A Night With Knox Read Free Page A

Jackson’s
friends are going to save him. “Jackson
told me earlier you just got promoted at work. Can you get me free
tickets to a Falcons game?”
    I
see an opportunity and turn my sweet smile to Ryder. “Only
if you do me a favor.”
    “I
am at your service.”
    “I’d
like you to beat someone up for me.”
    “Give
me a name and consider it done.”
    “Jackson
Masters.” And I jerk my head towards
my brother, the smile on my lips hardening.
    “What
did I do this time, Shelby?” Jackson
looks at the space just over my head. It’s
his trick. To play dumb. To pretend to be docile. For the most part,
Jackson has been an amazing stand-in parent. He came to awards
dinners, graduation ceremonies, and moving days. He helped me sort
through my student loans, lease an apartment, and—most
important—he taught me his
tried-and-true hangover cure. But tonight—and
in my dating life in general—I
definitely don’t
need his over-protective bullshit.
    The
only time I know Jackson’s
lying to me is when he doesn’t
meet my eyes.
    “How
do you know Tom Parker?” I demand.
    “I
don’t know anyone by that name.”
    “Bullshit,”
I say, putting my hands on my hips. “He was
all on board for tonight. I put his name on the list and now he’s
not coming, which he informed me via text message .”
    “What
a dick,” Cassie says coming to my
defense. “You’re
better off without him.”
    “Well
I have my brother to thank for that.”
    The
second Jackson meets my eyes, he breaks like a one-pound bag holding
a ton of shit. “Yes, you’re
better off,” he says in a leveled
voice. “He drinks too much and has
left Illusions with more women than Cash used to.”
    My
fingers curl into a fist, and I itch to punch my brother in the face.
But if I want him to treat me like an adult, I can’t
react like a child.
    “I
don’t care if he’s
a certified dickwad. You let me fight my own battles.”
    “You’re
my sister. That makes you my responsibility.”
    “I’m
my own responsibility,” I say.
“How many times are we going to have to go
over this? My love life is none of your business.”
    I
stamp my foot before I can stop myself. It’s
the most childish thing I’ve
done all night, but I can’t
help it—Jackson has made me sink to
his level.
    Jackson
studies his shoes. Everyone around us grows quiet, waiting for the
full-out battle. I ball my hands into fists, pressing my lips
together into a thin line. There’s
no need to ruin another evening with our bickering. Fed up, I decide
to take the high road and walk away.
    I
spot Ruby and Avery having a good time at the bar. They’re
knee-deep in men. Ruby, drink in hand, sways to the music. She
seemingly ignores her handful of admirers but I know she’s
hyperaware of each and every one of them, observing carefully and
picking favorites. Avery and a tall guy lean over the bar, both of
their heads bent in conversation. I can see her smile from across the
room. This is my problem, not theirs. I don’t
want to ruin their fun with my troubles. Instead I weave through the
crowd heading for the back stairs.
    I
climb the stairs and when I reach the top, shoulder open the door,
shivering at the blast of cold air that meets me. The roof deck is
empty tonight, but the skyline is bright with life. A thousand lights
blink from skyscrapers, winking in the darkness. From here I can see
the shadows of bar goers spilling out onto the street, the warm glow
of cigarettes against their lips. It’s
cold out. I forgot to grab a jacket, but my anger is enough to keep
the chill off. The door slams and I look over my shoulder. The guy
standing in the door looks familiar. He’s
built like the guys I work with. Broad shoulders. Muscles packed
tight into their arms and legs. He’s
gorgeous—I can tell even from afar. I feel
the heat rise in my cheeks under his piercing gaze.
    Knowing
my luck, he’ll
know one of the athletes from work who view me as their little sister
and I’ll be
in