Page 24 of Dark Verse

One glance and the rest disappeared

I’ve never been more certain, never less afraid

And ahead, so much delight

I fell in love at first sight.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

KNOX

I WAKE the next morning with the tendrils of sunlight peeking over the horizon. Still somehow feeling wired, I dress in shorts, an old T-shirt, and sneakers. I don’t always take my phone for a run, but I’m still new to the area, and I know I could easily get lost. I head out into the brightening day.

I work up a good sweat as the sun rises higher. I watch as more of the city begins to wake in those early hours. I’m accustomed to only working out in the gym late at night when it’s damn near empty, so it’s an unexpectedly pleasant experience to see other runners out here in morning light. We give each other quick, breathless nods as we pass. Once home, I shower again, watching my cum spurt from the tip of my cock and disappear down the drain. Unfortunately, the image of Raven’s legs thrown back behind her head will not disappear as quickly.

When I leave the bathroom, I check my phone, wondering if Raven has called back with the job offer. There are no missed texts or calls, but I don’t overthink it. Via listed all of our phone numbers in the application, even Cash’s, and he wasn’t even at the audition, still feeling too breathless to play even a short set. There is every chance she called Via or Zeke, wanting to avoid me for a few more hours. So instead, I dial a number.

“Hey, Ma.”

“Knox!” Her voice rings pleasantly through the phone’s speaker.

My mother’s voice has always reminded me of clementines, tangerines, and sunrises, bright, warm, vibrant.

“Hold on, you caught me in…” I hear her shifting around for a moment before it becomes quieter on her end. “I was just finishing up a batch of my latest perfume. It’s good to hear from you. How are you today? How’s Colorado?”

“I’m doing pretty well today. It’s so much drier here than back home, so, strangely, I was able to push through with a longer run today.”

“That’s good, baby. It’s important to stick with the routines and hobbies that keep you focused.”

“Yeah,” I agree.

“How’s Cash doing?”

Sighing aloud, I say, “He’s at least not hospitalized anymore, and he’s back home recovering. His breathing isn’t completely back to normal, unfortunately. Baby steps.”

“That’s good to hear. He’s been in my prayers these last few weeks.”

“I’m sure he appreciates it.”

“So what else have you been up to while you’ve been out there?”

I sit down in the window seat. The window faces west, the front yard and mountains visible from my angle. “Actually, we did an audition yesterday.”

“Yeah, and how did that go?”

“Like I said, Cash wasn’t up for going, so it was just the three of us playing. But we still got the gig.”

“Congratulations. When are ya’ll playing?”

“Actually, it’s not a single show. We’ve been hired on as the house band for a local music venue.”

“That’s such good news, Knox! Does it pay well?”

“Well is relative these days. It will keep us housed and fed for the next several weeks if we sign the contract without having to rely on a constant stream of other shows and events.”

Never one to miss the true point in any conversation, Ma says, “Oh, I’m so happy to hear that. But what’s this about if you sign the contract? Are you thinking it’s not the right move?”

Last night everything felt so right, like a pleasant midnight hallucination. But in the light of a new day, some of my other doubts have started to creep in. The lyrics that came so naturally and felt so truthful last night seem cheesy and juvenile now.