Chapter 4 Chapter 4
The rumors started before sunset.
I felt them before I heard them. The way conversations paused when I passed. The way eyes followed me across campus. Curious. Judgmental. Hungry.
By the time I reached my dorm, I had already been called a homewrecker twice. Once to my face. Once in a whisper that was not nearly as quiet as the girl thought it was.
I locked my door and leaned against it, my chest tight.
So this was the price.
I checked my phone. No messages. No missed calls. Kylen had vanished back into his world of loyalty and silence. I told myself that was a good thing. That distance meant control.
It did not feel like control.
That night at home, dinner was unbearable.
Lilibeth sat across from me, her posture perfect, her smile brittle. Kylen was late. My dad talked about work. Her mother asked polite questions I barely answered.
When Kylen finally walked in, the room shifted.
His eyes flicked to me automatically before he caught himself. The look was brief. But it was enough.
Lilibeth noticed.
“You missed practice,” she said sweetly.
“I had a meeting,” he replied.
“With who.”
“Coach.”
Her smile did not reach her eyes. “Funny. He told me practice ran late.”
Silence fell like a blade.
Kylen set his bag down slowly. “Do we really want to do this here.”
“I want the truth,” she snapped.
My dad cleared his throat. “Maybe we should all calm down.”
“No,” Lilibeth said sharply. “I am tired of pretending.”
Her eyes cut to me. “Especially when certain people are clearly enjoying the attention.”
I met her gaze. Steady. Unflinching. “Say what you mean.”
Kylen’s head snapped toward me.
Lilibeth laughed. “Do not act innocent. Everyone is talking about you two.”
“There is no you two,” Kylen said firmly.
My chest tightened at his words. I told myself not to show it.
“Is that so,” Lilibeth asked. “Then why can you not even look at me when she is in the room.”
The accusation hung heavy.
Kylen did not respond immediately. When he did, his voice was low. Controlled. “This conversation is not appropriate.”
“That is your answer,” she said bitterly.
I pushed my chair back. “I am done with this.”
“Running again,” Lilibeth taunted.
I turned. “Standing up for myself.”
Kylen watched me like he wanted to say something. Anything. He did not.
I walked out.
I did not make it far.
“Lenora.”
I stopped at the end of the driveway. Night air cool against my flushed skin.
Kylen stood a few feet away, hands clenched at his sides.
“You should not have left like that,” he said.
“I should not have been attacked.”
“She is hurting.”
“So am I.”
He exhaled slowly. “This is spiraling.”
“You started it,” I said quietly. “And so did I.”
His gaze softened despite himself. “You do not deserve this.”
“Then stop letting it happen.”
Silence stretched between us.
“I am trying,” he said.
“Trying is not choosing.”
The words landed hard. I saw it in his eyes.
“You are asking me to burn my life down,” he said.
“I am asking you to stop pretending you do not want to.”
He stepped closer. Close enough that the tension wrapped tight around my ribs.
“If I choose you,” he said, voice rough, “everything changes.”
My heart pounded. “Everything already has.”
He searched my face like he was memorizing it. Like he was afraid this might be the last time he allowed himself to look.
“I cannot touch you,” he said. “But you need to know this is not in your head.”
His hand lifted. Stopped inches from my cheek.
“I think about you constantly.”
My breath caught.
Footsteps sounded behind us.
Kylen stepped back immediately.
Lilibeth stood on the porch, arms crossed, eyes blazing.
“I knew it,” she said. “I knew I was not crazy.”
Kylen turned toward her. His shoulders squared.
“No,” he said. “You were not.”
My stomach dropped.
“I am done lying,” he continued. “To you. To myself.”
Lilibeth laughed sharply. “So this is it. You choose her.”
He hesitated.
That hesitation broke something in her.
She turned on me, fury unleashed. “You win. Enjoy him. But do not pretend you are not destroying this family.”
She stormed inside, slamming the door.
Kylen stood there, breathing hard.
“I did not choose yet,” he said quietly.
I swallowed past the ache. “Then do not come to me until you do.”
I walked away before he could stop me.
Behind me, I felt his gaze burning into my back.
This was no longer rumors.
This was fallout.