Catching Fox Read online

  That was when Adalynne realized she was in love with Fox. “I thought so.”

  Chapter Eight

  Adalynne was startled by an unexpected knock on the door. Her first instinct was to ignore it but when it was followed by several rings of the doorbell and more persistent knocking she realized this person wasn’t making that an option. Reluctantly she stood up and walked toward the door. When she pulled it open she was surprised to see Katie standing on the other side.

  “Surprise!” Katie tried to sound cheerful but the gesture was quickly dropped and replaced with concern.

  “Katie? What are you doing here?” Adalynne was genuinely shocked to see her friend on her doorstep. “And how did you find me?”

  “Your short answer texts and not answering my phone calls made me worry. I went straight to the hospital and your mother told me where to find you…” Katie rambled off.

  Adalynne just stepped forward and wrapped her arms around her, cutting off her words. “Thank you.”

  “When I was there, your mother said that the doctor just checked on your father and noticed some improvement.” Katie patted her back affectionately. “Your mother also thought it would be a good idea that I provided a distraction for you tonight.”

  “A distraction would be wonderful.” Adalynne smiled until she looked at Katie’s face. She knew Katie had something on her mind that she was dying to tell her. She knew her well enough to know she could not hold things in and when she had something to say it practically busted through her seams. “Go on and tell me whatever you’re dying to say before you explode all over the floor.”

  “You will not believe what happened to me!” Katie practically squeaked out the words through her excitement. “On the way into the hospital, I ran into the lead singer of the band I love, Outcome. You know the music I have been obsessing over and I make you listen to all the time? The lead singer is ridiculously hot and I. Met. Him. Can you believe it? He has to be one of the most beautiful people I have ever seen!”

  “Wow.” Adalynne did appreciate his talent. The guy had an amazing voice that always seemed to comfort her. His music was practically the theme song to their lives lately because it was all Katie played in their room. “Did you take a picture?”

  A look of devastation came over her features. “Why didn’t I think of that? It was the perfect opportunity.”

  Adalynne couldn’t help but laugh at her. “Well, maybe you’ll meet him again someday.”

  “That someday is tonight, my dear sweet, Addie. Guess who is not only gorgeous, but generous as well.” She reached into her purse and pulled out two black tickets and waved them in front of Adalynne’s face.

  “I can’t.” Adalynne smiled weakly.

  “Listen, you aren’t supposed to go back to the hospital until tomorrow, so why don’t you call your mother and get an update? If your dad is doing good we’ll go and if not, we’ll plan to stay put. Let’s let fate decide the Outcome. Get it?” Katie beamed at her cleverness.

  “Yes, you are a slick one, Kat.” Adalynne shook her head with a smile.

  After Adalynne made a phone call to confirm the good news that her father was improving, she reluctantly caved to Katie’s evening plans. Both her mother and Katie were insistent that she needed some time to unwind after spending days by her father’s bedside. After hanging out with Katie for a while in her room, her mood drastically began to change. The sorrow was lifted as things began to feel normal again. Katie’s good mood was contagious and before long she was laughing and picking out what to wear for the concert. Adalynne decided on her favorite jeans and a fitted blouse that wrapped and tied around her, accentuating her slim waist. Then she finished her look with her favorite red pumps.

  “You look so hot! I wish jeans made my butt look that good,” Katie gushed as Adalynne stood in front of the mirror to see the complete look.

  “What are you talking about? Didn’t you tell me you won nicest butt in your high school?” Adalynne picked up one of her throw pillows that had fallen off her bed and threw it at Katie, lounging across her bed.

  “Yeah.” Katie sighed. “That was fifteen pounds ago.”

  “Well, since we are on the topic of your butt, I noticed that Matthew’s friend Steven couldn’t take his eyes off it the other night.” Adalynne watched Katie’s face turn as red as her shoes. “Tell me what is going on.” Katie’s reaction revealed that she had news to share on the subject.

