Chapter 24

WILLOW

Walking awayfrom the whole Adele scene has me way more uneasy than when I approached. Going up to her my blood had been pumping hard and fast. I had been ready for a fight. I got what I wanted… sort of.

Now?

I’m trying to not think about everyone looking at me.

Amazing how Adele’s idiotic jealous decision spread like a wildfire across campus.

And this isn’t something little either.

This isn’t about two people hooking up.

This is me being pregnant. This is life-changing stuff.

“I need you to know something, Willow,” Knox says. “What just happened there. That’s all my fault. Completely my fault. And I can’t take any of it back.”

“Are you showing vulnerability and remorse?”

“I think so. Don’t tell anyone. Plus, you saw me pass out. That’s pretty vulnerable.”

“I think you did it on purpose because you wanted Lana to stand over you and touch you.”

Knox smiles. “You know, that’s not a bad plan. I think I can see Jax doing something like that. Definitely not me though. I’m more straightforward with things.”

I touch my stomach. “Yeah. I know.”

The smile on Knox’s face changes.

He’s forcing the smile now.

Which I understand.

This entire thing is very intense.

It’s not like we’re going to jump for joy, celebrate and plan out the rest of our lives. Yet at the same time we both are attempting to grasp the reality of it all. Not that we know a thing about this.

I’m a senior in college who’s been undecided for four years.

Knox is a senior in college ready to get drafted by a professional hockey team.

Now we’re connected. Forever.

“I now need you to know something,” I say to him.

“Can’t be worse than being pregnant, right?”

“Really?”

“That sounded funnier in my head. Sorry.”

“I don’t know what you had going on with her,” I say. “With Adele.”

“You don’t have to worry-”

“I’m not worried. At all. Let me finish my sentence here, Knox. What I’m trying to tell you is that I don’t know what you had with her. I don’t care either. You and I hooked up and here we are. But if things with her were… you know…”

“Whoa,” Knox says. “Are you really trying to push me back to her?”

“No. I’m just saying… you didn’t have to break up with her for me. Or because of me.”

“Yes. I did.”

“Knox.”

He jumps in front of me and gently touches my hips.

Chills explode throughout my body as I stare up at him.

I can almost feel my tongue wanting to hang from my mouth.

Pull yourself together, Willow.

“I’m not sure who you think I am,” Knox says. “I’m not going to say a thing either. I’ll just show you. Got that? The truth is simple. Adele and I were just having some fun. Total opposites. I had no idea she would go crazy like that. She followed me. Which means she followed you. That’s not right. And to do what she did now?”

“Knox, it’s done. I said what I had to say to her. I even punched her. She knows.”

“Yeah, but it doesn’t sit well with me.”

There’s some regretful anger in his eyes.

I swallow hard.

I don’t want this kind of stuff to maybe turn me on but what can I do? I can’t resist what my body feels. Maybe it’s just the insane amount of hormones raging through my body right now. Maybe I should call Mila, meet up with her and pick her brain about this stuff.

Or maybe I should just tell Knox to take me back to my dorm and fuck me.

More chills flood my body.

“I’m not okay with it,” Knox says. “I’m not okay with what she did to you.”

“To us,” I say.

“No, baby. To you. You’re the one who is going to have to face this more than I do. I don’t like that either.”

“That’s sweet of you to say, Knox. To recognize me. I appreciate it.”

“I’m not just saying it either.”

“I believe you.”

“Hey! Knox! Where was the save on that one?”

The voice comes from my right side, Knox’s left.

We both look.

Some guy with a bag over his left shoulder is smiling at us.

“Who is that?” I ask.

“No fucking clue,” Knox growls.

The guy then turns to the side and pretends to massage a big belly.

Then he sticks his thumbs up and starts laughing.

As soon as Knox moves, I grab for him.

He shakes me away like I’m a fly.

“Fuck,” I whisper.

I don’t even bother going after Knox at this point.

I place my hands on my hips and watch.

As Knox closes in on the guy who yelled at him…

The guy realizes what’s about to happen.

“Knox, I’m just fucking around, man! I was joking. I’m happy for you. For you both! Hey! Congrats! You’re having a baby! That’s amazing!”

That’s not good enough for Knox.

The guy drops his bag and tries to take off.

Knox grabs the back of the guy’s shirt and pulls him off his feet.

A second later, the guy crashes to the ground.

“Knox, I swear! It was a joke! Just a joke, man!”

Knox places his foot on the guy’s chest. He then leans down and grabs for the guy’s throat.

“Please! Knox!”

Knox’s right hand balls up tight and he brings his fist back.

I cannot believe how warm my body is getting right now.

Like a head to toe kind of warmth…

Knox looks back at me.

I’m not going to tell him what to do.

In one motion, Knox pushes himself away from the guy on the ground and turns around to walk toward me.

The guy is on the ground, holding his stomach, shaking.

I don’t say a word to Knox about the ordeal.

I’m not sure if he’s just blowing off some steam or if he’s trying to protect me.

The violence is just… sexy.

I think about me walking up to Adele and punching her.

Then Knox going after some guy who made a comment…

My body is achy and on fire.

On. Fire.

As soon as Knox is within reach I grab for his hands.

I pull myself toward him.

My body touches his. It needs to feel…

“He’s lucky I didn’t break his jaw,” Knox growls.

I nod. “I need something…”

“What’s wrong, baby?”

My cheeks feel warm. I know they’re bright red.

I blink a few times.

I care yet I don’t.

I just…

I jump up to my toes.

“Knox… take me to my dorm… right now.”