Phoenix: Book One of The Stardust Series (11 page)

After a short nap, I emerged
from the bedroom and found Knox in the kitchen. “Hi,” I said, “I didn’t know
you were here.”

He grabbed a drink from
the fridge before walking to the living room and sinking into the armchair. “I
just got back a few minutes ago. Sit down for a minute, please,” he said,
pointing to the chair across from him. My stomach lurched, and I felt like a
little kid again, waiting for a scolding from my dad.

Once I was seated, he
continued. “I know that Chase and Ethan talked to you about coming to Santa
Cruz. I don’t want to rush you, but we need to leave by tomorrow morning. Are
you coming with us?” The way he said it was casual, almost as if he was asking
if I needed anything from the store.

Not wanting to drag
this out longer than necessary, I took a deep breath and lifted my head. “I
appreciate the offer, but I can’t go with you. I need to find my dad, and I
should stay in the area.”

He sipped his drink
then spoke again. “We’ve been pretty thorough in our search. He may be good at
hiding, but if he was still in the area, I think we would have found him by
now.”

I grimaced, unsure
whether I should be grateful or upset that the guys had not been able to find
my dad. I opened my mouth as if to speak then closed it again. Finally I spoke.
“If you were in my shoes and it was your brother out there, would you leave?”

Knox leaned forward,
his green eyes drilling into mine. “I understand where you’re coming from, but
I think you’re making the wrong choice. Your dad is most likely far away from
here, probably trying to keep you safe. He wouldn’t want you to stay here by
yourself, putting yourself in danger.”

My hands started to
sweat, as I was sure he could tell something was wrong. I hoped my voice
sounded more sure than I felt. “Thank you again, but I’ve made my decision.”

Knox relaxed against
the couch cushions. “Okay, I’m not going to twist your arm,” he said with a
small grin. “I think dinner is about ready. Let me help you to the table?”

That was it? I felt a
small twinge of disappointment that Knox had given in so easily.

Dinner was a quiet
affair. The guys discussed general plans for getting the cabin and cars ready
to leave. No one asked me about my decision to stay or what my plans were once
they left.

After dinner, I didn’t
have the energy for poker. Glancing at the clock, I was surprised to find it
wasn’t that late
.
I spread out on the couch with a book while they
played at the table. The game was more subdued tonight; there was less banter,
less animation.

Time seemed to slow. I
felt a wave of sadness hit me, realizing that I would probably never see them
again. I glanced slowly from face to face, lingering on each. All three were
captivating and yet so different from each other.

Knox was such a
dichotomy: powerful yet gentle. His striking green eyes could see right through
me, allowing no room for questioning or hiding from the truth. Ethan was a
mystery. Brown eyes sparkled behind his glasses, a smirk playing at the corner
of his lips. Outwardly calm and comforting, there was more to Ethan than met
the eye. And Chase, his clear blue eyes honest and true. He was a sweetheart.

My chest tightened. I
felt like I belonged with them, and yet I knew I didn’t. Ethan’s phone
conversation had removed any lingering doubts. They would go back to their
normal lives and forget all about me in a few days. But I knew I could never
forget them.

Even though I’d taken a
short nap earlier, I was sleepy and my body felt drained of energy. I read a
few words, but then my eyes closed and I drifted to sleep.

Polar Opposites

I opened my eyes,
clamped them shut, then opened them again. No change. The sight that greeted me
couldn’t have been further from the cozy cabin with its low ceilings,
distressed wood floors, and views of the forest. I craned my head around
wildly, trying to make sure I wasn’t imagining things. There was no doubt about
it; I had never been anywhere like this.

Judging by the dim gray
light that washed over the room, I guessed it was early morning. I was sprawled
out on a queen-sized bed with a dark iron headboard and footboard. The larger
horizontal frame had curved edges; its thin vertical pieces created the effect
of wide jail bars. My limbs were tangled in light gray sheets and a patterned
blanket.

I was hit with a
massive headache and an overwhelming sense of déjà vu.
Why does this keep
happening to me?
For the second time in less than a week, I woke up in a
new bed and a completely new place.

I moved my arms and
legs, twisting and pulling, struggling to free myself. The sheets felt fresh,
almost crisp even. I inhaled, searching for familiar scents. Nothing.

To my right was a large
window with a white shade pulled down, letting in enough light to view the room
in its entirety. I glanced around the room for clues. Large and well-furnished,
each item contributed to the overall effect without cluttering the space. There
were nightstands on both sides of the bed, each unique but somehow a pair. A
leather arm chair was angled in a corner next to a vintage travel trunk with
books stacked on top.

A plane flew overhead,
drawing my eyes up the white walls to the incredibly tall ceilings. I noticed
that the wall behind my head was covered in warm red brick, reminiscent of an
old fire station. Framed photographs hung above me, but they seemed to be
mostly landscapes. There was a large door on the wall in front of me.
Where
am I?

