Midnight Muse

“Right, how could I forget. Funniest person I’ve ever met,” he jokes, nudging me with his shoulder.

“Hey,” I whine, shoving him right back. “It’s true! I would never lie about something like that!”

Reid smiles broadly, taking another sip of his drink. “You’re right, I’ll give you that one. But what about you? Any plans this weekend?”

My stomach bottoms out at the thought of my plans. I’m going to Knox’s exhibition tomorrow, someone who I’ve been beefing with since the start of the year. We’ve only just squashed our issues this morning, so why on Earth did I say yes? Do I really want to spend my Saturday evening with someone who I’m not even sure I can make it through the night without arguing with?

Parting my lips to answer, I’m cut off by a looming figure. Peering upwards, I already know what I’m going to find. Maybe I jumped at the opportunity to spend the one-on-one time with Knox because I want to figure my handsome neighbor out. Knox stands before us, his sharp jaw set in a firm line, eyes blazing like a thousand fires. There’s a steaming hot coffee in his hand and I find myself wondering what his order is. I can only assume it’s plain black coffee like the attire he’s dressed in. Mandy stands a step behind, a sly smirk on her lips that she’s not trying very hard to hide.

“I’ll pick you up at six thirty tomorrow night.” His voice is cold and I frown in response. Reid looks confused, staring up at my neighbor as if he recognizes him from somewhere but can’t quite pinpoint it.

I nod shallowly, cheeks hot at the look on Knox’s face. I don’t know why I feel like I’ve been caught in the act of doing something I shouldn’t, but him interrupting Reid and I like this is none of his business. He has my number; he could have texted me instead. “Okay.”

Knox stares at me a moment longer, then twists on his heel and stalks away, completely ignoring the glare Reid’s shooting him and abandoning Mandy.

I follow his form, watching the way he moves with such grace. The crowd parts for him, more sets of hungry eyes trailing after him just like mine. All of the attention on him sends a hot stab of jealousy to my gut. I tear my gaze away, shifting to Mandy, who beams brightly.

“So nice to meet you last night, Quinn.” She winks, looking like she knows something that I don’t. “I hope to see you again soon.” With a flourish of her blonde hair over her shoulder, she trails Knox out of the coffee shop, just as many eyes following her as there were following him.

“Was that your neighbor?” Reid asks, slumping back in his chair. “I thought you didn’t like the guy.”

I might have complained about him when Reid come over to my apartment the night he told me he ran into Slate and Knox in the hall.

“Yeah,” I answer weakly, reaching for my cup again. The words taste funny in my mouth as they come out. “We’re working on it.”

CHAPTER 21

QUINN

There’s a knock on my door at promptly 6:30 the following night and it’s the one time I’m thankful that Ace has taken Rory out on a date.

My heart stutters uncomfortably fast in my chest and my hands shake with nerves as I smooth them across the skirt of my dress one last time.

Yesterday afternoon, after I parted ways with Reid, I’d taken a solo trip to the mall in search of something to wear to the opening of Knox’s exhibition tonight.

After trying on too many dresses to count, I settled on this one: simple, black, and elegant. The fabric clings to my curves in all of the right places and a rush of confidence has me straightening my shoulders. I look good. Even the store employee had halted in her tracks on her way through, while I was staring at myself in the full-length mirror contemplating on whether it was too much for the event.

The woman complimented me so many times that I wasn’t even sure how to acknowledge her gushing after the plethora of nervous “thank you’s” I’d offered in response.

I don’t know why I’m so anxious. Knox had made it perfectly clear that he’s not trying to impress me tonight, and I shouldn’t be trying this hard anyway, but I want to look nice for the occasion. I’ve straightened my hair and am letting it lie long down my back where my dress is cut low, revealing the length of my spine. I’ve even put more effort into my makeup than I normally do, going with a shadowy look that makes my hazel eyes pop.

I quickly slip into my kitten heels, flattening my hair and dress one last time. They’re short enough to be considered appropriate for the occasion and tall enough to give me a boost of self-assurance.

Eating up some of the height between Knox and I wouldn’t be so bad, either.

Another knock comes from the door. It’s gentle, not impatient like I’d expect Knox to be. I made sure I was ready on time so we wouldn’t start the night off on the wrong foot.

With one last breath, I open the door.

It’s Knox, of course, and the sigh I was in the middle of releasing whooshes out of me with force as I drink him in.

He’s handsome, shockingly so, but tonight he looks like a model. He’s wearing a simple pair of black trousers with a matching black button-up. The top three buttons are undone, showing off the beginnings of the tattoos that span across his collarbones.

His hair is clean and brushed, and it looks like he’s taken a pass at it with a bit of gel because it’s perfectly set in a naturally tousled look.

Knox looks incredible.

Good enough to eat.