  “Well, we may have been spending time together the last couple of days.” She looked up bashfully at Adalynne.

  “Details!” Adalynne ordered as she grabbed her hoop earrings, looking expectantly at the now silent Katie.

  “Well…I really like him so I didn’t sleep with him yet.” Katie confessed in a rush.

  “Wow. It must be love.” Adalynne laughed.

  “Seriously…I’m nervous. It seems too good to be true. What if the sex is horrible? I thought if I wait the sex will be better if it has more meaning. I just want it to be good with him. I really like him.”

  “Katie? Are you growing up? Ohhh…I am so proud of my little Katie.” Katie screamed as Adalynne kicked off her heels and jumped on the bed, tackling her. “I’m glad you came,” Adalynne admitted after they settled on the bed. Katie wrapped her arms around Adalynne.

  “I love you, Addie. I would do anything for you.”

  “Love you too, Katie.” Adalynne was so glad Katie had come into her life. Without Katie’s friendship she would be lost. Their connection was instant and natural, like they had always been friends. “I think it’s good to wait. If anything, you will be able to determine if he wants more than sex. If he’s willing to wait then you might have found yourself a keeper. And if the sex does turn out to be less than what you hope, you’ll be able to work on that together.”

  “Yeah, you’re right.”

  “I have my moments.” Adalynne giggled. She jumped off the bed and straightened her clothes. “I’m ready to go when you are.”

  “Matthew is going to die when he gets a look at you tonight.” Katie smiled and then instantly looked guilty.

  Adalynne swung around with narrowed eyes. “What are you talking about?” Her hands found their way to her hips.

  “Okay, don’t get mad. Matthew has been harassing me about you since you left. He’s been acting like an adorable insecure little puppy. You didn’t return any of his calls either. He called me just after I had my fabulous encounter and since I made him listen to me gush for like half an hour, I offered him a ticket. He and Steven wanted to come to the concert too and for it to be a surprise that we meet them there.” Katie smiled awkwardly after she finished rambling.

  “Argh…I don’t think I can see him right now, Katie. I think this is a bad idea,” Adalynne said, deflated. “It’s not a good time for me to be getting into a relationship and I can’t even think about Matthew right now.”

  “No pressure. I already told him that. He said he just wants to see how you are doing. No expectations.” Katie promised. “Tonight is only about the people who care about you wanting to be with you.”

  “Oh Katie, what am I going to do with you?” Adalynne sighed.

  ***

  When they pulled up in front of the large night club, a line stretched down the length of the street. The night was warm and balmy without a star in the sky that could be seen from the glow of the busy streets. The outside of the club was very simple with black and silver lettering spelling the bar’s name, Night. Adalynne had heard of it but had never been there. It was a popular bar and hard to get into unless you had connections, but tonight if you held a ticket you were granted access. They climbed out of the taxi and started toward the end of the line.

  “Addie! Katie!” The girls both turned to see Matthew and Steven in line. “Looking good, ladies.” Matthew complimented as the girls walked toward them.

  “Matthew! Wow, this is weird meeting you here.” Adalynne lacked any real conviction as she lied.

  “Katie spilled.�
�� Matthew shook his head with a smile. “I knew she couldn’t keep it a secret.”

  “I can’t keep secrets from Addie.” Katie laughed, walking gracefully into Steven’s embrace. He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and kissed her on the cheek. Katie beamed and Adalynne could feel the glee radiate off her friend. Adalynne wished she could slide her arms around Matthew and lose herself in the excitement of a new relationship too. Forget about the sorrow and loneliness that seemed to surround her heart. “How are you doing? Katie told me your father’s condition is improving.” Matthew’s sincerity was touching as he leaned closer to talk to her while Katie and Steven giggled together.

