Chapter 100

He pushes me back up against the window gently resting an arm above my head. We start to kiss passionately. He strokes my cheek with his thumb still holding me in place.

I cup his face, with my legs wrapped tightly around his waist. We pull hesitantly apart, our lips still on each other and I whisper to him, “I love you too” making his eyes snap open and stare hard into my eyes.

Our heads are resting on each other. The emotion that I couldn’t figure out and now I have. It’s love. It’s always been love.

“Really?” He sounds like he doesn’t believe me.

I smile at him while nodding. “I love you Knox Carter. I’m in love with you, so in love with you,” we kiss each other once more, not holding ourselves back.

We’re both trying to get what we’re feeling into a kiss and it’s proving difficult to do. He lifts me up more and rests both hands under my butt. I wrap my arms around his neck and continue to lock our lips together.

I could stay like this forever. We finally pulled apart from each other after a heavy make-out, that was long overdue. Smiling uncontrollably at each other, he’s the first to speak.

“We should get back to everyone baby doll” he pecks me once more but I don’t want to let go of him. He carries me back down the steps and says to me before he opens the door

“Just so you know, there’s paparazzi outside. I’m not sure if you want me to carry you like this or?”

“I’m staying like this Carter” he smiles reaching for the handle but stops to look back over to me. “I forgot to ask..... it’s kind of important... Will you be my girlfriend?”

Throwing my head back laughing at him and his timing.

“Yeah, I’ll be your girlfriend Knox” I smile like I’m on weird medication making my cheeks hurt. Kissing me once more he opens the door to see flashes of cameras and some TV cameras in our faces.

Let the circus commence.

“Alex! Do you love him back?”

“Knox are you official now?”

“Did you propose to her Carter?”

“Is there a wedding on the way?”

“Are you pregnant Alex?”

Nuzzling my head into the crook of his neck to hide myself. I feel the hands brush off my arms and legs as I tighten my grip on him. Continuing to walk through the sea of flashes to get us to the car he brought here safely.

I lean my head back to see his serious look soften when we see each other. Opening the car door he sets me inside on the seat and kisses my forehead. Closing over the door behind me.

I pull my seatbelt until I hear a click while watching him move around the car to get to his door. He ignores the flying questions and keeps his head down.

I hear the muffled screams from the paparazzi outside, wanting any kind of information from us.

Slipping into the car he ignites it and reverses out of the eye line of the cameras that were circling us.

His hands resting on my thigh stroking it, he takes my hand and kisses my knuckles whispering “I love you” to me.

I smile lovingly at him. Seeing the twinkle in his eyes makes me happy that I’m with him right now. He rests our hands back down on my thigh and continues to drive back to my house.

I stare at him the rest of the way home, while he tries to focus back on the road ahead making sure we’re not going off track.

I’m with him. I’m dating Knox Carter. I’m his first and only girlfriend and he loves me; in love with me. Me. Alex Thompson.

I’m definitely dreaming. This can’t be real.

He’s my boyfriend. How did that happen?

Reaching my house, we see bodies run through the front door to greet us. We slide out of the car and get hugged by our families.

“About damn time you admitted it son! I thought I was going to have to confess it for you. All these years and you finally said it. But you said it to everyone else too.”

Delilah gushes over her son’s brave heart to admit it to not only me but the entire world. Making her way over to me and my mom hugging each other, she joins in with us and whispers to me.

“I’m so glad he finally told you, sweetie. You both deserve happiness” I thank her but I see Wes standing crossing his arms at Knox.

It looks like a showdown.

He steps closer and holds out his hand for Knox to shake it. “You hurt her Carter, I’ll come after you. Treat her well, you’re one lucky bastard. If you don’t, I will. Mark my words.”

Loosening his grip. He walks over to me and kisses my cheek, “He’s one lucky guy sweetheart. You’re one of a kind Alex. You deserve some happiness, even if it is with him”

Smiling at me I kiss his cheek back and reply with, “Thanks for understanding Wes. You’ll find the perfect girl for you. I know you will. Then you’ll be the lucky bastard” making him chuckle.

