Chapter 31 CHAPTER 31
CHAPTER 31
YAEL
The sun was too bright for the kind of night I had.
I blinked against it, groaning as I sat up on Knox’s bed. For a second, I didn’t know where I was. The sheets smelled like him—fresh soap, faint coffee, something dangerously masculine—and then my memories crashed back.
The kiss. His warning. The way my heart refused to slow down all night.
I buried my face in my hands. “Oh my God,” I whispered. “What the hell did I do?”
I glanced at the clock on the wall. 7:24 a.m. If I ran, maybe I could make it back to my dorm before anyone noticed.
I tiptoed around his room, grabbed my bag, slipped into my shoes, and quietly opened the door. Knox was still asleep on the couch, one arm thrown over his face, blanket barely covering him.
For a moment, I just stood there staring.
His hair was messy, his jaw unshaven, his breathing calm. He looked… peaceful. Too peaceful for someone who had kissed me like the world was ending last night.
I bit back a smile and tiptoed out.
The walk to my dorm was a blur of panic and adrenaline.
If Maya or Aaron found out I spent the night with Knox—God, no. Just no.
But the moment I opened the door to my room, the universe decided to punish me.
Aaron was sitting on my bed.
“Aaron?” I froze. “What are you doing here?”
He crossed his arms. “I should be the one asking that, Yael. Where were you last night?”
My heart skipped several beats. I forced a casual smile. “ I was with Maya.”
His eyes narrowed. “I went to Maya’s dorm this morning. You weren’t there.”
Shit.
“Then—uh—I meant Jordan,” I said quickly, laughing awkwardly. “Yeah, I was with Jordan. You know how we get, talking about random things till late.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Call her.”
I blinked. “What?”
“Call Jordan,” he repeated, tone firm. “I want to hear it from her.”
I laughed again, nervously this time. “You don’t trust me?”
“Nope.”
I sighed dramatically, pulling out my phone. “Fine, but don’t freak out if she’s half-asleep.”
I hit call. It rang twice before Jordan’s groggy voice answered.
“Yael? Why are you calling this early?”
“Hey, uh—remember I slept over last night?” I said carefully, shooting Aaron a tight smile.
There was a pause. Then Jordan, like the absolute angel she was, said smoothly, “Oh—yeah, you left your charger here. And your… underwear.”
My eyes widened. Underwear?!
Aaron blinked, clearly uncomfortable. “Okay, okay, that’s enough detail.”
I forced a laugh. “See? Told you.”
Jordan added, “You good?”
“Yeah, I’m good. Thanks,” I said quickly and hung up before Aaron could ask more questions.
He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “Alright. Sorry, I just… you didn’t answer your phone last night. I worried.”
“I’m fine,” I said softly, guilt pricking my chest. “Just tired.”
He nodded, standing. “Okay. Get ready for class. I’ll see you there.”
The moment the door shut behind him, I collapsed onto the bed with a groan.
“Jordan, I owe you my life,” I whispered to myself.
By the time I got to class, Maya was waiting outside the lecture hall with her usual chaotic energy.
“Girl!” she shouted, dragging me into a hug. “Where have you been? You ghosted us last night!”
I flinched. “Uh—just… catching up on sleep.”
Jordan raised a brow beside her. “Sleep?” she repeated, eyes gleaming.
I glared at her. “Don’t start.”
“Oh, I’m starting,” she said with a grin. “You owe me breakfast for covering for you.”
Maya frowned, confused. “Cover for what?”
“Nothing,” I said quickly. “Absolutely nothing.”
Jordan smirked. “Right. Nothing.”
Maya gasped. “Wait—did something happen?”
I groaned. “Why do you sound so excited?”
“Because you’re blushing!” she accused, pointing dramatically. “You only blush when it’s a guy!”
“Or when she’s lying,” Jordan added.
I sighed. “Both of you, please. It’s too early for this.”
Maya clasped her hands together. “At least tell me his name!”
Jordan smirked again. “She doesn’t need to. I already know.”
Maya’s eyes widened. “Knox?”
I froze. “What? No!”
Jordan laughed. “That’s a yes.”
I groaned. “I hate you both.”
They burst out laughing, and I buried my face in my hands, trying not to smile.
Class was a blur. My brain was stuck somewhere between Knox’s lips and Aaron’s suspicious face.
Afterward, we all gathered at the cafeteria. Liam was already there, staring at his phone like it owed him answers.
“Hey,” I said, sliding into the seat beside him. “You okay?”
He blinked, almost startled to see us. “Oh—yeah. I’m fine.”
Jordan tilted her head. “You sure? You’ve been zoning out since morning.”
He smiled faintly. “Just… thinking.”
Maya handed him a cup of tea. “Drink. You look like you haven’t slept.”
He took it with a small smile. “Thanks.”
“Tea fixes everything,” she said brightly.
“Does it fix lying to your brother?” I muttered under my breath.
Jordan snorted, nearly spilling her drink. “Still thinking about Aaron?”
Maya frowned. “What about Aaron?”
“Nothing,” I said quickly.
“See?” Maya said, sipping her tea. “You say nothing a lot lately.”
“Maybe because you ask too many questions,” I shot back.
Jordan laughed, clinking her cup against mine. “Touché.”
Liam finally looked up from his phone, gaze soft. “Whatever you’re hiding, Yael,” he said quietly, “just… be careful. Aaron’s not exactly the forgiving type.”
That made all of us pause for a beat.
Maya shifted in her seat, muttering, “Yeah, no kidding.”
I smiled weakly, pretending I wasn’t thinking about Knox. About his lips, his warning, his voice when he said he could
n’t control himself.
“I’ll be fine,” I said.
Jordan leaned close, whispering, “You say that like a girl who’s about to get in trouble.”
She wasn’t wrong.