I racked my brain.
Why
couldn’t I remember anything from last night?
Scanning the room, I saw my
bag hanging on a hook near the closet. I wished my dad was responsible for this
sudden relocation, but I seriously doubted it.

I bolted upright before
realizing I had moved too quickly. My head felt heavy and the room was
spinning. The last thing I remembered was watching Ethan, Knox, and Chase
playing poker in the cabin. The fog was lifting, and realization was slowly
dawning on me. The answer came slowly, turning like an old key in a lock.
Did
they kidnap me?

I limped over to the
window and pulled up the shade. My mouth hung open at the sight. The view was
of industrial-looking buildings, and I could see palm trees in the distance. If
I wasn’t so angry with my newest predicament, I probably would have appreciated
seeing something that was so completely different from what I was used to.
Are you kidding me?

I wanted to stomp
toward the door, but with my ankle still on the mend, I was forced to hobble
instead. My frustration and anger grew with each step, and I grabbed my bag off
the chair, but it caught on something. Focused on reaching the door, I yanked
at it impatiently without looking. When it didn’t immediately give, I pulled
harder. Finally, it was released and I stumbled forward. The books on the trunk
crashed to the ground, and I swore as their impact echoed off the walls and
floor.

The door swung open,
and Knox stood in the door frame, ready to spring into action. When he saw me
struggling to regain my balance, he relaxed slightly before shooting me a
concerned look. “You okay?” He rubbed at his eyes.

Startled by his sudden
appearance and full of pent up rage, I clenched my hands into fists at my side
and raised my head defiantly. “Knox! What the hell is going on? Where am I? Did
you kidnap me?” I was so furious, the words came spewing from my mouth before I
could stop them. I angrily crossed my arms over my chest, waiting for a reply.

Knox slowly entered the
room, his bare feet lightly padding against the wood floor. His jeans were
rumpled, and in his shirtless state, I could see deep creases leading from his
hips toward his beltline. I sucked in a quick breath at the sight of his
muscular torso and the tattoo that snaked up his bicep and over his shoulder.
His hair was disheveled; a lock of dirty blond hair fell over his forehead,
partially covering one eye.
Did he just wake up?

“I wouldn’t call it a
kidnapping, exactly. More like an involuntary transfer of your person to an
alternate location for the benefit of your personal safety and welfare.” His
lips rose in a crooked grin, enraging me further.

I huffed. “You’re
joking, right? And don’t think you can distract me with your clever response.
Where. Am. I?” I seriously couldn’t believe this was happening. When the guys
gave me a choice to go with them, it never occurred to me that they would end
up taking me by force.

“You’re at my loft in
Santa Cruz.” There was no apology in his gaze or tone.

“Well that’s just
great. And how did I get here?” I thought back to my unexpected drowsiness last
night and considered my blinding headache this morning. “Did you drug me?” I
knew my voice sounded excessively outraged, but I couldn’t believe they would
do that to me.

Knox remained stoic,
seemingly unconcerned with my accusation. “Haley, I know you’re upset right
now, but you really need to calm down. We did what we had to do.”

Well, that might as
well have been a confession. I threw my hands up in the air. “What you had to
do? So you
had
to drug me and kidnap me right after I told you that I
didn’t want to leave? You said that you understood!” I didn’t recognize the
girl who was yelling right then. It was so unlike me to even raise my voice.

Knox ran a hand through
his hair, pushing the stray strands away from his face. “Look. I really am
sorry that we had to take such drastic measures. But, it was for your own
good.”

Knox reached in his
back pocket and retrieved his phone. Looking at the screen, he scowled. “I have
to go. We’ll talk about this later.” He started walking out the door before I
could even respond. “By the way, we picked up a pair of crutches for you,” he
said, pointing to the corner. “See you later.” I stood there open-mouthed, his
loud footsteps echoing as he walked down the hall.

I blew out a quick
breath. Holding my hands in front me, I realized they were shaking. I fell back
on the bed and sighed loudly. As much as I wanted to throw a temper tantrum and
demand answers, I knew it wouldn’t accomplish anything. I needed to go into
this situation with a level head.

*  *  *

I heard the sounds of
music playing and someone moving around in the kitchen.
Did Knox return?
I
was tired of hiding out in my room, and my curiosity finally got the better of
me. Hearing no sounds immediately outside the door, I stuck my head out and
surveyed the options.

The door to my room was
centered down a hallway; to one direction was a closed door with opaque glass
panels, to the other was an opening that led to a large, light-filled room. The
music seemed to be coming from the latter. I recognized the song playing as
rock from the 60s or 70s, but I wasn’t sure of the band.

I grabbed the crutches
and crept down the hallway past several closed doors. The music was getting
louder, as were the noises coming from what I assumed was the kitchen. I could
feel my heart beating in my chest.
Maybe it’s Ethan or Chase?
Inch by
inch, I moved along the hall, holding my breath the entire time.

