All Chapters of Kiss Me In The Dark: Chapter 81 - Chapter 89

I glance back to see Fox’s unmistakable figure stepping out, scanning the area until his eyes find mine. He strides over, his gaze filled with a mixture of relief and urgency. I look away, hugging my knees to my chest. The closer he gets, the harder my heart pounds. When he sits beside me, the warmth of his presence makes my breath catch. “Water,” I mutter absently, “calm, beautiful, and yet deadly.” I turn to meet his eyes, those familiar blue orbs searching mine. For a moment, I feel everything I’ve been trying to suppress—love, anger, confusion. How could Lexi stoop so low? How could she hate me enough to try to destroy the one thing that brought me joy? “I’m sorry,” Fox says softly, breaking the silence. I don’t reply, letting his words hang between us. “I… I didn’t cheat on you. I would never do that.” His voice trembles, and for the first time, I see just how much this has affected him. “I know,” I admit, my voice barely above a whisper. His head snaps toward me, s

The Wilder Manor is a whole other world. I stare at the grand Italian-style architecture, the gleaming marble floors, and the massive chandelier hanging in the foyer. I’ve always known Fox’s family was well-off, but this level of wealth is overwhelming. The floor alone could probably buy my mom’s bakery. My palms are sweaty, and I shove them into my jeans pockets as I follow Fox deeper into the house. He suddenly stops and turns to face me, his hands gently gripping my shoulders. “Stop overthinking,” he says, his voice steady and calm. “I think overthinking is perfectly reasonable right now,” I mutter. He smiles that same confident smile that always seems to ground me. “Trust me, you’ll be fine. I’m right here, okay? Always.” He cups my face, his touch warm and reassuring. “I love you, Cam. Don’t forget that.” I sigh and nod, his words easing some of my nerves. “Good. Come on.” He laces his fingers with mine and leads me toward the living room. It’s stunning in here, t

“You’re going to be fine, right?” Fox asks as I help him adjust his shirt. He’s leaving for med school today in Seattle, and I already feel like I’m falling apart. He’s still standing right in front of me, but the ache of missing him is already here, gnawing at my chest. I want to tell him to stay, to skip med school, and just stay here with me, but that would be selfish. Fox has supported me through everything these past two years—it’s his turn to chase his dream. Yeah, two years. Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night and watch him sleep, wondering how we’ve made it this far. It hasn’t been easy, especially for him. The stares, the whispers, the murmurs that followed us everywhere. But over time, things changed. The homophobia lessened. People got used to seeing us together. Lexi didn’t stick around to see it, though. Her parents, surprisingly progressive, were horrified when they found out what she’d done to try to break us up. They shipped her off to school abroad. B

The campus buzzes with excitement. Families crowd together around their graduates, snapping photos and sharing laughter. The energy in the air is electric, but as I walk toward the main ceremony, my mind is somewhere else. On my dad. I smooth the fabric of my gown, trying to calm the knot tightening in my chest. Today feels surreal for so many reasons. It’s not just the graduation itself—it’s knowing my dad is here, despite everything. After years of tension, he showed up. Fox walks beside me, his hand brushing against mine as if reminding me he’s there. He’s been my rock through it all, even flying back from Seattle, cutting his med school rotation short, just to be here. “You okay?” Fox asks, his voice soft as he leans in. “Yeah,” I say, managing a small smile. “It just feels… overwhelming, you know?” “It should,” he says with a grin. “You’re officially smarter than all of us now, Counselor Brooke-to-be.” I laugh, even as a wave of nerves washes over me. “Not quite a cou

Epilogue It’s Christmas Eve, and the living room glows with the warmth of soft fairy lights wrapped around the tree. The scent of pine lingers in the air, mingling with the faint aroma of cookies from earlier in the day. Lila pours herself a glass of wine, while my mom sits with a steaming mug of cocoa. The room feels alive, even in its quiet moments, filled with the soft hum of conversation and the occasional jingle of bells as someone adjusts a decoration. Fox sits across from me, his usual confidence replaced by something more tender, almost nervous. He’s holding a small black box in his hands, fingers drumming lightly against the lid. I glance at him curiously, but he doesn’t meet my gaze right away. “Cameron,” he says, his voice steady but softer than usual. My mom stops mid-sip, her eyes darting to us, while Lila freezes with her wine glass halfway to her lips. The room suddenly feels smaller, like everything and everyone is focused on us. “What’s going on?” I ask, h