In Love With Him

Chapter 42

Kennedy POV

I woke up the next morning and instantly felt it—the absence of Dominic.

The quiet was louder than usual, and the air felt still in a way that made my chest ache. I blinked slowly, staring up at my ceiling, listening for movement. But the house was silent.

I loved my dad. I really did. But I had gotten used to waking up with Dominic.

Our morning routine had become its own little rhythm. A rhythm that made me feel safe, and cared for, and—dare I say it—special.

Dominic would always be there when I opened my eyes, sitting in the chair by my bed or already helping me up. He never hovered, never smothered… just helped. Without making me feel helpless.

He’d stand outside the bathroom door while I peed, waiting patiently until I called for him. Then we’d brush our teeth side by side like we’d been doing it forever. He’d help me brush through my hair, murmuring something sarcastic about my tangles or comparing me to Medusa. Then, without even asking, he’d guide me gently down the stairs—either to the kitchen or the couch depending on how sore I was feeling that morning—and he’d make us protein shakes.

He always drank one too. Said it was solidarity. That he didn’t want to eat a breakfast burrito in front of me while I was stuck drinking "chalky goop."

Afterward, he’d walk with me around the pool—just once, to get my blood flowing. Then I’d usually crash again, curled up on the couch while he worked on school stuff next to me.

It had all felt so… natural.

So easy.

I didn’t realize how much I’d come to look forward to it until it was gone.

When I pushed the blanket off me and sat up, the ache in my stomach was more dull than sharp. I could move a lot better now. No real pain—just a little sore and stiff. I didn’t want to wake my dad; he never sleeps in, and clearly, he needed the rest. So I quietly shuffled to the bathroom.

I walked to the sink and reached for my toothbrush. I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror and sighed. Puffy eyes. Messy braid. Slight drooling down the side of my lip, attractive.

I paused and glanced toward Dominic’s room.

Was he still asleep? Maybe he was relieved. Maybe he was glad he didn’t have to babysit me anymore. Maybe I was just… a job.

I pushed that thought away and started brushing my teeth.

Then I heard the soft click of the bathroom door.

Dominic stepped inside, eyes sleepy but still impossibly warm.

“Morning, princess,” he said with a crooked smile that hit me harder than it should’ve.

I froze mid-brush and gave him a foamy half-smile.

He looked around. “Where’s your dad?”

I spat into the sink and rinsed my mouth. “Still sleeping. I think.” I shrugged. “It’s okay, I can handle myself.”

His jaw flexed. Just for a second.

“Kennedy…” he said, voice low, firm. “Until you see the doctor tomorrow, you’re not supposed to be alone. Something could happen.”

I chuckled softly. “It’s okay, Dom. You’ve taken such good care of me this past week. I’ve healed a lot. I think I’ll be alright.”

He didn’t look convinced.

After a beat, he sighed and nodded slowly. “Okay. But just to be safe, I’m staying with you until your dad wakes up. No argument.”

I smirked, grabbing my brush. “You’re really bad at boundaries.”

“And you’re really bad at following rules,” he muttered back, grabbing his own toothbrush.

I turned to face the mirror again but ended up watching him.

He was brushing his teeth, hair all messy and soft, black T-shirt hugging every part of him in the most distracting way. I didn’t realize I was staring until he caught me in the mirror, still mid-brush, and raised a brow.

He pointed at me with his toothbrush. “You’ve got a little something right—”

Then he leaned forward and booped a glob of toothpaste on the tip of my nose.

“Dom!” I laughed, swatting him away. “You’re such a child!”

“Gotta keep you on your toes,” he said around a mouthful of foam.

I wiped my nose and shook my head, still laughing as we finished brushing and cleaned up. Then, without needing to say anything, we walked down the stairs together, falling right back into that routine.

It felt… right.

He set me up at the kitchen island with my usual protein shake. Sat beside me with his own. The moment was simple, quiet. Familiar.

Until we heard footsteps.

I turned to see my dad, hair a mess, eyes groggy, dragging himself into the kitchen. He froze for a second when he saw us.

Me, sitting beside Dominic like it was our hundredth morning together.

“Sorry,” he mumbled, rubbing his face. “I didn’t mean to sleep in.”

“It’s okay,” I said, smiling. “Dominic was taking care of me.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Dominic stiffen just slightly.

Dad’s jaw ticked.

Then he looked at Dominic and said, as politely as he could muster, “Thanks for helping, Dominic. I’ve got it from here.”

I didn’t miss the hesitation in Dominic’s eyes. The way his fingers tapped his shake nervously, the subtle press of his lips as he forced himself to nod.