Quieting my steps, I
peeked around the corner. The hallway emptied into a large, multi-storied room.
Based on the size and materials, I realized it must have been an old warehouse
that someone converted into a loft. I didn’t have much time to dwell on the
furnishings or layout because suddenly, a man walked by.

I covered my mouth.
That
is definitely not Ethan or Chase,
I thought. He looked a couple years older
than me and was pushing six feet tall. His russet colored hair was cut short on
the sides but long on top and swooped to one side in a kind of glamorous retro
style.

I placed my hand
against the wall to steady myself. The wall was cool and solid beneath my palm.
At this point I was too far in; all I could do was remain still and try to
avoid being seen.

Apparently I had been
successful so far because the guy continued about his business. He walked
toward an enormous wooden table; surrounded by eight chairs, I wasn’t sure it
would fit in any other room but this one. He set a glass on the table before
drumming on it with his index finger, keeping time with the music.

As he sauntered across
the room toward the bookshelves, the song changed and he started dancing,
clearly enjoying the song. His body moved with the rhythm of the music, and I
was a little envious of his dance moves. He seemed like the kind of person that
could just let go and have fun, not worrying about how he looked.

He circulated around
the room as he danced, occasionally picking an item up off a shelf or the floor
before continuing. His attitude was infectious, and I couldn’t help but laugh
quietly as I observed him. I was so amused watching him, I almost wanted to
start dancing myself.

Playing an imaginary
set of drums, he really got into the music. Coming out of his drum solo to
resume dancing, he knocked a record off the shelf and muttered, “frack.” I
covered my mouth to stifle a giggle. After a rather impressive spin, he stopped
suddenly. He shuffled back a few steps and did a double-take. When I realized
he was staring at me, my heart started pounding.

Surprised, we both
stood looking at each other. I cringed and wanted to look away, but I couldn’t.
He tilted his head and smiled tentatively, the smile quickly building into a
large grin.

“Well, what do we have
here? You don’t have to hide in the shadows.” His voice was playful, almost
like he expected me but was surprised by me all at the same time.

In spite of myself, I
hopped the rest of the way around the corner on my crutches. Hesitant about
meeting another new person, I edged into the room, unable to resist his
friendliness and the warmth of his gaze. He walked toward me, and his eyes
widened slightly as he got closer to me. His smile was captivating. “You must
be Haley.”

I nodded, nervously
running my fingers through my hair before glancing down at my mismatched
outfit.
Ugh, I look like a complete mess. Again.

He spread his arm out
as if to take in a vast landscape. “Welcome to our home. I’m Theo, Knox’s
younger, but smarter, funnier, and better-looking brother.” He flashed a
mischievous grin, and it was obvious that, if nothing else, he was definitely
the funnier brother.

Theo gestured toward a
large leather sofa, inviting me to sit. Wanting to distract him from the fact
that I’d been spying on him, I said, “I like this song. Who is singing?”

He walked over to
built-in shelves holding what must have been hundreds of records and books. He
turned the volume down on the record player and then returned, holding an album
cover out in front of him. “You are listening to the
Green River
album
by the incomparable Creedence Clearwater Revival. Take a good look, because you
are going to get intimately acquainted with this album while you’re staying
here.”

Theo’s teasing
mannerism put me at ease almost instantly. The music continued to play softly
in the background, adding to the inviting atmosphere. I laughed and said, “Good
to know.” I glanced at the vintage turntable sitting in the corner. “I’ve never
actually listened to a record before.”

He feigned shock.
“What? Now that is just a crime.” He wiggled his finger back and forth. “You
haven’t experienced a song until you’ve heard it on vinyl. That’s pretty much
all we listen to around here, so you better get used to it.” As Theo was
speaking, I noticed a sprinkling of freckles over his face and down his arms. I
got a glimpse of a tattoo on his forearm but couldn’t see the full design.

He returned the album
cover to the shelf, and I was able to take a good look at all of him for the
first time. His body was lean but lightly muscled. He wore a vintage-looking
T-shirt tucked into light-wash jeans that were rolled at the hem and funny
brown and gray wing-tipped sneakers. His whole look was very retro but with a
fresh and modern twist. I had never seen anyone that dressed like him, and I
immediately liked how his style fit with his fun personality.

I glanced around,
admiring the large bookshelves that stretched almost to the ceiling. When I saw
the metal ladder to access even more books, I smiled, delighted by my
surroundings. Theo must have noticed because he said, “You like it?”

I nodded. “Very much
so. I love books and these shelves are awesome.”

He grinned. “Thanks!
Knox and I designed them.”

I couldn’t help it, my
mouth popped open. “Really?”

“Yeah. We searched for
years for the perfect warehouse to turn into a loft. A few years ago, we bought
this one and renovated it with the help of Ethan and some of the other guys.”
He paused, reaching in his pocket. “Speaking of, someone’s calling me.”