16 | Confessions

"Soulmates always find each other."

Willa

𓇼𓇼𓇼𓇼

I haven't moved from my bed since I got home.

My room is dark except for the dim glow of my bedside lamp, casting a soft, golden hue over the walls. The rain has stopped, leaving my window fogged from the lingering humidity. I've been lying here, staring at the ceiling, my mind running in endless circles.

I kissed Dominic West.

Or—he kissed me.

Or—maybe it was both.

It doesn't matter. The fact remains the same: It happened.

And I let it happen.

I let myself fall right back into him like no time had passed at all, like I hadn't spent years resenting him, missing him, hating him.

And worse—I slipped up.

I told him about the letters.

My stomach twists at the memory. The moment the words left my mouth, I wanted to snatch them out of the air, rewind time, unsay them. But the look on his face—the way all the color drained from his already pale skin, the way he went completely still, like the truth of it had punched the air from his lungs—it made something deep inside me ache.

He didn't know.

I still don't know what to do with that.

With the knowledge that I poured my heart onto paper for him, bared my soul in ink, and he never even got to read a single word.

I roll onto my side, burying my face in my pillow, trying to suppress the heat crawling up my neck.

It's not fair. None of this is fair.

A loud bang rattles my bedroom door.

I jolt up just as it swings open, revealing none other than my little sister, Remi, standing in the doorway with a look of pure mischief.

"You could knock, you know," I mutter, pushing my hair out of my face.

"I could." She shrugs, stepping inside uninvited. "But where's the fun in that?"

I groan, flopping back onto my bed as she flounces over, arms crossed over her chest like she's about to deliver some life-altering wisdom.

"Are you here for a reason, or just to annoy me?" I mumble into my pillow.

She hums, considering it. "Mostly the second one. But also—" she tilts her head, eyes narrowing "—you're acting weird."

I scoff. "I'm not acting weird."

"You totally are." She sits on the edge of my bed, bouncing slightly. "You've been mopey since you got home. And you keep sighing dramatically like you're in some kind of tragic novel."

I glare at her. "I do not."

"You do," she insists. Then her eyes suddenly widen, a grin stretching across her face. "Oh my god. Did something happen?"

"No," I lie immediately, too fast.

Remi gasps, flinging herself onto the bed next to me. "Something totally happened. What was it? Did someone confess their undying love for you? Did you have an epic fight? Oh! Did you—" her eyes widen further "—kiss someone?"

I nearly choke on my own spit. "What?! No!"

She squints at me, eyes sharp with suspicion. "You're a terrible liar."

I groan again, grabbing a pillow and shoving it over my face. Maybe if I smother myself, I won't have to answer her.

But Remi, being the little gremlin that she is, does not take the hint. Instead, she starts giggling.

"Willa and someooneee sitting in a tree—"

"Remi, shut up—"

"K-I-S-S—"

Before she can finish, the unmistakable sound of another voice drifts up from downstairs. A deep voice. A familiar voice.

My entire body goes still.

Remi stops singing, her head snapping toward the door.

Then—she gasps.

Loudly.

"Oh. My. God." She scrambles up so fast she nearly trips over herself, rushing toward the door. "It's him."

Panic flares in my chest. "Remi, no—"

But she's already gone.

I throw off my blankets, bolting upright just as I hear her rush downstairs. My heart is racing, my hands trembling slightly as I move toward my door, pressing myself against the frame so I can listen.

"...looking for a mouthy blonde," Dom's voice says, dripping with amusement.

Remi giggles. "You mean Willa?"

I squeeze my eyes shut, mortified.

"Yeah," Dom chuckles. "Think you can help me out?"

Remi's response is far too enthusiastic. "Of course! Come on."

I barely have time to react before I hear them ascending the stairs.

Shit.

I scramble back, smoothing down my hair, trying to look casual—like I wasn't just lying here overanalyzing every detail of the past hour.

Remi bursts through my door first, positively beaming.

And behind her—

My heart.

Tall, broad, still damp from his post-practice shower, his damp hoodie hanging loose over his frame. His dark hair is a mess, like he ran his hands through it one too many times. And his gaze—sharp, assessing—lands on me, making my stomach flip.

For a second, we just...look at each other.

