In Love With Him

Chapter 61

Dominic’s POV

I laid there, motionless on my bed, one arm behind my head, the other clutching my phone.

Kennedy’s text blinked up at me like a lifeline I didn’t deserve.

"You okay?"

So simple. So soft. So her.

She didn’t push. She never did. And somehow, that made the guilt gnaw at me even worse.

My thumbs hovered over the keyboard. The words poured out like blood from an open wound.

I’m not okay. I need to tell you something—everything. About the party, about what happened. I didn’t want it. I wasn’t in control. But it doesn’t change what I did.

I was drugged. I swear to God, Kennedy, I didn’t know what I was doing. But it was Amber. I slept with Amber.

And I hate myself for it.

Because the only person I want is you. It’s always been you. I’m in love with you and I don’t know how to stop, and I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry.

I stared at it, thumb trembling over the send button.

Do it, I told myself. She deserves to know.

But my gut twisted, panic flooding my chest.

She'd hate me. She’d never forgive me.

And if she looked at me with disgust—I wouldn’t survive it.

So I sighed and held the backspace down until the screen was blank again.

I replaced the truth with a coward’s answer.

"Yup."

Send.

The message disappeared into the digital void, and the second it did, the shame burned hotter.

I shoved the phone under my pillow and dragged myself out of bed. The weight of what I did pressed on me like wet concrete.

I made my way downstairs. Each step felt heavier than the last.

As I reached the bottom, I spotted Paul at the stove, chopping onions and humming some old Springsteen song. The smell of garlic and tomato sauce filled the air—something comforting and warm.

I was about to slip past and disappear into the fridge when the front door opened.

Max burst in like a hurricane, his bag flying across the floor as he flopped face-first onto the couch with a dramatic groan.

“School sucked,” he announced to no one in particular.

“Good talk,” Paul called from the kitchen, amused.

Then I saw her.

Kennedy stepped in, curls bouncing around her shoulders like they had a mind of their own. She had her bag slung over one shoulder.

And then—she saw me.

Her eyes met mine, and that smile—the one that always undid me—bloomed across her face.

Like I was the one she wanted to see. Like everything was okay.

For a second, the guilt cracked under the warmth of that look. I smiled back—small but real.

But it didn’t last.

Because right behind her, rolling her eyes like she belonged there, was Amber.

And just like that, the air got sucked from the room.

Amber.

In my house.

With Kennedy.

I stiffened. My smile dropped like a stone.

She didn’t look at me. She didn’t even glance my way. Like nothing happened. Like we weren’t naked just a few hours ago in some stranger’s bed.

I clenched my jaw so tight I could feel the pressure building in my ears.

Kennedy was still smiling. She didn’t know. She had no idea what that snake behind her had done—or what I had done.

“Hey,” she said softly, walking toward the stairs. “Amber’s just here to work on a school project. Science.”

I nodded, trying to keep my face neutral. “Cool.”

It wasn’t cool. It was the opposite of cool.

It was a living nightmare.

Amber gave me a casual, smug little glance as she passed—just enough for me to catch it but not enough for anyone else to notice.

That look said I own you now.

No. No, she didn’t.

But it didn’t matter what I wanted to believe.

I let it happen. Even if I didn’t mean to.

I stared at Kennedy’s back as she walked up the stairs.

I was going to lose her.

And I’d deserve it.

---

Kennedy’s POV

Amber stepped into my room and looked around like she was inspecting a used car she wasn’t sure she wanted.

“Huh,” she said finally. “Your room’s… not as bad as I thought it’d be.”

I blinked, unsure if that was an insult wrapped in a compliment or the other way around. “Thanks… I guess?”

She didn’t respond, just walked further in and looked at my bookshelves, eyes scanning the rows like she was trying to learn something about me she hadn’t already picked apart in the hallways at school.

She turned suddenly, hands on her hips. “So… Dominic’s your brother?”

My breath caught.

My stomach tightened like a rope was being slowly twisted inside it. My voice didn’t want to come out, but I forced it to.

“Stepbrother,” I corrected, trying to sound casual. “Our parents are getting married on New Year’s.”

I gave a forced smile. “Kinda cheesy, right?”

Amber nodded slowly, her face unreadable. “Just a little.”

