CHAPTER014:MyNeedsAreSatisfied CHAPTER 014 : My NeedsAre Satisfied *** ~~SLOANE~~ *** Knoxrollshiseyesandstartsthecar,turninguptheheateraswell.Warmairwashesovermywetskinas wedriveinsilence.
Nomusic.Nosnarkyoneliners.
At somepoint,itbecomesunsettling.
Knoxisjust…driving.Atanormalpace.Likeanormalperson.Noenginerevving.NocuttingcornerslikehesinFast&Furious.Hedoesntfloorit.Hejustdrives.
AndIhatehowuneasythatmakesme.
Iturntohim.
Hiseyesareon theroad,focused.Hislower lipiscaughtbetweenhisteeth,andIsuddenlyrememberwherethoselipshavebeen.Whattheydid.Myfaceflames.
Youredrivingatanormalpace,Isay,tryingtodistractmyself.Finallydoing somethingrightforthefirsttimeinyourlife? Hedoesntlookatme.Doingtherightthingisoverrated.
Onlyyouwouldsayathinglikethat.
Ijustwanttolivelongenoughtodothewrongthingswiththewrongpeople.Whenhesaysthis,hisfaceturnsinmydirection.
Ilookaway,clenchingmyhandsinmylap.
KnoxHartleyisthe kindofguyIspentyearsavoidinginhighschoolandcollege.Especiallyaftermyparentsdivorcewhichresultedinmelivingwithmyfatherbeforeheremarried.Dadmade sureIgotthesermonnightly:stayawayfrombadboys,Sloane.Theyllchewyouupandspit youout.Heusedtosayit likeitwasalawofphysics.
AndIlistened.Ikeptmyheaddown.Stayedfocused.Readbooks insteadofflirting.Studiedcodeinsteadoffaces.
Avoideddramalikeitwasadisease.
Andnow…hereIam.
Lustingafteramanwhopracticallyscreamsdanger,andhatingthatIwanthimagainevennow,withhishandonthewheelandhisjawsetlikestone.
Sorry,Dad.
NowthatImthinkingclearly,beyondtherageofbefore,whatwasthatall aboutintheclubanyway? FinndeniedtherebeingissuesbetweenhimandKnox,butwouldKnoxsaythesame? Iclearmythroat,notwantingtosoundunconfidentasIask,IsthereathingbetweenyouandFinn? Athing?Werebrothers.Didntyouknowthatalready? YouknowwhatImean,Knox.
DoI?Heleansbackalittleinhisseat.Youassumetoomuch,Kitten.Myhead isasfreeasabirdinthesky.Pleaseclarify.
IrollmyeyessohardImsurprisedtheydontflyoutofmyskull.MustbeaHartleythingdodgingquestionslike theyrelandmines.

Didsomethinghappenthatledtoafallout?Ipress.IaskedFinn.Hewassketchyaboutit.
Fallout?herepeatslikethewordisinaforeignlanguage.Ifyoumeanourlittleproblems,itsnothingwecantorhaventhandledbefore.
Iwanttoknow.
Thenaskyourfriend.
Hewonttellme.Andyouknowthat.
Theresapause.
Successfullyunlocked! SoyouassumedIwastheeasierone?heask These aregonnaputyouintrouble,Kitten.
Inessence,youresayingyouwonttellme.
Youreright.Iwont.Heglancesatme.Hesalreadyangrywithmeenoughasitis.Idontwanttostartmoreshitbytellinghisbestfriendourdirtylittlesecret.
1/3 CHAPTER014MyNeedsAreSatisfied Hellooo?DidIbumpmyheadanddiveintoanalternateuniversewhereKnoxhasaconscience? Whereisthispuritanicalbullshitcomingfrom?SincewhendoyoucareaboutwhatFinnthinks?Oneminuteyoumakebaddecisionstopisshimoff,andthenextyouresaintlyandfullofbrotherlylove.
Assumptions,onceagain,hesays.IandFinnmayhaveourdifferencesanddohateeachotherninetypercentofthetime,butmakenomistakeIlovehim.And helovesmetoo.Itstheonlyreasonwehaventkilledeachotheryet.
Ifallsilent.Theresnothingmoretosayanyway.
Therestofthedriveisquiet,butitfeelsloudersomehow.
Bythetimewepullintothedrivewayofthemansion,Imholdingmybreath.
Heputsthecarinpark,buthedoesntmove.Doesntunbuckle.
Seeyouattherehearsaltomorrow,he says.Thats,ofcourse,ifyoudontcatchthenextflightbacktoNewYork.
Ihesitate.Arentyoucomingin? Heshakeshishead,staringahead.
No.Myparentswillprobablybehometomorrow.Idontwanttorunintothemyet.TheresonlysomuchIcantakeinoneweekend.
Alright.Ireachforthedoorhandle.Thanksfortheride.
Yourewelcome.

