Chapter 85 Connecting With Knox
“Sure. You don’t need to ask me, Christian. I want you to have close friends like I do.”
Christian looked genuinely happy at the prospect of reconnecting with Knox. In the evening, he dropped Skylar home.
“I’ll come home in a couple of hours. Don’t miss me too much,” he said, planting a soft kiss on her forehead.
“I won’t. I’ll video call the girls.” She walked away with a smile while Christian drove away towards Knox’s house. He still remembered the way, even after so many. There was a time when he spent all his vacations here with Knox and Andrea. He knew everything about them. Knox’s parents had a bitter marriage that ended in both of them committing suicide. It set the siblings against the very institution of marriage. He was the only person in the world who understood them. They stayed away from home after their parents' death. So it was a surprise to hear of their return. He hadn’t ever expected them to return.
Christian parked his car in the driveway of the majestic Cromwell Mansion. Despite the years gone by, there has been no change at all here. In the light of the setting sun, he glanced around the familiar sprawling gardens where he used to enjoy picnics and camping activities with the twins. Those indeed were the best days of his life. He limped a little as he approached the front door, the day’s exhaustion taking a toll on his body.
He pressed the doorbell and waited for Mrs. Hamilton, Grandpa Vincent’s housekeeper to open the door. She used to make the best food ever! He hoped she was still working with them.
The door opened and a smiling Mrs. Hamilton ushered him inside. “What a pleasant surprise, Chris! Where were you for so long? You disappeared after the twins left.”
Christian smiled at her mock scolding, feeling relieved that she was still there. Now he could eat her goodies like he used to when young.
“I got busy, Mrs. Hamilton. Now I’ll come over regularly with my wife. I’m sure you’ll like her.” The old housekeeper flashed him a radiant smile.
“I’m so happy to hear you’ve settled down, Chris. Can you put some sense into Knox, Andy, and Mr. Cromwell’s heads? I don’t know what’s happening here anymore.” She flailed her arms about her in desperation as she led him to the living room.
“Where’s everyone?” he asked, looking around.
“Go up to Knox’s bedroom. He’s working there. Andrea is away at the club. Mr. Cromwell went out a few minutes ago. Don’t ask me where! I’m not aware of his latest whereabouts!” She rolled her eyes and walked away. “I’ll send some refreshments in a few minutes for you, Chris.”
“Thanks, Mrs Hamilton. I still remember your goodies.” Christian grinned as he climbed up the stairs towards Knox’s room. He had slept there so many times that he could reach there even with his eyes closed. He walked into his best friend’s room to see him busy typing away on his laptop.
“Aren’t you done for the day?” he asked with a chuckle. Knox stretched and looked up a him with a lazy grin on his face.
“I wish I was. Grandpa dumped the family business on me last month and I’ve been struggling since then.” He got up to hug Christian. “Hey! It feels so good to see you again.”
“You could have kept in touch, dude!” scolded Christian, having called him many times after he left.
“I changed my number because of Grandpa and Kendall. You remember Kendall, don’t you?” asked Knox, leading him to the lounge of his bedroom suite. He took out two cans of beer and handed him one.
“Who? Kendall Davis? Our batch mate who was obsessed with you?” asked Christian with disbelief.
“Yes, the one and only. She followed me to my college in Copenhagen. I changed my phone number because of her. It’s a long story. So how have you been? Andy told me you got married!”
“Yes, it’s Skylar. You know how much I was into her!” said Christian with a sparkle in his eyes.
“Wow! Congrats! I’m so happy for you, bro. How did this miracle happen? Why didn’t you bring her with you?”
“I pursued her. She’s headstrong! It was an impossible task, yet it happened. Maybe, to some extent, my accident helped me prove my feelings to her.” Christian chugged the contents of the beer can greedily. He needed it. For almost four months, he hadn’t been allowed to touch anything alcoholic.
