In Love With Him

Chapter 55

Kennedy POV

The car ride to the theater was quiet, but not in a comfortable way. Liam had one hand on the wheel, the other resting casually on the console between us. He smiled at me a few times, that cocky lopsided grin he always wore like a mask. I tried to smile back, tried to feel… something. Excitement. Butterflies. Anything other than this anxious twist low in my gut.

But I didn’t.

I didn’t even know what movie we were seeing. Something about space? Or dreams? Or maybe both? Honestly, I hadn’t been paying attention. When we stepped into the theater, it was nearly empty—just a couple teens in the front row, a man two aisles down with a jumbo popcorn, and us.

Liam led me up to the very back row, the farthest corner. The darkest. The quietest. My stomach dipped again. He wasn’t interested in the movie. That much was clear now.

He slung his arm over the back of the seat behind me as we sat down, his leg brushing mine. I folded my hands tightly in my lap and tried to focus on the previews.

Then his hand landed on my thigh.

I stiffened.

He didn’t look at me. Just kept watching the screen like nothing had changed.

But his fingers started moving—slowly at first—rubbing small, rough circles over my thigh. My breath caught. I shifted slightly in my seat, hoping he’d take the hint.

He didn’t.

If anything, he smirked. Like it was a game. Like I was playing hard to get.

I wasn’t playing.

He slid his hand higher, pushing up the hem of my dress. My skin crawled.

Panic started building in my chest. I didn’t want this. Not here. Not like this. Not with him.

I was about to pull away when—

“What the hell?”

The voice cut through the tension like a blade. I looked up and saw Amber standing there, halfway down the aisle with some tattooed guy I’d never seen before. Her brows scrunched as she took us in, clearly confused.

“Seriously? You two?”

Liam sighed loudly, pulling his hand away with an irritated huff. “We’re on a date, Amber. I’m allowed to date other people.”

Amber scoffed, flipping her hair over her shoulder. “Gross,” she muttered, and made her way down with her new guy.

I had never been so relieved to see her in my entire life.

Because for the next hour and a half, she made sure to ruin everything. Every time Liam shifted toward me, she threw popcorn. At me. Whispered insults. Laughed too loud. Made out disgustingly with her date—doing just enough to keep Liam distracted and annoyed.

I didn’t care. I was grateful. Because her chaos kept his hands off me.

By the time the credits rolled, I was practically out of my seat.

The car ride back was short, thank God. I stared out the window the whole time, counting the streetlights and trying to keep the growing lump in my throat from choking me.

When Liam pulled in front of the driveway, he finally spoke.

“Sorry tonight didn’t go exactly how I planned,” he said with a little chuckle.

I gave him a tight smile. “It’s okay.”

I reached for the handle, ready to bolt—but then his hand caught my face.

“Wait,” he said, and before I could react, his lips were on mine.

Wet. Stiff. Sloppy.

I tried to keep still. Tried not to panic. But then his hand trailed down my neck, to my chest, fingers grabbing. Squeezing. His other hand clamped down on my cheek, holding me in place.

My heart raced. I tried to pull away.

“Liam—”

He kissed harder, more forcefully, his hand now sliding down my side toward my thighs. He slid his hand in between them and was making his way up. My whole body locked up. I could barely breathe.

“What are you doing?” I gasped, finally breaking free.

He smirked. “What do you think I’m doing? I want you, Kennedy.”

My stomach dropped.

“Why now?” I asked, my voice shaking. “You never wanted me before.”

His brows pulled together like he was confused. “I don’t know. I guess I just never noticed how beautiful you were until the bonfire.”

Oh my God.

That was it. That’s all it was. My body. My dress. My curves.

Nothing more.

He leaned in again, and I panicked.

“I—I’m on my period!” I blurted.

He pulled back instantly, nose wrinkled. “Oh. Um… that’s… unfortunate.”

But then he smiled again—that smile—and ran his thumb over my lips.

“But, you know… we could do something else,” he said lowly.

