Page 55 of Sweet Addiction

“You have a visitor.” Her lips form a thin line and I see the flash of pity in her eyes.

My stomach swirls with anxiety. My mom is here. Fuck. I don’t think I’m ready for this. I swallow, taking a deep breath. “Where is she?”

Vanessa’s brows furrow, her eyes searching my face before they soften. “It’s not your mother honey. Come on down. He said he won’t leave until you talk to him.”

My breath hitches in my throat. Knox is here. What the hell? Why hasn’t Vanessa kicked him out already? All it would take is one call to security and they would kick his ass out of the building before he could blink. If Vanessa is allowing him to see me, then he must have done a good job of convincing her that he is here for the right reasons. But… “I don’t want to see him,” my voice leaves no room for argument.

Vanessa sighs, moving toward me. Grabbing my hand, she gives me a comforting squeeze. “Sweetheart, you know I would never do anything that I thought would hurt you. He is not leaving. I think you need to hear him out.”

“Get security to kick him out,” I grit.

She shakes her head. “No.”

I pull out of her hold, my head reeling back as I stare at her with an incredulous look. “No? What do you mean no? You know what he did. He destroyed me and now you want me to talk to him. Why?”

She flashes me a knowing smile. “Because despite everything, you love him Mads. I see it in your eyes. And if you love someone the way you love him, and he loves you? Well, you don’t just give that up.”

I choke on air at her words as my eyes widen in shock. Has my stepmother lost her mind? “He lied to me about having sex with my own mother. He is having a baby with her,” I hiss. I don’t mean to take my anger out on Vanessa, but fuck. Why can’t she just tell Knox to go away?

“Maybe all is not as it seems,” she says cryptically. “Now come on. I know you are stronger than this. Don’t run from your problems Madison. You need to face this head-on. You might even be surprised at the outcome.”

“I wish Dad was here. He would have toldhimto fuck off,” I grumble.

Vanessa chuckles. “Yeah, he would have. But like I said don’t run from your problems. That doesn’t solve anything.”

I sigh in frustration but know she is right. I need to talk to Knox if only to get some closure. “Let me go get cleaned up. Tell him that I will be down shortly.”

* * *

After taking a long hot shower, I change into some yoga pants and an oversized sweatshirt. Making my way downstairs, I smirk. I know I took my time but if the asshole wants to see me, then it’s on my terms and he can wait. Hearing voices in the lounge, I move toward them. My stomach tightens at hearing Knox’s deep rasp for the first time in two weeks. I squeeze my eyes closed, wishing more than anything that he didn’t have this hold over me. He is going to be my baby brother or sister’s dad and surely, they will get married now. The thought causes physical pain to surge through my whole body and I nearly collapse.

Sucking in a calming breath, I release it and straighten my spine. I just need to get this over with. Rounding the corner, I step inside the lounge only to freeze when the conversation stops, and two sets of eyes come to me. It’s the dark ones, so intense, so full of love that keep me frozen to the spot. I’m snapped out of my trance when Knox pushes out of his chair and takes a step toward me.

“Dove?” His voice is an unsure whisper. Nothing like the cocky, confident Knox I know.

Before I can speak, Vanessa is up and across the room to me. “I will give you two some privacy,” she says, giving me a warm comforting hug. Leaning in so only I can hear, she says, “You’ve got this honey. Be brave.” And then she pulls away, leaving the room and closing the door behind her.

My gaze shifts to Knox. He watches me with a look I can’t quite decipher before his eyes drop to my neck and the necklace that hangs there. I should have taken it off by now but it’s so beautiful I couldn’t bring myself to part with it. Lifting my chin, I move past him, taking a seat on the couch Vanessa just vacated.

“Dove?” he rasps again.

My gaze meets his, narrowing. “Don’t call me that,” I snap. “How did you know I was here?”

He sighs, running a hand through his dark hair. I swallow. Being in the same room as him is suffocating. His presence blocks out everything until he is all that I see. All I will ever see. And he can’t be mine. Never was.

We stare at each other for a long beat before he finally speaks. “I have my ways.” He shrugs, his eyes dropping to my necklace again before coming back to me. He swallows. “I was telling the truth Dove. I have never fucked your mother. The baby isn’t mine,” he says, and I roll my eyes at this old song and dance. It’s like déjà vu. “Your mom is pregnant. She wasn’t lying about that. But the baby is some actors. Michael Hallihan’s.” My breaths start to come in thick and fast with every word he says.

“You’re lying,” I whisper. “You always lie. You’re no better than my mom with your manipulations.”

He shakes his head. “Call her and ask her yourself if you don’t believe me. I know you are hurt, confused and whatever other emotions you are feeling but I didn’t lie to you. I never have. I love you Dove.”

I fly off the couch, my face contorting in pain. “Why are you doing this? Why couldn’t you just leave me alone to at least try and get over you? If what you say is true, then why haven’t the tabloids printed anything to corroborate what you are telling me?”

Pushing out of his seat, he steps into me. My breath hitches as he cups my face in his big palms. He opens his mouth, his hot breath fanning my face. “It’s not as simple as that and you know it. Clarissa is trying to work out something that will work in all our favor. But it’s true Dove. I didn’t fuck your mother. Not once.” His lips brush mine and I want so much to just melt into him. But if I give in now, he will never have respect for me. I will be that girl that gets walked over by her boyfriend. I will never be that—no matter how much I love him. Until I see proof, he doesn’t get to touch me in this way.

Shoving him away, I glare. “No. You don’t get to come in here and think everything can just go back to how it was. I won’t believe anything that comes out of your mouth. Unless I see something that backs up what you say, then I don’t want to see you. We are done.”

Pain contorts his features. Good. Now he knows how I feel. I hate being bitter like this but it’s what he has reduced me to. “You have every right to be angry Dove and I will allow it. For now. But make no mistake, I am coming for you. You want actions? Then that is what I will give you. Know this though, everything I have ever told you is the truth. I never lied to you. I wouldn’t. I love you. You are my world. My beginning. My end. I’ve never loved a woman until you came along. You are the first and the last. There is no one else for me. It’s you. Only you. Just remember we belong together. And the people who belong in your life will always find a way to stay, no matter how much you push them away. Nothing in this universe will keep me from you, from making you mine. And you are mine Dove. With everything in me, everything I am, I will show you,” he whispers the last words, making tears leak from my eyes.

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