He smiles and backs away from me. Seeing his eyes grow a darker shade, I feel the guilt that he has gone through this. But I love Knox. I feel like I always have.

Seeing my two brothers they hug me tighter than ever and shake Knox’s hand patting his back telling him good luck. “I’ll protect her” he assures them.

I see Kyle standing at the door with his arms folded and a deep frown on his face. He looks pissed. I need to talk to him. I head up to meet him, seeing Andy by his side.

I hug her and smile. Getting the message she runs over to hug Knox. I turn on my heel to see my brother’s frown furrow deeper into a hard line.

“Can we talk?” I ask him as he shifts to the side to allow me to pass him. Sending Knox a hard look to show he’s not happy with him.

We walk back into the kitchen and sit at the table facing one another. Kyle starts to look around the room resting his finger on his lips like he’s trying to control his emotions.

I reach across the table to try and take his arm only for him to back it away from me. That hurt.

“Kyle.... please. We didn’t mean to hurt you....” he scoffs at me and leans forward on his elbows. He scratches the table with his nail like he used to do as a child.

“How long?” His tone is cutting and uninviting. When I don’t answer immediately he repeats the question raising his voice, “How! Long?!” I flinched at his roar, making me sit back.

“We only went on one date,” I whisper out feeling scared like a little mouse. I feel like I’m in trouble and getting scolded for it.

“When?” He grits out through the gaps in his white teeth.

“When we were in New York together...” he cuts me off mid-sentence.

“Jesus Christ Alex! What did I say to you about staying away from my friends! I’ve seen the way some of them have looked at you over the years. I thought I could trust you not to go there with any of them.

Especially Carter. My fucking best friend! Alex what the hell were you thinking?! My best friend! And I know about you and Wes too! You just had to go there with both of them didn’t you?”

I start to feel the sadness in my body pulse around. I stay silent trying not to cry.

“Did you guys.... have... sex?” He asks scared of my answer but I’m afraid to answer it. I place my hands on my head leaning my elbows on the table in front of me.

I’m terrified to answer this question. It’s too private to answer. Intimate even.

“Did you?” He grits out slamming both hands down on the table making me jump, but my hesitation only confirms that we did have sex.

I shake my head and look up at him through the tears brewing in my eyes, “We made love to each other.”

He freezes at my words. Rising to his feet he sees me about to cry. Pacing back and forth with his hands on his hips.

“Alex, do you love Knox?” I nod feeling the first teardrop from my eye and I look up to see him staring down at me over his shoulder.

“I love him, Kyle, I don’t see what the problem is? You’re in love with my best friend, I have no problem with it. But you have a problem with us loving each other?” I sniffle, grabbing a tissue to dab my eyes.

Stepping around the table he comes and sits down in the seat next to me. Sighing out loud, his hand curls through his hair in frustration.

“Please don’t cry Alex, I just... I never even saw it coming. I guess I’m pissed because he never told me.

All the years we’ve been best friends and never once did he say anything about liking you, never mind being in love with you.

Somewhere in the back of my mind, I always knew he had strong feelings for someone, that’s why he played around a lot. But I never thought it would be you, sis.

I never thought you’d be the one he fell for” I see the sadness in his eyes and I kiss my brother’s forehead showing him I know how he feels.

“Kyle, I didn’t think he had such strong feelings for me either. Until today. So I’m in the same boat as you. But being alone with my own thoughts I figured out that I need him.

I always want to be around him. I never guessed that I would be the one he would fall in love with. Never in a million years would I have guessed that he would be the one I’d fall in love with. Kyle-”

I rest my hand on top of his staring at him, “I love him. I’m so in love with your best friend. And he’s in love with me. We’re together. I’m sorry if you find it weird, but our feelings are our feelings.

We can’t control how we feel for each other” rubbing my thumb on his skin to comfort him as best I can.