Follow new episodes on the CrushnovelS.Com

Istepout,heelsinhand,rainstillinmyhair,dressstucktomylegslikeglue.Iwalkupthepathwithoutlookingback.Buthalfwaythrough,somethingmakesmestopandturnback.
Knoxisstillparked.
Stillwatching.
Strange.
Icontinuemywalk,getinsidethehouse,andclosethedoorsoftlybehindme.Thenextsecond,Imrunningtothewindow,pushingthedrapesasideandpeeking.IlookjustintimetoseetheredtaillightsofKnoxscarfadedownthestreet.
Nowconvincedhesgone,Iclimbthestairs,headingforFinnsroom.
Ineedto fixthis.Smooththingsover.Whateverhefeltearliermusthavesettled bynow,washed awaywiththerain.Finndoesntholdontothingsforlong.
Ifindhisdooropen.Heslyingonhisstomach,scrollingthroughhisphone.
Finn?Isaysoftly.
Hedoesntlookup.Justleavemealone,Sloane.
Guessthatmeanshesstillmad.
Iwalkoveranywayandclimbontopofhim,stretchingoutacrosshisbacklikeahumanblanket.Myheadrestsbetweenhisshoulderblades.Hedoesntshovemeandmywetclothesoffhim.
Progress? Hesscrollingthroughpicturesonhis phone.Oldones.Meandhim.Ilooklikeacompletetrollinmostofthem.
Thoseareterriblephotos,Imumble.
Ilikethem,hesays.Youwereanice friendbackthen.
Isigh.Comeon,Finn.Imsorry.
Hesquietforamoment.Doyouhaveanyideathatyourclothesarewet? Ido.ButImnotlettingupuntilyouforgiveme.
Icanthaveyousleepingwithmybrother,Sloane.
Itwasaonetimething.Iwasstressed.Hehelpedmerelieveit.Thatsit.Itsneverhappeningagain.
IrolloffhisbacksoImnowlying besidehim,dampingthebedinstead.

Knoxisnotsomeoneyoushouldbearound,hemutters.Ifyouwanttorelievestress,youcanhaveliterallyanyone.
Noteveryone,Ithink.ButIdontsayit.
Iknow,Isayinstead.Heusedme.Iusedhim.Webothgotwhatwewanted.Myneedsaresatisfied.
Youdontknowhim.Hellgetintoyourhead.
Nothappening.
Areyousayingthatasapromise? Ihesitate.AmI?I…promise.
3/3 CHAPTER014MyNeedsAreSatisfiedProveit.
Ilookathim,confused.How? IllonlyforgiveyouifyouhelpmewinbackDelilah.ThenIllknowyourbeadiswhereitssupposedtobe.Notinmybrothersballs.
Seriously?Howcharming.
YourebackontheDelilahthing?Iask.
Ineverleftit.
Igroan.Fine.Illtrymybest.
Thatsnotanassurance.
Illhelpyou,Finn.
Hesmiles.Good.Nowcomehere.
Hepullsmeintoahug,wetdressandall.Iclosemyeyesandlethimholdme.
ButallIcanthinkaboutisthedealImadeearliertodaywithKnox.ThewayhelookedatmewhenhesaidhedviolentlypursuemeandchannelmyobsessionforFinntowardhimself.
IfIhelpFinn,Knoxwins.
IfIbetrayFinn,Knox losesand sodo IwithFinn.
Thistripisgoingtoruinme.