Libby

“Do you want to hear a super awesome story?” Mia asks, strolling into my room and flopping down on my bed.

“Nope,” I answer.

Whatever it is, I doubt it’s going to be super awesome and more along the lines of some lecture about Knox. George picked him up early this morning to catch their jet. Knox said he’d text me when he landed, but I haven’t heard from him yet. The flight is somewhere along fourteen hours, so I’m not too worried.

Him staying this weekend pulled at my emotion strings, showing me how much I truly missed and care about him.

“So I walk out of my bedroom the other morning, and this gorgeous man is sitting in the kitchen. Who is this good-looking man you ask?” Mia goes on in excitement.

“Nope, sure didn’t,” I grumble.

“It’s Knox Rivers, and he stayed with my roomie the entire weekend.”

I’ve been dreading having this conversation with her. She’s dialed down on the whole, “you made a mistake breaking up with Knox,” speech, but now I’m sure it’s going to be a daily thing again.

“He needed somewhere to stay. I wanted to help a friend out.”

She snorts. “You are so generous. You weren’t only helping him with a place to stay either. You were also fucking him as a friendly gesture too?”

“Exactly.” I start to focus on my notes. Well, I act like I’m focusing on my notes.

“One minute you want him to stay away from you, the next you want him inside of you. Make up your mind before he starts making out with someone else.”

I shrug and keep my eyes down. “If he does, he does. I can’t stop that.”

I look up when she pushes my shoulder. “Uh, yeah you can, dumbass. You can date him.”

“I have to get to class.” I get up, grab my laptop to slide it into its case and then into my book bag, and throw it over my shoulder. “Like always, it was a pleasure chatting with you about Knox.”

“I’m sure it wasn’t as great as the pleasure he was giving you last night,” she yells to my back as I’m walking out. She laughs when I throw my hand up and flip her off.

I have to get my mind off Knox and back to my real life now.

* * *

Knox: The real estate agent Mia hooked me up with sent me some listings. I’ll be home next week. Want to check them out with me?

It’s been two and a half weeks since Knox left my condo, and it’s been hard staying in touch with our crazy schedules. He’s been busy with his shows, and I’ve been swamped with schoolwork and finals approaching.

Me: I’d love to.

“Who are you texting?” Mia asks. She arches a brow and pops a fry in her mouth while waiting for my answer.

I set my phone down on the table at our favorite lunch spot and sigh. “None of your business, mom.”

She scrapes her hands together and gives me a serious look. “Stop fucking with his head, Libby. Don’t be one of those bitches that drags guys on with no intention of giving them anything.”

“You don’t even know who I’m talking to. It could be my dad.”

“Unless your dad illegally had a cell phone smuggled through someone’s asshole into his prison cell, I know that’s a lie.”

“He needs a friend to look at houses with. His mom and him still aren’t on speaking terms, and his brother is in Texas. I figure it’s the least I can do for everything he’s done for me.”

“No, what that man needs is for you to get your head out of your ass and be his girlfriend.”

“My head isn’t in my ass. It’s in my finals and how I have to pass them.”

“I wasn’t aware you couldn’t have a boyfriend and pass a test. You can multi-task. I’ve seen you straighten your hair and paint your fingernails at the same time. And did you know that happy people perform better on tests?”

“Drop the whole Knox thing, okay? I’ll talk to him when he gets in town. I promise.”

* * *

“Holy mother of all hotness and romanticness,” Mia screams, barging into my room. She jumps up and down in excitement, squealing like a child.

“What in the world are you yelling about over there, psycho?” I ask.

“You have to see this … or listen to this, to be more precise.”

“Okay?” I drawl out.

She grabs her phone, hits a button on her screen, and starts hitting the volume button until I assume it’s on high.

Knox’s voice flows from the speaker, and Mia starts dancing in place.

“She’s afraid to open up,

Hiding behind a broken mask, afraid to be upfront,

But I can see through her,

I can see the sunshine through the rain,

With one touch she lets me have my way,

Giving me only a sliver of her until it turns dawn,

I call this our secret of the day,

Every piece of her I uncover takes my breath away,

Open up, sunshine; let those wings drift you my way,

As we uncover our secret of the day …”

A buzz shoots through me, kind of like when I drink too many energy drinks, but it’s a Knox high. I’m drunk on him, transfixed with his every word as I keep listening to the song that I know is about me.

“Sunshine?” Mia says. “This song is so about you.”

I wave off her comment. “You don’t know that.”

“He’s a smart dude. I’ll give him that. He’s winning you back little by little, easing you back into his life.”

Does he have ulterior motives? “We’ll see.”

She replays the song and starts moving her hips to the beat. A few seconds later, we’re both singing along to the words.

She holds her arms out. “Come on! Let’s dance to the song you were the muse for!”

We dance until the song ends, and Mia insists I text Knox.

Me: New song?

She’s playing the song again when my phone beeps with a reply.

Knox: You listen to it yet?

Me: Yep! Mia has it on repeat and is throwing a dance party in my bedroom.

Knox: Tell me you joined her?

Me: Sure did. It’s beautiful.

Knox: I had the best inspiration.

Me: I’m expecting a royalty check lol.

Knox: I promise to give you more than that.

“You’re blushing. Blushing is a good sign,” Mia says, pulling me out of my conversation.

“I’m overheated from dancing.”

“Whatever.”

She hits a button on her phone, and we break out in dance again.