Random Knigghts by Dennitra Lomax (crime books to read TXT) 📖

would kill to live in this place! I was sure the rest of the home would only get better, and I was right. The kitchen was so spacious, you would literally have to run from the stove to the oven if you happened to be cooking something in those appliances simultaneously. The kitchen definitely suited Max, because black was the color scheme. Black granite, black appliances, pretty much black everything, with the exception of the white, subway style backsplash.
“You like black.” I replied, sarcastically.
Max grinned, “Who doesn’t?”
“Lame people.”
“I agree.”
After walking through majority of the house, it was far too large to cover all in one day, we stumbled upon Liam who was in the game room. Looking like a big kid.
“Dude, you have THE best games!” Liam exclaimed, as he played Pac man.
“Thanks.” Max replied, not able to resist the fun Liam was having.
He joined in, and I watched them turn into 5 year olds before my eyes. I was all gamed out from FunFest, and I got kinda bored watching them yell terrible nothings at each other, about how they were going to kick each others butt in whatever game they were playing at the moment. I decided to explore the house a little more. I started down a hallway I hadn’t been, admiring the beautiful art hanging on the walls, when I found myself at a dead end. I turned to go back, but I noticed the dead end was actually a large door, and it was slightly ajar. I told myself not to be nosey and turn around, but my hand slightly pushed open the door. The room was even larger than the kitchen, and very dark. Not because there was no light, but because of the color in the room. Black. I assumed this was Max’s room and, for some reason, that excited me.
I walked into the room a little more, fighting the little voice inside my head that told me to scram. I wasn’t sure why I was so interested to see his room. Mere curiosity of the unknown, I guess. From first glances, the room looked empty. Aside from the king sized bed, gorgeous dresser and sitting couch, of course. After taking a few more steps, I noticed there was some personality in the room. Pictures lined the dresser. Pictures of a lady smiling into the eyes of a baby boy, a picture of an older gentlemen and older woman, and the most touching picture was that of a family. A little boy, a handsome man and a beautiful woman. I couldn’t help but pick the picture up, and stare at it. The woman and man were people I didn’t recognize, but the young boy was unmistakable. His dark hair, some what hiding his face, but through it I knew the eyes. Max. His eyes in this picture weren’t as sad as they seem now. In fact, he couldn’t have looked happier in this picture. His happiness somehow transferred into me, and I was full of joy to see his joy. “What are you doing?”
“Oh!” I exclaimed, as Max’s voice stroke fear into me.
I struggled to set his photo down before turning to him. I couldn’t bear to look him in the eyes. I felt so guilty for rifling through his personal things, and for even being in his room. I deserved whatever disturbed look he was giving me right now. While still looking down, I managed to find my voice and attempt to apologize.
“Max, I’m so sorry. I really don’t know what I was thinking. The door was cracked, and I was…”
I searched for the word to complete my sentence, but I couldn’t find it anywhere. I hadn’t heard him walk over to me, but he was inches away from me some how. He picked up the picture I was looking at, smiled, and set it back in it’s place on the dresser, then turned his focus onto me.
“Snooping.” He replied.
“What?” I asked, in confusion.
“I believe the word you were at a loss for was, snooping. You were snooping.”
I finally caught on, and the embarrassment flushed to my cheeks. He finished my sentence, and I was indeed snooping. Although I wouldn’t have used his choice of word, he was spot on. Had his tone not been so cold, I would’ve laughed, but he appeared agitated. Out of habit, I attempted to ease the tension.
“Right. I was totally snooping, and I apologize for that.”
I grinned a sheepish smile, but it didn’t translate to him as I’d hoped.
“So,” he crossed his arms before continuing, and I prepared for the worst, “you’re a snooper.”
I looked up at him to plead, but his smirk took me aback. He was screwing with me the entire time, and instead of being upset with him for it, I was relieved.
“I am, and you’re a jerk,” I giggled, as I punched him in the arm.
“Hey, you deserved it. You kinda brought it on yourself.”
“I know, I know.”
“Why?” He asked, blankly.
I answered, “Why what?” just as blank.
“Why’d you snoop?”
This was the exact question I’d asked myself, and the answer was just as fuzzy now as it was when I’d asked it. Although I didn’t know the answer, my body reacted as though it did. I suddenly became nervous, and flustered without even understanding why. Max’s arm slipped around me, and his hand pressed against my lower back as he eased me closer to him. The act bothered me, but his body against mine made me feel like never before. His face leaned closer towards mine, and my eyes were glued to his lips. I couldn’t think of anything else but his lips, and I bit down on mine in desperation to end my thoughts.