  Matthew was gorgeous. His physique was well formed from his athletic lifestyle. He looked amazing in his dress shirt and well-fitted khakis. He was tall, his blond hair still bleached from the summer’s sun, and his smile was infectious. She wished she could will her heart to fall for him. She wanted to crave his kiss and yearn for his touch but she was only left with an unfulfilled feeling she could not shake. A vital piece of the puzzle was missing. She smiled as earnestly as she could and humored his questions. He seemed oblivious to her internal struggle and Adalynne was grateful for it. She almost fell for her own guise of happiness while she engaged in flirtatious exchanges with Matthew.

  The two of them carried on playfully. Matthew was easy to get along with, which made his company enjoyable. She could temporarily forget to think about anything else. It was a welcome feeling. The problem was she knew when she wasn’t in his company, her mind started to question her attraction to him and doubt everything.

  Inside, the bar had a comfortable atmosphere with dim lighting and fresh décor. A sea of round bar tables surrounded the round stage in a semi-circle. Two levels of balconies overlooked the main stage area and many faces were currently enthralled watching the opening act. It was a female singer backed with male musicians on the guitar and drums. She was slim with her sparkly tank top that exposed her stomach. Her dark brown shoulder length hair was streaked with cherry red.

  “She can really sing!” Katie hollered over to Adalynne so she could hear her over the music. Katie was right. She had a velvety quality to her voice that was easy to listen to. Matthew sat down beside her after disappearing to one of the many bars in the establishment. He insisted on buying her drinks for the evening. Whenever she finished one, Matthew would replace it with another. She felt guilty, especially since he wasn’t drinking, but he refused to let her buy her own. They were heading back early in the morning and Matthew had to drive.

  “Did you know they were on tour? This was an unscheduled trip they booked last minute,” Steven informed them, leaning in to kiss Katie’s neck. She squealed in delight when it tickled.

  “Worked well for us,” Matthew said as he leaned back and rested his arm on the back of Adalynne’s chair.

  “This was meant to be, right, Addie?” Katie beamed as she snuggled into Steven’s side.

  “Looks that way.” Addie smiled and sipped on her drink. It tasted like pink lemonade and went down too easily. Before Adalynne knew it she found herself giddy and lightheaded and lost in the moment. Matthew focused his attention on her and took opportunities to lean in close, brushing her hair back from her face or gently running his fingers over her arm. “I’m not really sure I should drink anymore,” Adalynne stated while looking at Katie, who was throwing back her drinks eagerly. “One of us has to be able to find our way home.”

  “Don’t worry about that. I’ll make sure you get home safe.” Matthew was older than she was and she appreciated his maturity. He only had one year left before he officially graduated and joined the work force. Adalynne could see the excitement in his eyes when he talked about his plans for the future. Like Adalynne, his father was a lawyer, and the chase for justice was passed down to Matthew who hungrily awaited his turn to join the system.

  Adalynne currently felt far from the right path for her career. She had taken a year off after she graduated high school to study art and music with the promise to her parents that she would enroll in University the following fall. The past year before she enrolled in school she poured herself into her passion of painting and composing music, this was when she felt at peace with herself but she knew it wouldn’t last. It was only a temporary visit in the world she craved before she would take part in a life that was planned by her parents. She had traveled occasionally throughout the year to expose herself to the arts but mostly she stayed close to home and volunteered at a local music school to teach music. She loved introducing the beauty of music to children. The appreciation in their eyes was all she needed to keep her going. It reminded her of Fox and his love of everything musical, how he gave himself to it completely and became a part of it. She thought of him every day, wondering if she would ever see him again. There was no closure from their last encounter and it left her mind restless with thoughts of him. That was part of the reason she didn’t want to venture too far from home. The thought of never seeing him again was devastating. Unfortunately the entire year she stayed close to home she never heard so much as a mention of his name. It was as if he vanished from her life and it broke her heart.

  Adalynne was grateful for the table they managed to find; it was situated beside one of the large pillars holding up the balconies above them. They had privacy but they still had an excellent view of the stage because they were so close. She wasn’t sure how they pulled off getting seats so close with the amount of people packed in the bar but she was grateful.

