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His words push me over the edge, and my whole body convulses in nothing but pure ecstasy. Riding it out in a blissed-out haze, my name flows off Knox’s tongue like a prayer as he empties everything he’s got into the condom.
He brushes the strand of hair from my face and kisses me with a look in his eyes that calms every fear I have of him ditching me again after this.
“You good?”
I hum, not trusting my voice to say anything at all. Knox releases a breathy laugh. He pulls out of me gently and gets rid of the condom before getting back in bed, maneuvering me so my head rests on his chest. His lips press a kiss into my hair as he rubs soothing circles against my skin.
As I lie here, listening to the sound of his heartbeat mix with my own, one thing is clear—not even a hero can save me now.
13
KNOX
I’ve never needed anyone in my life. Growing up with no father and a mother who was rarely there, I learned at an early age how to be alone—and I was okay with that, until tonight. Hearing the words come out of Delaney’s mouth, ending things with us before they ever really got started, was a shock to my system. Girls have come in and out of my life for years, usually by my own doing, but the second she wanted to leave, it was like someone rammed a knife straight into my chest.
I sit at the top of the bed, leaning against the headboard and watching her sleep soundly next to me. The peaceful look on her face, the way her hair splays out across the pillow, the soft breaths coming from her perfect lips—it’s all things I could get lost in, and that scares the fucking shit out of me.
It’s dangerous, letting her in. The fact that she and I can never be more than some senior year fling is a harsh truth that I’m not ready to face. However, if it’s a choice between having her for a few months or not having her at all—the answer is simple. It’s almost a guarantee that at least one of us will come out of this broken into more pieces than can be put back together, but I’m a selfish son of a bitch. If she’s not going anywhere, neither am I.
THE BRIGHTNESS OF THE morning starts to fill the room, making it easier for me to see what I’m doing. I drag the pencil across the sketchpad in a skillful and practiced manner, making sure to capture the softness of Delaney’s skin. The last thing I wanted was to have a nightmare with her asleep next to me, so I opted to not sleep at all. It’s not like it was the first time. Insomnia is an unwelcome yet almost constant guest in my world.
As Laney begins to stir, I close the sketchpad and slip it inside the drawer of the nightstand. I’ve stayed in this room so many times over the years, it’s practically my own.
“Good morning,” she whispers.
I lie back down and turn on my side to face her. “Sleep well?”
She nods. “I’m sorry I got mad at you. I should have given you a chance to explain.”
“No,” I retort. “I’m sorry. Hailey is like a black hole, and I guess after her brother asked for my help, I just got sucked back in. She’s manipulative as hell and knows exactly how to get her way.”
“Were you ever in love with her?”
The question itself surprises me, but more so is the tone of her voice when she asks it—like she’s genuinely terrified of the answer.
I shake my head. “No, it was never that serious. We just had a lot in common and have known each other for a long time. Somehow, along the way, things got complicated.”
I’m not even sure why I’m telling her this. If anyone else had asked me about mine and Hailey’s screwed-up past, I probably would have told them to go fuck themselves. But once again, there goes Delaney—breaking through my walls and making me question everything.
“Enough about her. Get dressed,” I softly demand. “I’ve spent too long without you this past week, and I’m not ready to let you go just yet.”
A wide grin stretches across her face, and she does exactly as I ask. It isn’t until we get downstairs that we run right into Tessa and Easton. I had hoped they’d still be asleep, but apparently not.
“Laney?” she asks, confused. “I thought you went home last night.” Just then, her eyes land on me. “Oh my God.”
“Tess,” Delaney warns. “We’ll talk about this later. Please.”
She doesn’t want to drop the topic, that much is written clear across her face, but to both my and Delaney’s relief, she does—for now, anyway. I grab our jackets from the closet and help her slip hers on.
“All right, shitheads. I’m leaving. I’ll see you fuckers later.”
Zayn holds up one finger as he finishes chugging his morning beer. “Don’t forget the game tonight.”
“Game?” Tessa questions. “Didn’t the season end over a month ago?”
I groan and roll my eyes. “Yes, but your douchebag of a football captain is being a sore loser. He’s basically demanded an impromptu face-off. North Haven High versus Haven Grace Prep. No refs. No rules. Just an all-out war.”
“Something tells me this is less about football and more about jealousy.” Tess eyes her sister as she waits for her to put the pieces together.
