Chapter 50 CHAPTER 50
YAEL
The next morning, I woke up with a stupid smile on my face, even though my neck was a battlefield of purple and red marks that no amount of concealer was fully hiding. I threw on a scarf anyway, grabbed my backpack, and headed to my first class, still buzzing from last night—from Knox’s apologies, from the way he’d groaned my name, from hiding him in the closet like some bad rom-com.
Campus was buzzing more than usual. Whispers followed me down the path to the lecture hall, heads turning, phones not-so-subtly pointed my way. I ignored it at first—people always talked after a fight like yesterday’s—but by the time I reached the quad, I knew something was up.
Three girls were waiting by the fountain. I recognized them immediately: Madison and her two shadows, the ones who’d been glued to Knox’s side at every party before we got together. Madison’s arms were crossed, her glossy lips curled into a sneer.
“Yael,” she called out, loud enough for half the quad to hear. “Got a second?”
I slowed, raising an eyebrow. “Not really, Why.”
“Don’t play dumb,” Brianna snapped. “Everyone saw Knox sitting with you at lunch yesterday. Like, actually choosing to sit with you.”
I raised an eyebrow. “And?”
Madison laughed, sharp and mean. “And it’s pathetic. He’s clearly just feeling sorry for you or something. You really think he’d pick you over his actual friends?”
“His actual friends,” I repeated slowly. “You mean the table he never sits at anymore because he’s usually with me?”
Kayla rolled her eyes. “Please. He’s just bored. Or maybe he lost a bet. There’s no way Knox Reid is actually into you.”
Madison stepped closer, lowering her voice like she was doing me a favor. “Look, I’m trying to be nice here. Knox has a type, okay? And you’re… sweet, I guess. But you’re not it. You’re embarrassing yourself chasing after him when everyone knows he’s just messing around.”
My stomach twisted, but I kept my face neutral. “Funny. He didn’t look like he was messing around when he was stealing my fries and laughing at my jokes.”
“He feels bad for you,” Madison said, shrugging like it was obvious. “Your brother’s always starting shit with him on the ice. Knox is probably just trying to keep the peace or whatever.”
Brianna snorted. “Or he’s trying to get in your pants before he moves on. Guys like Knox don’t date girls like you, Yael. They hook up and ghost.”
The words stung more than I wanted to admit, but I refused to let it show. “You done?”
Madison’s smile turned icy. “No, actually. Stay away from him. He doesn’t need some clingy freshman dragging him down.”
That’s when her hand twitched—like she was about to reach out, maybe grab my arm, maybe worse. I saw it coming a mile away.
Her palm flew toward my face.
Mine got there first.
The slap cracked across her cheek so loud half the quad went silent.
Madison stumbled back, clutching her face, eyes wide in total shock. “You—did you just—”
“Yeah,” I said, voice steady even though my hand was stinging. “I did. Touch me or talk to me like that again, and we’ll have a real problem.”
Brianna and Kayla gaped like fish. Phones were out—someone was definitely filming—but I didn’t care. I stepped around them and walked away, heart hammering against my ribs.
By the time I got back to my dorm, I was drained. All I wanted was to curl up and forget the entire day existed.
I pushed open the door—and stopped dead.
Knox was there.
Sprawled on my bed like he owned it, one arm behind his head, scrolling through his phone. He looked up the second I walked in, and his whole face softened.
“Hey, pretty girl,” he murmured, tossing his phone aside and sitting up. “Rough day?”
I didn’t answer with words. I just dropped my bag, crossed the room, and kissed him—like I needed to prove to myself he was real, that this was real.
He groaned into my mouth instantly, hands sliding up my back, pulling me down onto the bed with him. The kiss was deep and slow and perfect, like he was saying I’m here without needing the words.
When we finally pulled apart, foreheads pressed together, he was grinning.
“Hi,” he whispered.
“Hi,” I whispered back, smiling despite everything.
His eyes dropped to my neck, and that grin turned smug as hell. He reached up, gently unwinding the scarf. “Jesus, Yael.”
The hickeys were even darker today, stark against my skin.
“You proud of yourself?” I asked, rolling my eyes.
“So fucking proud,” he admitted, thumb brushing over one. “These are gorgeous. Everyone’s gonna wonder who put them there.”
“No one’s supposed to know it’s you, remember?” I reminded him, poking his chest.
He laughed softly. “Yeah, yeah. Secret relationship. Torture, by the way.”
I flopped down beside him, head on his chest. He wrapped an arm around me immediately, fingers tracing lazy patterns on my arm.
“Tell me about your day,” he said quietly. “You look like you need to vent.”
I groaned. “You have no idea.”
“Try me.”
So I told him. Everything.
“And then she basically called me a pity fuck,” I muttered. “Said you have a type and I’m not it.”
Knox’s body went tense under me. “She said what?”
“Relax,” I said, patting his chest. “It’s fine. I handled it.”
He tilted my chin up. “How exactly did you handle it?”
I bit my lip. “I… may have slapped her.”
His eyes went wide. “You slapped Madison?”
“After she tried to slap me first,” I added quickly. “She raised her hand, I just got there faster.”
For a second he just stared at me. Then he burst out laughing—deep, real laughter that shook his whole chest.
“Oh my God,” he gasped.
“You’re incredible,” he murmured. “You know that, right?”
“Tell me more,” I teased, needing the lightness.
He rolled us so he was hovering over me, eyes shining. “You’re badass. You’re beautiful. You’re mine—even if no one else knows it yet. And the fact that you slapped Madison for talking shit about us? Hottest thing I’ve ever heard.”
I laughed, shoving at his shoulder. “You’re ridiculous.”
“Ridiculously into you,” he corrected, leaning down to kiss my neck again, right over one of the marks. “Tell me the rest. What else happened?”
So I kept talking—about the stares, the whispers, the way people kept looking at me like I’d stolen something that didn’t belong to me.
And the whole time, he just listened, smiling like an idiot, fingers tangled in mine, looking happier than I’d ever seen him.
“You’re not mad?” I asked eventually. “That all this drama is because of one lunch?”
“Mad?” He shook his head. “Baby, I’d sit with you at every lunch for the rest of the year if it meant I got to hear you laugh like that again. Drama and all.”
I melted.
He kissed me again.
“Secret’s killing me,” he admitted against my lips. “But worth it. You’re worth it.”