Chapter 17

KNOX

Look,I’m not proud that I kissed Willow, okay?

I’m not proud that I put myself in that type of situation.

But I think on a grander scale, anyone can make sense of it.

It’s not like I’m out trolling for some other girls, right? It’s Willow we’re talking about. And the only reason we talked?

She’s pregnant with my baby.

I think in the hierarchy of issues in life… that one takes one of the top spots.

Also - it’s not like Adele and I are married. Or engaged. Or living together. Or even that serious.

That doesn’t mean I can just bail on her without an honest conversation first.

Well, mostly honest conversation.

It’s not her business to know that Willow is pregnant.

Bad enough I had to grab Mac by his throat in the locker room and make him swear to me he’d shut his mouth. I told him if he said a word to anyone, I would rip his dick off.

I know he’s going to tell Violet. No, he probably already has told her.

That goes without saying.

Those two are so in love and connected…

However.

It’s up to Willow to decide when to tell people.

Just like right now it’s up to me to talk to Adele and end things with her.

I knock on her door and take a deep breath.

She opens the door and steps back.

Instantly, one eyebrow goes up.

Her lips tighten together.

She’s pissed off.

She knows something bad is about to happen.

Part of me wants to just stand outside her dorm and just tell her things are over. Then just walk away.

I step into her dorm and shut the door.

“Adele,” I say.

“No, it’s fine,” she says. “Say what you have to say. Go for it. I’m all ears, Knox. Can’t wait for this.”

Now she’s really mean…

“Adele, really?”

“What? You’re the one with the big news.”

“Big news?”

“Go ahead, Knox. Say it. I can’t wait to hear this.”

“Is this how you’re going to act?”

“What am I doing?”

“I’m here to talk to you, Adele.”

“You’re not here to talk to me. Don’t do that. Don’t try and smooth it over and be nice. Come on. I can tell when I’m getting dumped.”

I swallow hard. “Can I say anything?”

“Why bother?”

“I wanted to be fair to you. To us. That’s why I’m here.”

“So it’s true.”

“Yes,” I say. “We’ve had a lot of fun together, Adele. I’m really sorry this is happening now. I know the timing sucks. I know it’s out of nowhere.”

“Out of nowhere,” Adele says. “I love that. Like this is something burning in your mind? You just woke up today and said… hmm… I don’t want this anymore…”

“What if I did?”

“What if I know you’re a lying piece of trash, Knox?” Adele points at me. She steps closer to me.

“And how is that, Adele?”

“Wow. You’re going to stand there and just lie and lie.”

“What am I lying about?”

She shakes her head and turns away.

Of course I’m lying to her. Well, sort of lying to her. I am not going to tell her about Willow and that Willow is pregnant. Again, that’s not Adele’s business.

Yes, this situation sucks.

I did not enter this relationship with Adele knowing Willow was pregnant.

This is just one of those things in life. It… sucks. That’s it.

“Adele, I need you to listen to me,” I say. “And I need you to trust what I’m trying to say.”

That’s not the right word to use in the moment.

As soon as that word - trust - slips from my mouth, Adele spins back around.

“Fuck you,” she spits out.

My jaw tightens and I nod my head.

Let her get it off her chest. That’s fine.

“You know what? I’ll do it. This is over, Knox. Screw this. You want to stand there and try to be humble and all that. It’s such an act. You know it. I know it. And believe me, I get it. We weren’t serious. But the fact that you can’t be honest with me…?”

“Tell me what I’m not being honest about,” I command.

Adele laughs. “Okay. Like you haven’t been sneaking around with Willow Harrow behind my back?”

I feel my heart jump.

My blood turns to ice, but only for a second.

My jaw tightens a second time.

My eyes grow wide.

I don’t have that vibe or fear of being caught.

“You followed me,” I whisper.

“Doesn’t matter, Knox. At least I know.”

“You fucking followed me,” I say. “You’re a fucking psycho. Wow, Adele. This is good. I’m glad this is happening now. You are crazy.”

“But I was right! So it doesn’t matter! I knew it! I did something about it! So how long have you been screwing me and her at the same time?”

“Never once,” I say, which is the truth.

“So you just sneak over to her dorm and do what? Word on crossword puzzles together?”

“No, Adele.”

“Then what?”

Well, she pissed on half a dozen pregnancy tests. They all turned up positive. So I’m going to be a father. She’s carrying my baby. And, yeah, to be fair, we did kiss a little. Which I stopped and I know that was a mistake in that moment. Unfair to you, Adele. And I am sorry for that too.

“Can’t even tell me the truth,” Adele says. “So just fuck off, Knox. You fit the bill. The asshole jock.”

“And I guess you fit the bill too, Adele,” I say. “Psycho.”

“You want to see psycho?”

Her eyes widen and she reaches for her laptop on a table and holds it up like a steel chair in a pro wrestling match.

I shake my head and get the hell out of there.

As far as I’m concerned I never have to talk to Adele ever again.

I have no idea who is right or wrong in the situation and I really don’t care either.

There’s no time for anymore petty college life bullshit.

Willow is carrying my baby.

It’s time for me to get some stuff in order here.