  The opening band wrapped up their act to make way for Outcome. Adalynne leaned into Matthew’s arm that he had swung over the back of the chair and his fingers brushed her bare shoulders causing a smile to spread across her face. This was nice, she thought, looking over at Katie and Steven, who were cozy as well. Maybe this was a sign. Maybe she had to stop fighting it. She looked back at Matthew who smiled at her in return and gave her shoulder an affectionate squeeze.

  “I’m glad you are here with me tonight.” He whispered in her ear.

  “Me too. Thanks for coming. I needed this.” Adalynne kissed his cheek and leaned into him.

  Chapter Nine

  Adalynne watched the band walk onto the stage and immediately her heart began to hammer in her chest. She leaned forward in her seat, staring at the lead singer, who sauntered out onto the stage with his long, lean, beautiful body. Matthew’s hand reached out to touch her lower back but she ignored the contact and the words he said. She was awestruck with the man that walked out on the stage.

  “What did you say the lead singer’s name was?” Adalynne called over to Katie without taking her eyes off of him.

  “Brolan Pierce,” Katie called back before cheering loudly with his entrance, like the rest of the room around them. The noise level of the room became deafening as everyone hollered in excitement.

  Adalynne rolled the name over her tongue, it felt foreign to her. It wasn’t his name and she would never use it. She didn’t like the way it sounded to her ears in regards to him. He would always be Fox to her. She watched his confident movements as he walked around on the stage absorbing all the energy the crowd threw at him. A mischievous smile played on his lips as he scanned the people around him. “Good evening.” His raspy masculine voice flowed through the room, radiating from the speakers that surrounded them. “I hope you’re all ready for this,” Fox said before pulling his guitar strap over his head. The crowd erupted into cheers.

  His dark hair was long and disheveled like she remembered it but he had changed since the last time she had seen him. He was taller, his shoulders broader, and his form exuded a power that his younger self did not possess. His arms and chest were carved to male perfection, with new ink that stretched down the length of his forearms from under his black t-shirt. Adalynne couldn’t help but appreciate the pure sex dripping from his presence. She wasn’t the only female in the room completely entranced by him. He commanded the room and all eyes were on him expectantly. The rush of emotions that ass
aulted her when it came to Fox twisted her insides and made her world spin. The feelings she was waiting for when she searched Matthew’s eyes, the reasons she couldn’t move on, the reasons she was stuck. Fox kept them all.

  Adalynne watched in awe as he strummed the guitar and his band mates followed suit and dove into song. He was in his element on the stage, entrancing the crowd that sang along to his lyrics. Adalynne could not envision a more beautiful sight then the show he displayed upon the stage. She could not believe that she did not recognize his voice until now; it was the most amazing sound she had ever heard.

  “Do you want me to get you another drink or something?” Matthew leaned forward to get her attention.

  Adalynne just shook her head. She knew she shouldn’t ignore Matthew but the sight of Fox before her was so captivating she couldn’t bring herself to sit back in her chair to engage with Matthew. The only thing going through her mind was that she never wanted to forget this moment in case it was the last time she saw Fox. She wanted to remember everything about him, his movements, his voice, and his body.

  Fox flawlessly flowed into another song and the band kept up perfectly, knowing his habits and his methods. He was comfortable with the crowd, drawing them in with his words. He started into a guitar solo when he looked up and captured Adalynne’s gaze, his eyes remaining on hers as he played. Heat flowed to Adalynne’s cheeks and her breathing quickened as she lost herself in the moment. She knew he recognized her but she couldn’t tell what he was thinking. He was never an easy person to read. His eyes continued to find her as he moved around the stage and she never wanted him to look away. Matthew must have noticed the attention Fox was giving her because he pulled his chair closer, leaned forward, and wrapped his arm around her. “Hey…you are being quiet,” he whispered, gently skimming his lips along her ear.