An employee came inside with a tray laden with appetizers. “Mrs. Hamilton sent some food, Mr. Cromwell.”
“Thanks,” said Knox, taking the tray from her. After she left, they tucked into the delicious treats hungrily. “I heard about your accident from Andrea. So how are you now? Have you healed completely? These spine surgeries usually leave a lasting effect.”
“Yes, but it has left me with a lot of after-effects. I can’t walk much after a fasciotomy on my right leg. There are other complications that are affecting my mental health and my married life, too,” said Christian, dejectedly. Despite the years they had been away from one another, he still felt a close connection to his childhood best friend. It didn’t seem as if they had been separated at all. Knox was the only person in the world who knew everything about him. He was the only one who understood him.
Knox frowned and looked at him with concern. “What complications? Do you mean your sexual health? Have you consulted a doctor?” Christian shook his head with a grim look on his face.
“I don’t know for sure if I have a problem. It’s just a hunch. I’m too apprehensive to consult a doctor. What if I have a serious problem? What if Skylar left me because of it?”
“There’s only one way out, dude. You have to consult a good doctor and find out. Do you have erectile dysfunction or any other problem?” asked Knox, with concern.
“No. I just have the feeling I wouldn’t be able to satisfy her. We haven’t been able to consummate our marriage yet. The accident happened on our wedding day!” Knox frowned at his admission.
“I don’t think you’re suffering from anything serious. Do you get an erection when you’re aroused?” he asked with a chuckle.
“Yeah. I’m perpetually hard around her!” Chuckled Christian at seeing Knox roll his eyes at him.
“Then what’s stopping you? You have to try at least once to find out if you have a problem. I’m sure she will understand since you just recovered from a serious surgery. It’s just a physiological problem, hopefully. If you had a serious problem, you wouldn’t get an erection.” Knox winked and pushed the tray of food towards him. “Eat well! Go home and do the deed already!”
Christian chuckled too, relieved that he could at least consult someone. He had been bottling it up inside him, unable to tell a soul, not even a doctor. Now he was glad he reunited with his best friend. He needed him so badly in his life.
“I’m glad you came back, Knox. I couldn’t connect with anyone else like I could with you.”
“Neither have I but I met a few guys at the club here. They’ve been really helpful.”
“Which club?”
“Andrea and I have a membership at Escapade. It’s an elite club in Flower Street, near Downtown LA. In just a brief span of time, I’ve bonded with four guys there. They're cool, just like us. They too live life recklessly, like I do. You’ll love them, dude! Why don’t you come along and see for yourself?” Christian smiled at his best friend’s enthusiasm.
“So you’ve found four best friends for yourself.”
“Hell! Not at all. You know no one can replace you. We’ll always remain best friends for life. They’re just fun to be with.”
“Well! Maybe I wouldn’t be able to connect with them so well. I don’t live recklessly like you do. I’m a simple, down-to-earth, one-woman man.”
“Come over this weekend with Skylar and see for yourself. There are so many activities to enjoy, both indoors and outdoors. You’ll like the place,” insisted Knox. “Andrea spends most of her free time there.”
“Fine. I’ll ask Skylar if she wants to go.”
They went outside for a stroll, just like they used to. It brought back the good old memories of their childhood.
“What did you want to talk to me about?” asked Christian with curiosity.
“Andrea might have told you about Grandpa’s decision to get married. He has already seen two prospective brides for himself. I’m at my wit’s end, dude. He really seems determined this time. I don’t know how to stop him.”
“Why don’t you get married? That is the only way to stop him.”
The two friends sat on the grassy lawn and chatted to their heart’s content while Skylar sat on the patio, waiting for Christian’s return. After a brief video call with her friends, she watched a movie half-heartedly. After an hour, she gave up. How had she become so dependent on Christian? She missed him tremendously!
Didn’t he miss her at all? Was she the only one who wanted him so badly? Where was the magic they used to share before his accident?