“I never thought you’d be the girl Alex. He’s my best friend and you’re my sister. I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t weird because it’s so strange. You both hated each other and now you’re in love with each other?

Why did you both keep it from me? How did everyone else know but me?”

I hear the sadness in his tone causing my tears to come back around and drop down my face. I feel so bad. I feel bad that we kept it from him, and only him. He had a right to know despite the outcome.

“I’m sorry Kyle. We just thought that you would go nuts at us. Plus we wanted to make sure that it was the real deal before telling people officially. It was nothing against you.

People figured it out, we didn’t tell them. I guess you were so sure that we would never like each other so you blocked it out of your mind as a worry. But it’s real. I’m in a relationship with him, and I couldn’t be happier”

“I’m glad you’re happy sis. It’s going to take me time to get used to it. I’ll find it weird for a while, but I saw the way he looked at you when you got out of the car.

I’ve never seen him look at any girl like that before. You both deserve happiness in your lives, and if it’s with each other; then so be it. But allow me some time to adjust to it. I’m a bit blindsided by it all.”

“I understand Kyle. Thank you for giving us a chance. I love you more than anything big bro!” I smile through teary eyes.

“I’ll get used to it... eventually. I love you more than anything too little sis. I’ll be here for you, for you both. But I will have to have a talk with him. Cole, Max, and I that is.

A little man-to-man talk about treating you right. If he doesn’t I will kill him, best friend or not. He hurts you, his face will no longer be on the covers of those magazines. I can assure you”

“Maybe not the face Kyle, that’s the moneymaker” I smile at my brother making him laugh a little. We hold each other tight. I feel his lips on my head kissing it lightly.

“I love you sis.” Giving him one last hug we both stand up and walk back outside to see everyone. Seeing him standing there with my two other brothers chatting he stops when he spots me.

I look up to see Kyle who signals my other two brothers to come inside. It’s time for ‘The Talk’.

Watching the three of them walk over to me Cole whispers to me “Don’t worry about it sis. I’ve got it handled” he kisses my head.

Max bends down to whisper “Well go easy on him Al” I watch my brothers enter the house and I see Knox behind them.

Bending over to kiss my lips. I see Kyle grab him by his collar and drag him inside with my brothers. Seeing the grin on Knox’s face makes me smile too.

I get attacked from behind by people screaming in my ear and jumping up and down. I know it’s Andy and Hannah.

“Yes! Oh my god! Alex! He loves you! He fucking loves you!” Andy squeals, wrapping her arms around. “Ugh! I’m so happy for you!” Her whisper feathering my ear.

Hugging both of my best friends I can’t stop smiling. I’m on cloud nine.

Stepping back from them I feel Ben watching us. Turning around to meet those ocean pools, he sends me a soft wink. I wrap my arms around his waist hugging him.

“I already knew. He told me” telling my hair.

“You knew? Did anyone not know this except for me and Kyle?” Nodding his head lifting pieces of hair off my face.

I roll my eyes and slap Ben’s back playful while he grips me tighter resting his chin on my head. What are they doing to him?

Waiting for him to walk back out we hear Kyle roasting him. Andy’s eyes widen at her boyfriend, hearing the muffled yet loud voice we stand there in shock staring at the closed front door.

That’s what they call going easy on him? After a while it stops and calms down, we don’t hear anything.

Not a single word. I don’t know what I should be more worried about, the fact that Kyle was yelling at his best friend, possibly hitting him, or the fact that it’s quiet. Too quiet.

If I walk inside and see them tying him to the chair. I will kill them. Before I reach for the door it opens revealing him.

He exhales jokingly and walks over to me, “Being on the receiving end of that conversation wasn’t fun baby doll. But it was worth it” kissing me hard we hear a throat being cleared beside us.

“Yeah, that’s weird...” Kyle scrunches up his nose in disgust at both of us. He walks away abruptly from us to his own girlfriend almost hiding behind her.

I turned back to my boyfriend. I take hold of his jacket pulling him to me and kiss him again.

