gonna pay for it, and I’m gonna put it down in front of you. What happens then is up to you.”
2
Knox
“Fine,”the beautiful woman beside me gives me an appraising look and puts her wallet back in her bag. “But if you’re going to buy me a meal, you can forget that chicken salad.” She turns to Shirley and says, “I’ll have bacon, eggs, and beans with a double serving of pancakes, please.”
“Coming right up.”
I raise my eyebrows and give her what I hope is a slightly cheeky, yet respectful look. Most of the girls I know would never order a meal like that in front of a man. I like how she’s not afraid to ask for what she wants. In fact… there’s a lot I like about her.
“So,” I say, desperately trying to think of something to keep the conversation going. “You come here often?”
She lets out a laugh that’s like heaven to my ears. It’s all I can do not to slap my forehead.
“That line ever worked for you?”
“Oh,” I grin, turning slightly on my stool so I’m facing her, “you think I’m trying to pick you up?”
She rolls her eyes and flicks her hair over her shoulder. The naked flesh of her neck is soft and inviting.
I’m trying to play things cool, but just being near her is driving me wild.
“Get over yourself, big guy. I’m just here because my car broke down. And no, to answer your question, I don’t come here often. I’ve never been here in my life. Any more brilliant questions? Maybe you can ask me what my favorite color is? Or what I’d like to be when I grow up? Or how about asking if it hurt?”
“If what hurt?” I ask, slightly confused by the hot and cold attitude coming off her.
“When I fell from heaven,” she says, a slight blush spreading across her cheeks. “You never heard that one?”
“Yeah, I guess I have…” I give her a little smirk and turn back to my coffee. Trying to act like I’m too cool for school, even though my heart is burning with desire. “On nineties sitcoms.
“Besides, if I was hitting on you, you’d know about it. And that’s a guarantee.”
“Yeah, well… I’m glad you’re not.” Her shoulders slump. She plays with the laminated menu on the counter in front of her. Her eyes stare off into space. Her bottom lip starts to tremble. I’ve never seen someone so crestfallen in all my life. A deep, burning desire to protect her swells up in me. “It’s been a long day. I just wanna sit here and have something to eat and be left alone. Is that too much to ask?”
“No.” I keep my voice as deadpan as possible. The moment for friendly flirting is over. Someone’s hurt this woman… bad. And I’m not about to add my name to the list of her problems. “But a final word of advice from a kindly stranger… that Charlie over at the mechanics is a crook. Whatever he’s trying to charge you, I’d half it, and then half it again, and it’s probably still ten times too much. More than likely, you only need a change of oil or something. I bet he’s talking about ordering in parts. Next thing you know, they’ll be out of production. Hard to get ahold of. He’ll do whatever he can to hike up the price. My advice would be to have someone else have a look at it. Someone honest.”
She covers her face with her hands. “Figured as much.”
Shirley brings over the food, and for a while, we sit in silence eating.
As always, the meal is delicious. But I can’t enjoy it like I usually do. Not while this woman’s sitting next to me. The weight of the world heavy on her shoulders.
“My name’s Knox, by the way.”
“Summer,” she says, scooping up a fork of beans and egg. “And thank you for this meal. I know I came off kind of rude earlier. I didn't mean to. It’s just been one of those days.”
“Don’t give it another thought,” I tell her. “We’ve all been there.”
I finish up my coffee and leave a couple of twenties on the counter for Shirley.
“Look,” I say, standing up tucking my t-shirt back into my jeans. “If you want, I can drive you back home or something? Maybe pay for a cab?”
