Chapter 3

KNOX

“You brought a fuckingdate when you’re supposed to be bailing me out?”

I turn my head and smile at Willow. “Nice to see you too.”

“What’s the plan here, Knox?”

“Well, I’m not exactly sure. I had plans with Tasha first. Then you-”

“Tasha. Nice name.”

“Are we good?”

“No. This guy I’m with is nuts. He just went crazy over a basketball game, then suddenly acted all normal. He’s got more red flags than a red flag factory.”

“Is there such a thing as a red flag factory?” I ask.

Willow scoffs, then turns and runs away from the bar.

I slowly turn and spot Tasha waiting for me at a table.

I ordered myself a beer. She ordered some fancy drink.

That’s what I’m waiting for.

For this poor bartender to mix up a drink.

I keep an eye on Willow though.

The guy she’s with is wearing a polo shirt under a sweater with some little fancy logo on his left boob. And, yeah, the guy… he’s not built at all. He looks like the classic rich douchebag. Probably living on his parents dime at Puckford. Gambling money on the side for fun, but now he’s got a problem.

Nice choice, Willow.

Now I have to figure out how to make this go away…

I see Willow glance at me.

I point at her. “Willow! I thought that was you!”

Willow’s face turns bright red.

“Here are you drinks, sir,” the bartender says.

I spin, grab the drinks, and spin back.

I approach Willow’s table.

As I do so, I made a motion with my head for Tasha to join me.

Best way I can help Willow now is to just invade her date.

Then again, maybe there’s a better way. What the hell do I know about this stuff?

Why didn’t she just text Ruby, Mila or Violet from the bathroom for help?

One of them could have shown up, faked some tears, talked about their menstrual cycles or something and scared this polo-shirt-under-a-sweater guy off the face of the planet.

“I can’t believe it’s really you,” I say.

“Yeah, it’s me,” Willow says.

Her face screams what the fuck are you doing?

“Sorry about this,” I say. I look at Willow’s date. “I’m Knox.”

“I know you,” the guy says. “You’re the goalie.”

“That’s right,” I say. “And this right here is Tasha. Tasha this is Willow and…”

“Dan.”

He stands up and completely eye fucks Tasha for a few seconds.

It’s long enough to warrant a punch to the mouth but I let it go.

My night is obviously going to revolve around Willow and not Tasha.

Or… just hear me out… what if I save the day and then tell Tasha what was happening. She thinks I’m a hero. Willow owes me one. Next thing I know Willow and Tasha are kissing, tearing each other’s clothes off, and then they’re playfully fighting over who gets to lick my cock next…

“How do you two know each other?” Dan asks Willow as he points at me.

“Long story,” Willow says. “One of those friend of a friend things. Goes way back. He’s a big shot now. Hockey star and all that.”

I shrug my shoulders. “It’s what I know best. Hey, let me buy the next round.”

“Next round?” Willow asks.

“I can’t turn that down,” Dan says. “I just lost my hat on a basketball game. What the hell was Sacramento thinking?”

“No clue, man,” I say.

I have no idea what he’s talking about.

I signal to the bartender for another round for Willow and Dan.

I pull up a chair for Tasha.

She’s visibility annoyed right now. Fine by me.

As I grab for a chair for myself, a hand claws at my wrist.

“Bathroom,” Willow coughs as she walks by me.

My eyes move and study her.

Study her ass too… wow…

I pull my chair up and look at Dan. “You’ll have to excuse me for a second. Hate to break the seal this early in the night.”

“Oh, man, you have to hold it in,” Dan says. “Can’t be pissing every ten seconds.”

“I know,” I say. “I screwed myself, huh?”

Poor Tasha. She did not sign up for this.

And to think we were going to get a drink, flirt, and go back to my dorm and fuck like crazy.

I jog toward the bathroom, playing up the I gotta piss so bad card.

I turn the corner and Willow is standing there, waiting for me.

She grabs my shirt and pulls…

“What the hell, Knox? I need you to get me out of here. Not keep the night going. That guy is nuts.”

“You didn’t give me much of a chance here, Willow.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. Too distracted by your plastic date?”

“Plastic? Nothing is plastic on Tasha.”

“Yeah, okay. She looks like a doll.”

“Yeah? Well, she’s supposed to be my doll for the night. Until you texted me. Telling me you’re in danger. What was that about? Why didn’t you text Ruby, Mila or Violet? They could have helped more.”

“I don’t know, Knox. I panicked and thought of you.”

“Well, this is where we’re at. Okay? Give me a chance to think of something.”

“You better move quick.”

That’s when an idea hit me.

A golden idea.

The perfect idea.

I smiled.

“Why are you smiling?” Willow asks.

Without hesitation, I put my idea into play.

I grab Willow by her face and kiss her.