Then, Remi claps her hands together. "Okay, I'll leave you two alone."

I snap out of my daze. "Remi—"

She winks. "Have fun."

I groan, grabbing the nearest object-a pillow-and chucking it at her as she scurries away, giggling.

The door shuts, leaving me alone with Dom.

For a moment, there's nothing but silence.

Then—

"She's grown up," Dom comments, smirking slightly.

I expect the awkwardness to settle in, for the tension to make this unbearable. But surprisingly, it doesn't.

Instead, Dom moves further into my room, hands shoved in his hoodie pocket. "Didn't think you would want to let me come in."

I sigh, sitting down on the edge of my bed. "I don't know what I want."

Dom watches me for a moment before nodding, like he understands.

And maybe he does.

His smirk fades slightly. His eyes scanning my face like he's looking for something. "You ran away."

I huff, glancing at the floor. "So?"

"So, I don't like it when you run from me." His voice is quieter now, softer.

My heart stumbles over itself.

I chew on my lip. "I don't know what you want me to say."

He exhales, stepping even closer. "I don't either."

The air shifts.

He's too close.

And I don't move away.

I should.

But I don't.

Because he's standing here, in my room, looking at me like I'm something worth staying for.

And that terrifies me.

Because I can't let him in completely.

Not again.

I swallow, hugging myself. "Dom... I don't know if I can do this."

His brows pull together. "Do what?"

I shake my head. "Let you in." My voice is barely a whisper. "Not completely."

His lips part like he wants to argue, but he stops himself. Instead, he just nods.

"I get it," he murmurs. Then, with a humorless chuckle, "I wouldn't let me in, either."

My stomach tightens.

His voice is rough, tinged with something heavy, something broken.

I step forward before I can stop myself. "Dom—"

"I'm not a good person, Willa." His voice is raw, honest. "I can't change who I am. But I'll try." His eyes flicker with something unreadable. "For you."

My breath catches.

"You are the best person I know."

The weight of his words settle between us, thick and unspoken.

"Then you don't know many people, baby."

The endearment slips from his mouth for the second time, and instead of flinching, I feel a smile tug at the corners of my lips. I glance up at him, warmth blooming in my chest, something dangerous and familiar all at once.

And before I can think too hard about it, I step closer, tilting my head until my forehead rests lightly against his.

He exhales slowly, his hands lifting—like he wants to touch me—but he doesn't.

We stay like that.

Close.

Unmoving.

His breath is warm against my skin as he murmurs, "Will you be my friend again, butterfly?"

A shiver rolls through me.

I sigh, leaning my weight into him, my body molding to his like it belongs there.

He will always catch me.

He will always be there.

"I don't think I could ever say no to you."

A throaty chuckle rumbles from his chest. Deep. Low. It wraps around me, sinking into my bones.

And then—

A car pulls into his driveway.

We both jolt, our heads snapping toward the window.

Headlights slice through the dark, reflecting off the rain-slick pavement, casting long shadows across my floor. The engine hums low and steady as the familiar car rolls to a stop outside the Wests' house.

His father.

Dom stiffens.

I look back at him, worry curling around my ribs, tightening with every second that passes. What if this is the moment that breaks him? What if his father pushes him too far, drags him back into the darkness he's trying so hard to escape?

What if I lose him all over again?

"Stay here," I whisper, reaching for him. "We can talk. I can—"

He smiles, but it's small, almost sad.

Then, before I can react, he leans in and presses the softest kiss to my forehead.

It's barely a brush of his lips, but it sends something sharp and aching through me.

"I need to go home, baby."

His voice is quiet, resolute.

He pulls back, just enough to meet my eyes. His fingers brush my wrist—light, fleeting—and then he steps away.

"I'll see you tomorrow morning, butterfly." His lips quirk up in a teasing smirk. "Bright and early."

Before I can protest, before I can ask him to stay just a little longer, he's gone.

The door clicks shut behind him, and I'm left staring at the empty space where he stood.

With a sigh, I fall back onto my bed, my heart still racing, my skin still burning from his touch.

Well fuck.

𓇼𓇼𓇼𓇼

guysss omg they r finally friends again which means we can only evolve from hereeeeeee

Also like I rlly want to know this so like who is your favourite character out of all the books???