My boyfriend.

“What are you thinking about?” He asks my lips. Feeling his heated breath on my lips making them tingle. I’m finding it hard to put my feelings into words.

“You’re my boyfriend” his grin gets wider and pecks me once more, taking my head in his hands.

“And you’re my girlfriend....” hearing a few awe’s around the driveway we laugh at our families being so into this. They’ve been routing for us since day one.

He kisses the side of my head and whispers, “I can’t believe I get to call you mine. My girl. My girlfriend. My love. My baby doll. All mine. Every single bit of you.

I can’t wait to kiss you after my games when you come watch me play. I can’t wait to surprise you when you’re in college. To love you every single day of our lives. I can’t wait to wake up next to you in the morning.

To be able to kiss you in front of everyone to show them you’re mine and I’m yours. I can’t wait to start my life with you. This is the best day of my life.

I love you Alex, every single part of you” placing a soft kiss on his lips.

It will never get old. Kissing him feels like the best thing in the world. The heart-racing, skin-tingling, and butterfly erupting feeling.

“I love you Knox. Every single part of you. Even the annoying side of you” making him laugh sending me a playful glare.

“And you promised me those words would never leave your mouth in my direction. And here you are, completely smitten with me!” He teases me, remembering I did say that at thanksgiving.

“I think you’re the one completely smitten with me, Carter. Let’s not forget you’re the one who confessed his love for me live on TV...” I poke him on his button. He still looks hot in his suit.

“And I would do it again in a heartbeat baby doll” before we kiss again Kyle speaks up making us stop and turn our heads to face him.

“Alright, ease up on the smooches Carter. We all know you love my sister. Let’s tone it down a little?” Kyle waves his hands in front of himself.

He starts to fidget out of discomfort seeing us together. But I know he’s secretly happy for us both. In his own weird way.

“Can you tone it down with Andy?” Knox raises his brow at Kyle who clenches his jaw trying not to smile.

“No” giving in to Knox’s point, Knox wraps his arms around my shoulder and pulls me to his body. Wrapping my arms around his waist I feel so happy with him.

“I can’t tone it down with my girlfriend either Kyle.”

“It’s weird you calling my sister your girlfriend bro. Give me time? I’m still waiting for you both to strangle each other” we both nod understanding how uncomfortable my brother is seeing us together.

“Let’s all go inside and eat. I’ll order some food and we can all watch a movie together?” Hearing the kids’ little screams in agreement at my mom’s request.

We follow behind her back inside the house and I sit on the sofa, Knox beside me. I cuddle up to him and Adam climbs on me.

“I want to see those hands at all time, Adam!” Knox teases his nephew who sits in the dip between us. Seeing him smile at his uncle melts my heart with the two of them.

I lean in to kiss Knox once more and I feel a small head and lips join in with us.

I burst out laughing at the fact that Adam tried to kiss Knox and me when we were kissing. I can’t control myself and Adam giggles, leaning up more, taking my face in his hands.

Leaning in to place a small peck on my lips he misses and kisses my nose.

“I can’t with the two of you. You’re so alike it’s too funny” I take Adam’s hands as he falls down onto his uncle’s lap.

“You better not be trying to kiss my girlfriend buddy!” Knox tickles him, making him squeak in laughter. He starts screaming for help, allowing Noah and Eden to run into the room and climb on him.

They try to help Adam but Knox tickles them all until he’s lost his energy, they give in to him and slide off him allowing us to snuggle up to each other. With the help of Mila and Austin picking them up.

“Will you sleep with me tonight?” I ask Knox while the movie plays on the TV.

Snapping his head to face me he smiles down at me, “Did you even have to ask? I want to wake up to you every day, of course, I’ll sleep with you tonight and every other night baby doll. Even when we fight.

I have to cuddle you to sleep baby doll, I’ve been dying to hold you since New York” my heart flutters at his charming words, while my body gives in sending me to sleep on his chest.

I feel like the luckiest girl in the world.