Page 195 of Kiss Me in the Dark
Fox exhales sharply, a small smile tugging at his lips.“You didn’t overreact.I would’ve done the same—or worse.And don’t you ever think Lexi is better than you.You are everything she’s not.”
His words are gentle, but they hit me with the force of a tidal wave.
“She sent you that video,” he continues, his jaw tightening.“That’s on me.If I hadn’t let her into my life in the first place, none of this would’ve happened.”
“It’s not your fault,” I say firmly.“You had a history with her—that’s in the past.She’s just… unhinged.”
Fox chuckles, the tension easing slightly.“That’s one way to put it.”
Silence falls over us again as we stare at the lake, but this time, it feels lighter.
“Why did you come looking for me?”I ask softly.
Fox sighs, running a hand through his hair.“Lexi told my father about us.Things got ugly, and I stormed out.I went to my frat house looking for her, but instead, I ran into Carter.He told everyone we’re together, and I… I lost it.I put him in the hospital.”
I nudge him with my elbow, scolding gently, “Violence isn’t always the answer, Fox.”
“In Carter’s case, it was,” he says with a smirk, and I roll my eyes.“Anyway, I finally found Lexi at a club.She admitted to sending you that video.I knew I had to find you—I couldn’t stand the thought of you hating me.”
“I could never hate you, Fox,” I whisper.
His smile returns, softer this time.“I met your parents,” he says, and my heart clenches.
I look away, blinking back tears.“They disowned me,” I say flatly.“My dad… he hit me.He said he’d rather beat the gay out of me than accept me.”
Fox pulls me into his arms, his warmth enveloping me as I rest my head on his shoulder.“Forget about them, Cam.It’s their loss.You didn’t deserve any of that.”
I lace my fingers with his, drawing strength from his touch.“What about your parents?”I ask.
“My mom’s okay with it,” he says.“She just wants me to be happy.My dad… he’s not, but he’ll learn to tolerate it.That’s what he does—tolerate people.”
I nod, trying to let his words soothe me.
“My mom wants us to come over for dinner,” Fox adds.“She wants you there.”
“Your dad?”I ask hesitantly.
“He’ll deal,” Fox says simply.“Stop worrying, Cam.I promise you, everything will be okay.”
I look into his eyes and nod.“Okay.”
“Come on,” he says, standing and pulling me to my feet.“Let’s get you inside and out of these wet clothes.”
I yelp as he hoists me onto his shoulder.
“You know I weigh like a ton, right?”I chuckle, leaning into Fox’s steady hold.
“Yeah, but still manageable for a soccer jock to handle,” he teases with a confident smirk, making me laugh.
“You’re something else, Fox Wilder,” I say, shaking my head.
“And you’re more than something else,” he replies, his voice soft yet full of meaning.
Once inside the cabin and in his bedroom, Fox helps me out of my wet clothes with careful hands, tossing them into the hamper.Now, I’m left standing in just my underwear, the air cool against my damp skin.
“You wanna maybe shower?”Fox asks, his fingers lightly tugging at the waistband of my boxers.His playful smirk says everything—I know he’s trying to get under my skin.
“Are you trying to seduce me, Fox Wilder?”I ask, biting my bottom lip with a teasing glint in my eyes.
