Chapter 53 CHAPTER 53
KNOX
I shoved open the door to my dorm, exhaustion hitting me like a truck. All I wanted was a shower and my bed, maybe jerk off thinking about how she’d looked in my hoodie this morning.
But the light was already on.
Madison was sprawled across my bed in nothing but lingerie, posed like she’d been waiting for hours. Red lace, legs crossed, phone in hand like she owned the place.
“Finally,” she purred, sitting up. “I’ve been here forever.”
I froze in the doorway. “What the fuck are you doing here?”
She smiled, slow and confident. “Waiting for you, obviously. You’ve been so distant lately. Thought I’d remind you what you’re missing.”
“Get out.” My voice was flat, cold.
She laughed, standing and walking toward me, hips swaying. “Come on, Knox. Don’t be like that. We were good together.”
“I said get out.” I stepped aside, holding the door open.
She didn’t listen. She kept coming, close enough that her perfume hit me—cheap and cloying. Then her hands were on my chest, pushing up to my neck.
“Madison—”
Her mouth crashed into mine before I could finish.
For half a second I was too shocked to move. Then rage exploded through me.
I grabbed her shoulders and shoved—hard. She stumbled back, almost falling.
“Don’t fucking touch me,” I snarled.
Her eyes went wide. My fist clenched at my side, knuckles white. For one terrifying second I almost swung. Almost.
But I saw Yael’s face in my head—heard her voice saying I’ve never stopped for anyone. You said my name and I stopped.
I forced my hand open, breathing hard.
“Get. Out.” I said it slower this time, deadly quiet.
Madison’s lip trembled, but she grabbed her dress and bag. “You’re gonna regret this,” she spat on her way out.
The door slammed behind her.
I stood there shaking for a minute, then stripped and got in the shower, scrubbing my mouth raw.
Hours later—after pacing my room like a caged animal—I couldn’t take it anymore. I needed Yael. Needed to feel her, hear her laugh, anything to erase the last few hours.
I snuck across campus at three a.m., hoodie up, heart pounding as I knocked softly on her door.
Nothing.
I knocked again. “Yael. Baby, open up.”.
I pulled out my phone to text her—and that’s when I saw it.
A photo. Me and Madison. Her lips on mine, my hands on her shoulders. It looked like I was kissing her back. The caption: Knox Reid back with his ex? Guess the freshman phase is over
It had thousands of likes already. Viral in hours.
“Fuck,” I whispered.
“Yael,” I said louder against the door. “It’s not what it looks like. Please let me in. She kissed me—I pushed her off. I swear.”
No answer.
“I didn’t want it. I told her to leave. Baby, please.”
Still nothing.
I heard movement inside—soft footsteps, then away from the door.
She wasn’t opening.
My chest caved in.
I had to leave before someone saw me. I walked back to my dorm in a daze, hands in my pockets, mind spinning.
Why the fuck was I like this?
She’s just a girl.
Just a girl.
But that was bullshit and I knew it.
I’d had girls before. Plenty. None of them ever made me stop a fight. None of them made me turn down sex when I was hard and aching. None of them made me sneak into their dorm at three a.m. just to hold them while they slept off a hangover.
Yael wasn’t just a girl.
She was the girl.
And I was completely, stupidly fucked over her.
I couldn’t let this stand.
I turned around and marched back.
This time I didn’t knock.
I jimmied the lock—old dorm trick with a credit card—and pushed the door open.
Yael was sitting on her bed in the dark, knees to her chest, phone in her lap. Her eyes were red.
The door clicked shut behind me.
“Knox, get out.”
“No.” My voice cracked. “Not until you hear me.”
She looked away. “I saw the picture. Everyone saw it.”
“It’s not what it looks like.” I stepped closer. “Madison was in my room when I got back. I told her to leave. She kissed me—I shoved her off. I almost—” I swallowed. “I almost hit her. But I didn’t. Because of you.”
Yael didn’t say anything. Her face was stone.
I dropped to my knees in front of her bed, hands on the mattress.
“Yael. Look at me.”
She didn’t.
“Please.”
Slowly, her eyes met mine. Cold. Distant.
“I didn’t kiss her back,” I said quietly. “I didn’t want her there. I don’t want anyone but you.”
She laughed, bitter and small. “You looked pretty cozy in the photo.”
“Because someone took it at the exact second her lips touched mine. Before I pushed her away.”
Silence.
I reached for her hand. She pulled it back.
My throat burned.
“I know we’re keeping this secret,” I said. “I know I have a reputation. But I haven’t touched anyone since you. I don’t want to. I can’t even look at anyone else.”
She stared at the wall.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered. “I’m so fucking sorry you saw that. I hate that it hurt you.”
I bowed my head, forehead against the edge of her bed.
“I’m begging you,” I said, voice breaking. “Believe me. Please.”
Minutes passed. Or hours. I don’t know.
Then her hand—small and hesitant—touched my hair.
I looked up.
Her eyes were wet. “I hate this,” she whispered. “I hate feeling like this.”
“I know.” I turned my face into her palm. “I hate it too.”
She sighed. “I believe you.”
Relief crashed over me so hard I almost fell forward.
“But it still hurt,” she added quietly.
“I know, baby. I know.”
She slid off the bed, into my arms. I held her tight on the floor, her head against my chest.
“I’m sorry,” I murmured into her hair. “I’ll change the locks tomorrow. I’ll tell Madison to stay the fuck away. Whatever you need.”
She nodded against me.
After a while, she pulled back. “Take me to your dorm.”
We slipped out together, taking the shortcut behind the dining hall. The night air was cold, her hand in mine.
Halfway there, I couldn’t take it anymore.
I stopped under a streetlight, cupped her face, and kissed her.
Slow at first—apology and promise. Then deeper, hungrier. She kissed me back like she needed it as much as I did.
By the time we reached my door, we were breathless.
I unlocked it, pulled her inside, and kicked it shut.
She looked around—bed still messy from Madison, but empty now.
I watched her face.
“It’s just a room,” I said softly. “You’re the only one I want in it.”
Her eyes came back to mine.
Then she stepped close, fingers curling in my hoodie.
“Prove it.”
I didn’t need to be told twice.
I kissed her again—hard this time—backing her toward the bed.
“Knox,” she breathed as I kissed down her neck, hands sliding under her bra.
“I’ve got you,” I murmured against her skin. “Only you.”