"What?" I peered around Knix's big frame before stepping towards thebackdoor.
"Your new nickname is Spider-Monkey," he clarified. "I can't believe you climbedKnix!"
I nodded my head and despite my blush, I puffed out my chest. "Like a tree," Isnarked.
Texas laughed even harder, his eyes watering. "Spider-Monkey!" He gasped, trying to inhale even as he choked on his own laughter. I rolled my eyes and headedinside.
"I've gotta shower," I called over myshoulder.
"Meet me out front when you're done," Knix calledback.
I nodded and waved a hand over my shoulder as I disappeared into the house, heading for my bathroom. By the time I was freshly showered and dressed in jean shorts and a tank top, it was already 11am. Stepping out the front door I was surprised to see that Marv was outside as well as Bellamy. Both stood on either side of Knix as he leaned against the SUV, his face a mask of concentration as he listened to them intently. I wasn't sure if they knew I was there, so I reached back and closed the front door a little harder thannecessary.
Knix's eyes glanced up automatically, and I waved. He smiled and nodded towards the side of the SUV. "Go ahead and get in, Little Bit. I'll be rightthere."
"Okay," I replied, but watched the guys continue their conversation as I slowly descended the stone steps and headed for the passenger side of the SUV. I climbed in and clipped my seat belt. Bellamy smiled at me through the windshield and I smiled back. He turned back to Knix and Marv and said something else to which Knix shook his head in response. After a few more minutes, Marv and Bellamy broke away, retreating back inside, and waved goodbye to me as they shut the front door behindthem.
Knix climbed into the driver's seat. "Let's get out of here," he saidcheerily.
I wanted to ask what they had been talking about, but wasn't sure if I should. The longer I debated on it, the more I decided it was probably nothing and I settled back in my seat, turning my thoughts to what Grayson could possibly want to talk to me about. I hoped he wouldn't get too upset by Knix's presence, but it seemed he likely would. I just hoped they could both be civil to oneanother.
Knix pulled into Alex's Diner's parking lot and took a spot towards the back. It was a Friday, early afternoon. The place was packed with the lunchtime rush. The bell above the entrance jingled as he pushed the door open. I spotted Grayson immediately. He must have just come in right before us because a new waitress – someone I had never seen before – was leading him to a booth in the back, farthest away from the gas station portion of the building next door. Knix must have seen him as well, because as another server approached us, he waved her away, grabbed my hand, and followed Grayson'swaitress.
"Do you have anyone joining you?" the waitress asked politely as we stopped just behind her. Grayson smirked and looked over her shoulder. "I do," he said. She glanced over her shoulder and nearly jumped out of her skin when she sawKnix.
"Oh, um, I'm sorry. I didn't see you there. I suppose..." She looked at me. "You're all togetherthen?"
I nodded and smiled, moving to take a seat across from Grayson. Knix slid in alongside me. We were quiet as the waitress listed the specials, though they were already written out on the menu. I knew it was what she was trained to do and I didn't mind, but I noticed that Knix and Grayson were bothtense.
I sighed and when she finished, I offered my drink order. "I'll just havewater."
She nodded and scribbled it down on her notepad before turning to theguys.
"Same," Knixsaid.
"Sweet tea," Graysonordered.
When the waitress hurried off, silence dropped over the table. Knix and Grayson watched each other, Grayson with narrowed, irritated, eyes, and Knix with an impassive expression. The sound of other diners was like an orchestra – silverware scraping against plates, the ding of the cook’s spatula hitting the order up bell. They were all sounds I was used to, but the sounds didn't match the atmosphere that permeated our booth. I sat back and crossed my arms as I waited for the two of them to end their silent pissingmatch.
It wasn't until the waitress returned and served the three of us our drinks that Grayson moved. "I think we need a few more minutes, Honey," he said graciously. I glanced at Knix, but he didn't bat an eye. I jerked up my own plastic menu and start flipping through. The waitress blushed at his flirty tone and nodded before hurryingaway.
"Alright." Grayson sighed, turning back to us. "I know you didn't want her coming to see me by herself," he addressed Knix with a frown. "But do you really have to sithere?"
Knix nodded once. "I do," he said. "Whatever you say to her can be said in front ofme."
Grayson's electric gaze met mine before he returned his attention to Knix. "And if she's not comfortable with you here?" hechallenged.
Knix didn't look away. "Harlow knows she's welcome to say so at anytime."
"Does she?" Grayson shotback.
"O-kay," I said cheerily, slapping my hands down on the table. "This is fun – really, it is, boys – but, how about we take a break. Let’s look at the menus, yea? Stop trying to verbally murder eachother.”
Grayson and Knix both stilled, staring at each other, before slowly picking up their menus to look them over. By the time the fluttering waitress returned to take our order, we were ready for her. Grayson and Knix urged me to go first. I ordered a lunch special that Grayson copied and Knix ordered the soup of the day and a sidesalad.
"So," I started before either of them could say anything, "Grayson, what did you want to talk to meabout?"
Grayson sat back, stretching out on his side of the booth. I jerked as his booted feet touched mine and I pulled them back. He smirked but didn't comment. "Well, yea, I wanted to talk to you. But I also wanted to know if you were doing okay." His eyes flicked to Knix before returning to me. "I haven't heard from you in a while." Grayson looked at me pointedly, but I wasn’t quite sure what he was trying to getat.