Chapter 27
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Knox
I'm standing in the living room when I hear the study door slam open. Footsteps pound down the hallway. Then Rowan storms into view, his face twisted with rage. He's coming straight at me.
"You got her pregnant?" Rowan shouts.
I stand from where I was leaning against the back of the couch.
"That's none of your business."
"Not only are you a snake," Rowan spits, closing the distance between us, "but you're also fucking her?"
My jaw tightens. "She's not your girlfriend. She hasn't been for months."
Rowan's fist connects with my face before I can react. The punch is harder than the last time he hit me. It snaps my head to the side and pain explodes across my jaw. But this time I swing back.
My fist connects with his ribs and Rowan grunts, stumbling backward. Then he comes at me again. We're both throwing punches now. A full-on brawl. Fists flying. I get him in the jaw. He gets me in the stomach. The air rushes out of my lungs but I don't stop.
We crash into the side table and a lamp falls to the floor, shattering into pieces. Rowan shoves me backward and I catch myself against the couch. He comes at me again but I dodge and land another punch to his face. Blood is running from his nose now.
"Stop!" Winter's voice screams from somewhere behind us.
"Stop! Both of you!"
I grab Rowan by the collar of his shirt and shove him hard. He stumbles backward and catches himself against the wall. We're both breathing hard, chests heaving. Blood on both of our faces.
Rowan straightens and looks past me at Winter. His chest is rising and falling rapidly. His eyes are wild.
"I guess I was the wrong brother?" Rowan says bitterly, his voice rough.
"Is he the one you want?"
I turn slightly so I can see Winter standing in the hallway entrance. She's pale. Tears are streaming down her face. She looks at Rowan. Then at me. Her eyes lock with mine and she doesn't look away when she speaks.
"Yes," Winter says clearly, her voice steady despite the tears.
"He's everything I could have ever wanted."
The words hit me square in the chest. Rowan stares at her like she's just ripped his heart out. Then he turns back to me, his face twisted with anger and pain.
"I told you," Rowan says to Winter, but he's looking at me.
"This is just a game to him."
I step forward, my fists still clenched at my sides.
"It's not a game," I say, my voice low and steady.
"I’m in love with her, Rowan."
I look directly at him when I say it.
"And I will take care of her better than you ever could."
I move closer, standing right in front of him now.
"Now get the fuck out of my home."
Rowan stares at me for a long moment. His jaw is tight. His fists are still clenched. Then he turns and looks at Winter one last time.
"Well, don't say that I didn't try," Rowan says quietly, his voice dripping with defeat.
He turns back to me, his face a mixture of disgust and resignation.
"I guess you won this round after all."
Then he walks to the elevator and jabs the call button. The doors open immediately. He steps inside without looking back. The doors close behind him. He's gone.
I stand there in the middle of my destroyed living room, breathing hard, my jaw throbbing, blood dripping from my split lip onto my shirt.
Winter runs toward me from the hallway. Her hands reach for my face immediately, touching my jaw gently, checking the damage. Her fingers are trembling as they move to my split lip, her touch featherlight.
"Knox," she whispers, tears still streaming down her face.
"Oh god, your lip—"
"I'm fine."
She shakes her head, her thumb carefully wiping blood from the corner of my mouth.
"You're bleeding."
I catch her hand in mine and bring it to my chest.
"I'm fine. I promise."
Winter's other hand cups my face, her eyes searching mine with concern and fear and relief all mixed together.
"That was awful," she says, her voice breaking.
Then she collapses against my chest and sobs. I wrap my arms around her and hold her tight.
"It's over," I say quietly into her hair.
"He's gone. It's over."
After a few moments, I pull back slightly and look at Winter.
"Are you okay?" I ask.
She nods, wiping at her eyes. "I'm fine."
She gets up from where we're standing and walks to the kitchen. I watch as she opens the freezer and pulls out ice cubes, wrapping them in a hand towel.
She comes back over to me and gestures toward the couch.
"Sit."
I sit down and Winter settles beside me, close enough that our legs are touching.
She brings the ice-wrapped towel up to my jaw carefully. The cold stings but I don't pull away.
"Does it hurt?" she asks quietly.
"I've had worse."
Winter's eyes meet mine and there's something in her expression that makes my chest tighten. Concern. Love. Fear.
"Your family is going to hate me," she says softly.
I shake my head. "Well, they already hate me. But I don't care."
"Knox—"
"I mean it," I interrupt.
"Whatever happens with them doesn't matter."
Winter adjusts the ice against my jaw.
"This may get ugly."
"It may," I agree. "But we'll handle it together."
She leans her head against my shoulder and I wrap my free arm around her waist.
We sit like that for a while, just holding each other in the silence of my destroyed living room.
Then Winter shifts slightly and her hand comes up to my hair. Her fingers move through it gently, carefully, like she's trying to soothe me.
I look down at her and our eyes lock.
There's something so vulnerable in this moment. So open. So real.
The words come out before I can stop them.
"Move in with me. Officially."
Winter's hand stills in my hair. "What?"
"Move in," I repeat. "We're having a baby. I love you. It makes sense."
"Knox—"
"I want to take care of you," I say, looking down at her stomach.
"Make sure you're safe at all times. Both of you."
Winter pulls back slightly, her expression conflicted.
"I just..."
"Unless you don't want to," I add quickly.
"I want to," Winter says. "But maybe we should slow down. I already gave up an apartment before to move in with my boyfriend."
The words sting but I understand what she's saying.
"You can keep the Greenwich apartment," I tell her.
"I'll pay for it. It's yours if you love it. You don't have to give up anything for me."
Winter's eyes widen slightly. "Knox—"
"I mean it," I say. "If having that apartment makes you feel secure, then keep it. I don't want you to feel like you're giving up your independence by being with me."
A small smile crosses Winter's face.
"That's very generous."
I cup her face in my hand. "We're having a baby. There's no slowing down."
Winter laughs despite everything, the sound breaking through the tension. "Fair point."
I lean my forehead against hers.
"You can believe in me. In us. I will always protect you."
"I know," Winter whispers.
"Do you?"
She nods. "Yes."
I kiss her softly, careful of my split lip.
When we pull apart, Winter settles back against my side and I keep my arm around her.
"So what happens now?" she asks quietly.
"Now we figure it out," I say.
"One step at a time."