“Cameron doesn’t deserve your hate.”
“I don’t hate him,” Mr.Wilder snaps, defensive.
“Then don’t act like it.And stop giving him one of your judgmental looks.”
“Watch your tone with me, Fox.”
The tension is palpable even in the kitchen, but before I can focus any more on their conversation, Lila speaks, snapping me out of my eavesdropping.
“You’re spending the night, you know that, right?”she says, looking at me as she stirs a pot.
I blink, caught off guard.“Uh… we’re spending the night?”
“Of course, you are.”
“Oh.”
“Don’t worry about sleeping in separate rooms,” she adds with a sly smile.“You’ll be in Fox’s room.Just don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”She winks, and I can’t help but chuckle.
“We definitely won’t.”
“Good.”But her smile falters slightly, like she’s remembering something.
“I’m really sorry about your parents,” she says softly.“What they did… it wasn’t right.”
I sigh deeply, biting my bottom lip.“Thanks.”
“Just so you know, you’re always welcome here.Anytime you want, please visit.And if you need anything—anything at all—don’t hesitate to call me.I’ll do my best to help.”
“I’ll be fine, Lila.But… thank you,” I say, genuinely touched by her kindness.
“Aren’t you guys done yet?”Fox’s voice interrupts from behind me.I don’t turn around, but I feel a small smile creep onto my face.
“Yeah, we’re done,” Lila says as she picks up a few dishes and heads out of the kitchen.
“Done gossiping about me with my mom?”Fox whispers, his breath warm against my neck.He’s so close I can feel his presence, the faint press of his body against mine.
I bite my lip, trying not to smile too much.Grabbing a few dishes myself, I turn around to face him.
“Be useful, will you?”I tease, winking at him before walking past him out of the kitchen.
Fox chuckles behind me.“Yes, sir,” he says playfully, and I shake my head, suppressing a laugh.
Maybe tonight won’t be so bad after all.
Dinner is quiet.
Fox and I sit across from his parents at the long dining table, the tension so thick it feels like a plate might fly across the room at any moment.Fox looks like he’s barely holding himself back from snapping at his father, and honestly, I wouldn’t blame him.
“I should just get this off my chest,” Mr.Wilder says, breaking the silence as he sets his fork down.His voice is measured but heavy.
“The tension in here is so thick, I feel like some people are already suffocating,” Fox mutters under his breath.I elbow him in the ribs, and he grunts softly.
Mr.Wilder ignores the comment and looks directly at us.“I’m not promising anything, but… I’ll try to accept whatever this is between you two.”His words are deliberate, as if each one takes a great deal of effort to say.“It’s obvious you’re serious about each other.I never saw this coming.Honestly, I thought you were just roommates.But now… well, it’s clear I can’t stop it.Fox never listens to anyone, so trying to intervene is a waste of time.”
Fox glares at his father, his jaw tightening.I rest a hand on his thigh under the table, squeezing gently.He turns to look at me, his eyes softening at my silent reminder to stay calm.
“Not now,” I mouth.He sighs and nods reluctantly.