My eyes went wide with horror.

No. Nope. Hell no.

I cleared my throat and said the first thing I could think of. “I’m not feeling well. I think I should just go. I’ll see you Monday.”

He started to say something, but I was already out of the car, slamming the door behind me.

I walked up the steps as fast as I could, my legs shaking. Rage and disgust tangled with humiliation deep in my gut.

My hand trembled as I opened the door and slammed it shut behind me, harder than I meant to. It echoed through the house.

I didn’t even look at the couch—I didn’t want to know who was there.

I didn’t want to talk.

I just ran up the stairs.

Straight to my room.

And let the tears fall.

---

Dominic POV

I sat on the couch, the TV flashing in front of me—some car show I wasn’t even paying attention to. I thought maybe it’d help, maybe the roaring engines and revving motors would drown out the thoughts running wild in my head.

It didn’t.

No matter how many times I tried to force my focus onto anything else, my mind always came back to her.

Kennedy.

Was she still at the movies? Were they holding hands in the dark, lips brushing, whispering in the back row? Was he kissing her? Touching her?

The thought of Liam putting his hands on her made my jaw clench so tight I thought I might crack a tooth. And the idea of his mouth on hers—his filthy hands sliding up that tight little dress she wore tonight—I felt my blood boil.

My fists curled against my thighs.

I shouldn’t care this much. I had no right. But I did. And I didn’t even want to try to stop it anymore.

Then the front door slammed.

I jumped, eyes snapping up.

Kennedy.

She didn’t even look at me. Her face was pale, her eyes red, her jaw trembling. She bolted for the stairs like she couldn’t get away fast enough.

Something was wrong.

My stomach twisted in knots.

I was on my feet before I could think. I climbed the stairs two at a time and stood in front of her door. I raised my hand, hesitated, then knocked softly.

“…Kennedy?”

There was a pause.

Then her voice, cracked and small, “Go away.”

But she was crying.

My heart broke.

I didn’t listen. I couldn’t.

I opened the door slowly and stepped inside. She was curled up on her bed, still in that damn dress—her back to me, shoulders trembling with every shallow breath she took.

I closed the door behind me and moved to her side, carefully sitting on the edge of the bed. My thigh brushed the back of her legs and her butt. She didn’t flinch. But I could hear her sniffling.

“What happened?” I asked, gently.

She didn’t turn to face me. Her chin quivered as she whispered, “You were right. He only wanted one thing.”

I went still.

Dread punched me in the gut.

“Did he…” I swallowed, my voice raw. “Did he hurt you?”

She shook her head quickly. “No. He didn’t. But he kept touching me. His hands wouldn’t stop. They were everywhere.”

I felt sick.

“He kept sliding them up my thigh, and I—I didn’t know what to do. I panicked and told him I was on my period.”

Relief swept through me, but it was short-lived.

“Then he suggested I should do something for him instead.”

I didn’t need her to explain.

I knew exactly what the bastard meant.

My vision went red. I wanted to find Liam and break every bone in his body. Tear his f*****g throat out for laying a hand on her.

But I didn’t move.

I didn’t rage.

I stayed there. Because she needed me here.

“I didn’t do it,” she added quickly, almost defensively, like she thought I needed to hear it. “I said I wasn’t feeling well, and that I’d see him Monday. Then I just… I got out of the car. I ran inside.”

Tears spilled down her cheeks now. She didn’t try to wipe them away.

I leaned forward slowly, bracing my weight over her as gently as I could, resting my forehead on her shoulder. I could feel her warmth, her heart pounding under my chest.

“Most of the time,” I whispered against her skin, “I gloat when I’m right.”

I closed my eyes.

“But this… this isn’t one of those times.”

She sniffled, wiping at her cheeks.

I stayed there, letting my presence wrap around her like a blanket, trying to keep the broken pieces of her from falling apart completely.

I wanted to kiss her.

I wanted to make her feel safe again.

But most of all… I wanted to kill the pain in her eyes.