Page 173 of Kiss Me in the Dark
“Stay the hell away from him,” Fox growls, his voice dangerously low.
Lexi steps away from the wall, turning her glare on me.She saunters up, her face mere inches from mine.“Don’t think for a second that he loves you.You’re just a toy, a passing phase.He’ll get bored of you, just like he gets bored of everyone else.”
Her words sting, but I hold my ground, refusing to let her see how deeply they cut.She taps my shoulder mockingly, her smirk widening.“Enjoy it while it lasts, golden boy because in the end, he’ll always come back to me,” she sneers before turning on her heel and stalking off.
43
Reassurances
“I’msorry.”
Those are Fox’s first words the moment I step into the apartment.
I’m exhausted.Emotionally drained.Pissed.
How could Lexi stoop so low—threatening us, our relationship?How could she take that photo, invade something so private, and then hold it over our heads like some twisted power play?And the way she spoke to me—like I’m just a fling, a temporary toy—still makes my blood boil.
“I’m going to talk to her.I promise,” Fox says, his voice soft but determined.
“You should.”I sigh, brushing past him and heading down the hall.
“Cam?”
His voice stops me, and then he gently catches my forearm.I turn in his hold, my tired eyes meeting his concerned ones.I don’t want to talk—not now.I need a hot shower and maybe a full reboot of my entire life.
I’m not ready for the whole school to know about us.
Even though part of me is sick of hiding, the thought of being judged, whispered about, ridiculed… it terrifies me.High school was already hell once—I don’t need a sequel.And with Fox—Mr.Popular, soccer star, frat king, the Chancellor’s freaking son—it’ll be a whole different brand of chaos if Lexi follows through.
“I want you to stop worrying,” he says gently, giving my arm a reassuring squeeze.
“Okay,” I mumble.But I don’t mean it.There’s too much weighing me down—Lexi, school, the looming conversation with my parents this weekend.Telling them I’m gay… and that I’m dating a boy?Yeah, that’s going to be a disaster.But it’s time.Maybe once that’s out, I’ll feel brave enough to face whatever storm Lexi’s brewing.
I slip out of his hold with a weak smile.“I’m going to take a shower,” I say, turning away.“And you’re not invited.”
“Fuck,” I hear him mutter as I step into my room.
I sigh and pull out my phone to text Landon.I need advice.
I need to know what it’s like to live openly, without constantly scanning the room for judgment.People like Landon and Nat make it look effortless.I wonder if I’ll ever feel that free.
ME:Hey.
I stare at the screen, waiting.No reply.
Frustrated, I toss the phone onto the bed and start undressing.Why does Lexi always have to make my life harder?Why can’t she just move the hell on?
Once I’m stripped down, I step into the bathroom and twist the handle.Warm water rains down, soothing my tense muscles.I close my eyes and lean against the cool tile, letting the minutes blur together.I’m not even washing.Just… standing there.Letting the water wash away the weight I’ve been carrying.
Then I feel it—a soft kiss on my shoulder blade.
My eyes snap open.
I don’t need to turn around to know who it is.
Fox.
I stay quiet, my breath hitching as he presses another kiss to my neck—warm, deliberate, claiming.He doesn’t say anything and doesn’t ask for permission.He just moves closer, his chest brushing against my back, his semi-erection pressing against me, undeniable.