“I know why.” He whispered, as he answered his own question.
I hung onto his every word, eyes still glued to his moist lips. I figured I should respond, but he didn’t give me a chance to.
“Cuz, you like me.” He replied, and smiled an amazing smile that revealed almost every tooth.
I thought about what he said, and even though every inch of my body said he was right, my mind snapped into gear and refused to agree. I dragged my body away from his, but his smile remained.
“I’m gonna…go find Liam.” I told him, as I raced out of his room.
But, Liam was the last person I wanted to see right now. I needed to get away, so I found my escape in a hallway restroom. My blood rushed through my veins and I felt extremely hot. After splashing cold water onto my face, the heat finally subsided. I wished I could stay in the restroom. So, I wouldn’t have to see Max or Liam. I knew looking at Max would trigger a physical sensation I wasn’t ready for, and looking at Liam would trigger the guilt I felt for feeling those sensations for Max. It was a lose-lose situation either way, and I didn’t know what I could do to fix it. My stomach rumbled with hunger, so I decided to suck it up and leave the restroom to find some grub. When I found my way to the living room, Max was on his phone and Liam was playing a game on the Xbox. I slumped onto the couch, and watched how into the game Liam was. He shouted into the ear piece on his head, and it startled me because I hadn’t noticed it before. Just like I hadn’t noticed Max in the doorway to the kitchen watching us. He laughed at me and slapped Liam on the head.
“You scared All’s ya jerk,” Max replied, as he shot a smirk my way, “and the pizza’s on its way.”
Boy was I relieved they ordered pizza, my stomach had began to eat itself! I feared Max would sit next to me, but he didn’t, and I was grateful. Instead, he grabbed a chair from the kitchen and placed it next to Liam to participate in the game. After about ten minutes, the door rang and the pizza arrived. The guys grabbed countless slices and devoured them in between the deaths of their soldiers, while I woofed down as many slices as I could before my stomach felt like it was going to burst. My eyelids grew heavier and heavier, until they finally sealed themselves shut over my eyes. I wasn’t sure how long I was asleep, an hour or so maybe, but when I woke up I was in a panic. What time is it? I asked myself, as I noticed the sun was no longer shining but settled instead. I looked around the living room for a clock, and it didn’t take long to spot a giant one above the fireplace, that read 6:02pm. My panic only intensified, as I realized how much trouble I would be in if I didn’t get home before 7pm. I jumped to my feet, and searched the living room for Liam. I heard him before I saw him, and what I heard didn’t comfort me. I followed the noise until I came across Liam, passed out asleep and snoring extremely loud on the floor behind the sofa.
My heart sank into my chest when I couldn’t find the strength to wake him up, and even though he was snoring super loud, he looked pretty darn cute. But now was not the time, and my panic returned even harder this time. I could hardly breathe, and I needed some fresh air or I was going to pass out! I walked out the front door and inhaled a deep breath. By closing my eyes, I blocked everything out and just focused on breathing. In and out. In and out. Until I didn’t smell fresh air anymore. It smelled like, cigarette smoke? My eyes opened and I peeked around me for where the smell was coming from. Against my better judgment, I walked to the side of the house and found the smell, and more importantly who was creating it.
“Hey, All’s.” Max said, as I turned the corner.
He dropped his cigarette on the ground and stomped it out. I looked at him out of the corner of my eyes, and he chuckled.
“So, you’re a smoker.” I mocked him, with the best serious voice I could muster.
He caught on and played along.
“I’m so sorry All’s, I don’t know what I was doing!”
We both laughed. What had been an awkward situation earlier, was now something we could joke about. Even though the incident after that situation was even more awkward, I didn’t want to bring it up.
“Where’s Liam?” He asked.
“Knocked out asleep on the living room floor.” I replied, in an annoyed tone.
Max turned towards me, and assessed my tone.
“You okay?”
“Yeah,” I answered quickly, “I’m just waiting for him to wake up.”
“Oh. If you need to go somewhere you can just take my car.” He stated, nonchalantly.
My mouth dropped. Was he serious? Would he really just let me borrow his car? Just like that? I heard about southern hospitality, but gosh! He noticed my mouth was wide open, and used his index finger to lift my chin up and shut my mouth.
“Close ya mouth, All’s. What’s wrong?”
I did as he said and closed my mouth, but the shock was still there.
“You would really let me take your car?”
He looked confused, and it confused me as to why he would be confused.
“Yeah, why not?”
“Who does that? Who let’s just anyone take their car?”
“I do. But you’re not just anyone, All’s.”
His soft voice caught me