Chapter Twenty-Four

Knox

Two pencils…

One marker — I know, I know.

And three pieces of gum later…

And I was still about one minute away from ending Finn’s life. I even had seven different ways I could stab him with my pen, all of them vividly graphic and life-ending.

Because he was flirting.

Turning it the hell on.

And making her laugh.

I was sitting right there, yet he commanded every second of her attention. Each time I gave her an assignment or words to study, he’d lean over and find something funny to say that had her throwing her head back and giggling so loud we were getting stares from people around the room.

Not that I minded.

I wanted them to know she was with me.

But not us.

Not him.

I wrote STOP on a Post-It, folded it, and flung it at his face when Shawn started her next notecard.

He picked it up, read it, and then ripped it slowly into thirds.

Fine.

I grabbed my phone.

Knox: Team meeting.

Leo: What up?

Finn: Knox’s jealousy is showing.

Leo: So it’s working?

Knox: Come again?

Finn: You need to come at least once before you can come again, amateur.

Knox: You have two seconds before this pen ends up in your jugular.

Leo: Damn it. I wish I didn’t have calculus right now.

Finn: He’s turning red.

I clutched my hands into fists, released them, and typed again.

Knox: Out with it, now.

Leo: You like her. A lot. And with the pace you’ve been trying to seduce her, you’ll be eighty before you can cop a feel, and nobody wants to see that dude. Nobody.

Finn: Agreed. Saggy boobs are still boobs, but why wait that long?

Leo: If he has a boner right now at the thought of it, the friend-zone really is getting to him.

Finn scooted his chair and stared at my crotch.

I gave him the finger and blocked myself from view as I adjusted my pants. Damn it. Just talking about it…

Just sitting next to her…

It was physical.

Nothing more.

It was the mixture of her perfume, and her sassy attitude, and that hair. God, her hair was so damn pretty.

I was staring.

Finn coughed.

I looked back down at my phone.

Leo: Finn said you were just staring at her with your mouth open. Show some decorum. You’re better than that shit.

Knox: What did you guys do?!

Leo: We’re reverse-reverse hareming you.

Knox: Huh?

Finn: This is what it’s like when other girls see us with clients. They get insanely jealous, break up with their boyfriends, and hop on for a very non-sexual ride. We’re making you want her even more than you already do. And from the looks of it, you’re like two minutes away from snapping.

Leo: I say one.

Knox: Could you guys just leave it?

Finn: True friendship means you deserve true happiness. You took the fall for everyone freshman year. You deserve to be happy, man.

I looked away from the screen and took a moment to ride out the hurt.

Knox: I don’t want to talk about it.

Leo: All right, Finn. Time for Stage 2.

Finn: On it.

The text messages stopped.

Finn dropped his phone onto the table then leaned in to Shawn. “Hey, you should come over tonight.”

Shawn smiled but was still writing on her notecard. “You mean make the long trek across the living room?”

“Aw, baby, if it’s that long, I can give you a piggyback ride. Just let me know what time to pick you up.”

I rolled my eyes.

She laughed. Is she really buying his shit?

“I can walk.” She shook her head and highlighted the few phrases on her card. “What’s the occasion?”

“Friend Day,” Finn announced, making me want to drown myself in the nearest cooler of water. “We’ll watch movies, eat junk food, you can even invite Slater if he promises to leave the unicorn in his bed.”

I tensed.

She frowned. “He’s actually gone tonight and tomorrow, something about going to visit his parents.”

I tensed even further.

His parents.

I saw two once-laughing individuals.

And then no more smiles.

Just tears.

“Good.” Finn’s smile became tense and forced. I could tell he was thinking about it too. “What do you say to eight?”

“Count me in.” She smiled up at him.

“Perfect.” He stood, grabbed his bag, and left.

Thank God.

I was just opening my mouth when Shawn checked her watch. “Shoot, I have practice. Do you think we can finish up tonight?”

“Uh…” I almost stuttered. “…yeah.”

“Thanks, Knox.” She leaned down and touched my shoulder.

My. Shoulder.

Then gathered her stuff and walked off.

My phone buzzed.

Finn: Trainwreck: See Knox Tate

Me: Ex-best-friends: See both Leo and Finn; see also dickwads.