Chapter 59

WILLOW

Jax walksme to my dorm.

We stand at the door and stare at each other.

“Kind of weird, isn’t it?” Jax asks.

“What?”

“Could have been me,” he says.

He points to my stomach.

“Wow,” I say. “That’s what you’re thinking about?”

He shrugs. “Just… I don’t know…”

“I’m not some science project here. Things happen. You and I never stood a chance. We tried. Now go find Mila. This whole thing is weird enough already.”

“She cares about you,” Jax says. “A lot. She doesn’t know how to handle some of the past.”

“I know. I’ve picked up on it.”

Jax’s phone beeps.

He checks it.

“Shit,” he whispers.

“What?”

“That was Mac. Nobody knows where Knox is.”

My heart sinks. “Seriously? What the hell is he doing right now?”

“Come on, Willow, let me get you inside and settled. I’ll call Mila and have her bring Ruby and Violet over. You shouldn’t be alone.”

I nod as my throat clenches.

I can’t figure out what’s going on here.

Like… did Knox just leave? Like really leave?

Or is he hiding in his dorm…?

I gasp, then turn and grab for Jax.

“His dorm,” I say. “He might be-”

“Sorry, but no,” Jax says. “Villi went there already. Even Gabriel is trying to help out. And you know how he and Knox get along.”

I gasp again. “His father. I bet he went to his father then. Right? Legal stuff. What if he’s… I don’t know. What if he challenges me?”

“Challenges you about what?”

“The baby. What if he thinks he’s not…”

“Oh, Willow,” Jax says. He pulls me close for a hug. “Your mind is spinning here. He knows he’s the father, okay? And if he starts playing any games, I’ll kill him.”

I back away from Jax.

I wipe the corners of my eyes.

I’m in a full blown panic now, wondering what exactly is going on with Knox.

“What can I do, Willow?” Jax asks.

“Tell me what the hell is happening,” I whisper. “We went to look at an apartment, Jax. What did he… you never said how you knew I was at that apartment. Knox texted you. He told you something.”

“He just wanted me to check on you,” Jax says. “That’s all. I don’t know anything else.”

“Get out of my dorm then,” I say. “I’m done with all of you. All this hockey stuff. All this college stuff. I can’t take any more of it. Look where it’s gotten me.”

“Willow, you know I’m not going to leave,” Jax says. “I can’t do that to you. Or to Knox.”

“Screw Knox!” I cry. “And screw you too! Get out!”

Jax can see I’m getting worked up.

I see his eyes look at my stomach.

He’s worried about the baby.

“Okay, Willow, I’ll leave,” he says.

I watch Jax walk to the door.

He does leave.

But then I hear a noise. A thump kind of sound.

He’s at the door.

He’s left but he’s not gone.

“Asshole,” I growl.

I look around.

I don’t want to be here anymore.

Not in this dorm. Not on the campus.

I want to leave.

Now I’m picturing myself working for my father’s construction company.

I can have a real job. An actual paying job. Something that can provide for me and the baby.

And, no, I’m not going to give up on college either.

I can finish my degree online. Or take classes at night. Or on the weekends.

It’s that simple as much as it’s complicated.

I walk into my bedroom, fully ready to collapse to the bed and cry.

But I can’t cry too much.

I don’t want my body to be under so much stress that it hurts the baby.

Before I can collapse, I see something on my bed.

It’s the envelope from the ultrasound.

It’s been opened.

Maybe it has… maybe it hasn’t…

But if it has been opened…

That means Knox has been here. In my dorm.

He’s been snooping.

Did he ditch me to come here and find out what we’re having?

I swallow hard and reach for the envelope.

My heart races as I reach into it and pull out the piece of paper…

I’m not sure if I should be doing this or not.

Then again…

Screw Knox.

I flip the paper around.

GIRL

I drop the paper and cover my mouth.

My legs get wobbly and I sit on the edge of my bed.

A girl.

I’m having a girl.

A baby girl.

My eyes fill with tears.

I’m shocked and excited all at the same time.

The feeling fades way too quickly.

My mind races.

Knox…

What did he do?

Panic?

Rush back here to check the envelope?

Then what?

See that we’re having a girl… and he… leaves…?

I reach for the piece of paper and study the word again.

GIRL

I really want to hate Knox right now.

It just doesn’t make sense though.

I just want to know…

What is Knox doing right now?