She sat on the edge of my bed like she owned the place, fingers tapping against her jeans. “So… how close are you and Dominic?”

My heart skipped. Then sped up.

I tried to keep my face still, like maybe if I stayed calm I wouldn’t give anything away. But inside, it felt like alarms were going off.

Why was she asking that?

Why now?

Did she know?

Had she seen something?

My mind raced. Did Dominic tell someone? Did she overhear something? Am I that obvious?

I shrugged, eyes drifting to my desk as I fiddled with a pen. “Pretty close, I guess.”

Her gaze stayed on me a second too long, like she was weighing something—trying to decide if she should say more. But instead, she stood up and smoothed out her shirt.

“Well,” she sighed, “let’s get to work on this stupid project. But first—” she turned toward the door, “I’m thirsty. Got anything to drink?”

I waved toward the hall. “Kitchen’s downstairs. Knock yourself out.”

Amber scoffed faintly, like the idea of pouring her own glass of water was beneath her, and walked out of the room.

The second she was gone, I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding.

Something was off.

That wasn’t just a casual conversation.

She was fishing for something.

---

Dominic’s POV

I stood in the kitchen gripping the counter, knuckles white, heart slamming in my chest.

Panic buzzed under my skin like a live wire.

What if she tells Kennedy?

What if Amber waltzes up those stairs, opens her mouth, and shatters everything?

I could survive a lot of things—but not that. Not seeing the look on Kennedy’s face if she found out what happened. The betrayal, the heartbreak, the disgust. Not after everything we’ve shared. Not after that kiss on the floor. Not after she looked me in the eyes and trusted me.

Then I heard them—heels lightly tapping against the stairs.

Amber.

She strutted into the kitchen with a sickeningly sweet smile like the devil in a cheerleader’s uniform.

“You didn’t tell me you were the loser’s stepbrother,” she said, leaning against the fridge like she owned the place.

I clenched my jaw so hard it ached. “Don’t call her that.”

Amber pushed off the fridge, her eyes dancing with amusement as she slowly stalked toward me. “Relax,” she purred, circling me like a damn vulture. “I just think it’s funny… poetic, almost. I mean—how do you think your precious little stepsis would feel if she knew her big brother f****d her bully?”

I didn’t move. Didn’t breathe. I just stared at the floor, chest tight.

Amber tilted her head, taunting, “Twice, if we’re keeping count. I bet it would break her poor little black heart.”

I raised my eyes, my voice low and strained. “What do you want, Amber?”

She stopped in front of me, eyes gleaming with satisfaction like she’d just played a winning hand. “Simple,” she said. “You f**k me—once a week—and I don’t say a word to Kennedy.”

I blinked, stunned. “Are you insane?”

Amber’s expression hardened, her fake sweetness fading like a mask slipping off. “No,” she said coolly. “But secrets have a way of slipping, especially in families. And wouldn’t it suck if your dirty little truth just… fell out of my mouth?”

She spun on her heel like she was going to head back upstairs.

“Wait.”

The word came out of me before I could stop it.

She paused.

I hated myself for even considering it. Every part of me wanted to scream no, to tell her to get the hell out, to let the truth burn if it had to. But then I pictured Kennedy—her soft blue eyes, the way she smiled at me when she was nervous, the way she looked when she rested her head on my shoulder and made everything feel okay.

I swallowed thickly. “I’ll do it.”

Amber smirked, satisfied.

“But,” I said quickly, “you leave Kennedy alone. No more bullying. No snide comments. Nothing.”

She tapped her finger on her lips, pretending to think. “Hmm… tempting. And honestly? You’re lucky you’ve got such a big, thick d**k—otherwise, I’d pass on this pathetic deal.”

I wanted to throw up.

“Fine,” she shrugged. “You got yourself a deal, Dom. But the second you flake? It’s off, and she finds out everything.”

She winked. “Friday night, don’t be late.”

And with that, she turned and walked back upstairs like she’d just won the f*****g lottery.

I stood there, frozen, stomach churning.

What the hell had I just done?

I’d sold my soul to protect Kennedy from the truth—

But at what cost?

And worse…

Would she still look at me the same way when she found out I wasn’t the good guy I kept pretending to be?