Mama's Boy

♊07♌

Suddenly, he gripped her hair and tugged on it, pulling her closer to him. He wanted to kiss her. She knew it. And she wanted him to. But for some reason he was hesitant.

"Knox," she whispered. "It's okay."

It's okay, echoed in his head as his leaned in, closer to her face. His breath danced across her lips and vice versa. He gazed into her eyes and he was so focused on them that he could see his own reflection. Could see the look on his face.

That look scared him. And he pulled away.

As he turned to leave, she called him. "Knox...Knox!"

But he kept walking.

••••••

"Knox!" She repeated. "Knox, dude, open the door! It's freaking freezing out here!"

In his dazed state, he heard a rattle.

"Reid, come on!"

Startled, Knox woke and looked around his car. His eyes landed on the clock and he frowned. It was 8:15. He'd been sleep for almost forty-five minutes.

"Knox," Aiden whined and pulled on the door handle once more. He unlocked it and she rushed in, slamming the door shut. She wrapped her arms around her body and shivered. "What's wrong with you? I almost froze to death."

"But you didn't." He said without looking at her. Sighing, he rubbed his neck. "Stop bein' dramatic."

Aiden scoffed. "I am not."

Knox sighed again, a little harder this time. "Whatever."

Aiden eyed him as he started the car up. She watched him pull down the mirror and wipe at his face before fixing his suit tie. He closed the mirror and sat back into his seat.

"What?" He snapped when she was still looking at him. Aiden rolled her eyes and strapped on the seat belt.

"I don't know what pissed you off this morning, but I certainly don't appreciate you taking your attitude out on me." She looked at him as he pinched the bridge of his nose. "Put your seatbelt on."

He sucked his teeth and roughly pulled the seat belt over his body. A click finalized the act and he raised his arms up. "Happy now?"

"Why would I be? It's for your benefit, not mine." He muttered another indifferent response and Aiden lost it. "Would you like for me to get out of your car? 'Cause you're being really rude right now, and it's interfering with my mood. And while I appreciate the ride, I don't need it. So...?"

Knox glanced at her before unlocking the car doors. "Do what you wanna do."

"What's your deal?" She asked, instead of getting out.

"None of yo' business."

"Oh, that's a mature answer."

"Whateva."

"Another one. You're on a roll."

He huffed. "Are you walkin'?"

"No. Just because you want me to," she lied, crossing her arms. In actuality, she knew she'd be a popsicle by the time she made it to the gallery, and she did not want to walk in the cold. She'd rather put up with Knox's tantrum.

He sat forward, put the car in drive and pulled off. The ride was silent, the both of them thinking to themselves. He was trying to multitask between driving and thinking about his dream. It was hard to do with Aiden's perfume intoxicating him. He was woozy with lust and frustration, both sexual and mental. She, on the other hand, was concerned with nothing but her art and her current hunger. Hunger was winning the battle as her stomach growled and she bit her lip, hoping that Knox didn't hear it. From a distance, she could spot a McDonald's, and her stomach cried at the sight.