“Text me if you need anything,” he said, his voice quieter now.

And just like that, he grabbed his shake and walked upstairs.

I stared at the stairwell long after he disappeared.

I loved my dad. But this? This felt… weird.

He was trying, I could see that. But taking care of me didn’t come naturally to him. It felt stiff. Hesitant. Like he wasn’t sure what to do or say. And I guess I didn’t blame him.

We’d been through so much together. But somehow, over the years, we’d stopped really knowing each other.

Whereas Dominic… he just got me.

And now that he was gone from my morning, I felt the absence in my bones.

---

Dominic POV

Paul walked into the kitchen like someone had just kicked him out of a dream. His eyes landed on Kennedy and me at the island, and I saw it immediately—the tension.

“Sorry,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck. “Didn’t mean to sleep in.”

Kennedy gave him a soft smile, completely unaware of the subtle standoff happening beneath the surface. “It’s okay. Dominic was taking care of me.”

There it was again—that flicker of discomfort in his jaw, that almost imperceptible tightening that told me exactly what he thought about me taking care of her.

“Thanks for helping, Dominic,” he said after a pause. “I’ve got it from here.”

His tone wasn’t aggressive. It was polite. Controlled. But make no mistake—it was also a dismissal.

I pressed my lips together and nodded. “Text me if you need anything,” I told Kennedy.

She looked at me for a second longer than she needed to, but I didn’t let myself linger.

I grabbed my shake and turned away, making my way up the stairs like I hadn’t just been benched in a game I didn’t even fully understand.

I didn’t stop until I reached my room and shut the door behind me. Quiet. Controlled.

Then I leaned back against it and exhaled, hard.

What the hell am I doing?

I ran a hand through my hair and started pacing, my steps matching the pulse hammering behind my ribs.

I needed to get a grip.

I was starting to slip—bad. I could feel it.

This whole week with Kennedy had been… incredible. Domestic. Intimate. She trusted me, leaned on me, looked at me like I was something safe. And the truth? I liked it.

No. I loved it.

And that scared the s**t out of me.

Because every time she smiled at me or touched my arm or looked up at me with those big bright eyes and that quiet trust—I forgot.

I forgot about boundaries.

I forgot we were stepsiblings.

I forgot Paul was downstairs probably imagining all the ways he could legally bury me.

I sat on the edge of my bed, gripping my protein shake tighter than necessary.

Then, like a curse being whispered into my brain, Marty’s voice echoed back into my memory from the other day—

"Girl, we seriously need to get you laid."

I closed my eyes and sighed, dragging a hand down my face.

Goddammit, Marty.

That's when I realized, I hadn’t had s*x in over a month and a half. Not since that night of the bonfire with Amber.

That had been my only hookup since moving here. I told myself it was because I was focused on school, trying to adjust to a new life—but maybe that wasn’t the full truth.

I tried, didn’t I?

I tried to hook up that night at the bar… with that girl. She was cute. Hot, even. Willing. But the second her lips touched mine… all I could think about was Kennedy.

The sound of her laugh. The way her nose scrunches when she brushes her hair. The way she smelled when I carried her up the stairs.

And of course… that kiss.

The one we barely talk about. The one that lit my damn bloodstream on fire. The one I couldn’t stop replaying in my head at night like some kind of addict.

I groaned and fell back onto my mattress, staring blankly at the ceiling.

My body was hot, frustrated, confused.

I needed to do something—anything—before I made a mistake I couldn’t undo.

I grabbed my phone and opened the group chat I had with a few guys I knew in the area. Not exactly close friends, but decent enough. Guys I met at the gym.

"Yo. Anything going on tonight?"

I sent it without thinking. Half-hoping no one would answer. Maybe the world would do me a favor and just give me a quiet night alone.

But no.

Of course not.

My phone buzzed almost immediately.

Logan: “Hell yeah, bro. Josh’s house. Big party. Starts at 9.”

Cam: “Also one at Amber’s place. Her cousin’s visiting. It’s gonna be wild.”

Jared: “Both parties are like five mins from each other. Party hop!”

I stared at the screen.

A part of me wanted to go. Needed to go. Needed to get out of this house, away from Kennedy’s voice and her damn laugh and her soft eyes and her soft everything.

But another part of me—the part that kept me up at night—knew that even if I went to that party and found someone hot and easy… I wouldn’t want them.

Because they weren’t her.

I groaned and rolled onto my side, dragging a pillow over my face.

I needed help.

Or maybe an exorcist.

Either way, I had a sinking feeling this wasn’t going away anytime soon.