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Emmett Forrest had never felt so useless in his life.
Standing outside Elle’s dorm room, his fist hovered in mid-air, hesitating before making contact with the wooden door. The hallway was dimly lit, the familiar smell of textbooks and coffee lingering in the air. He’d always felt at home here with Elle, whether they were studying or sharing a laugh. But now, it felt cold, distant—like there was an invisible wall between them that he couldn’t tear down.
He hadn’t expected it to hurt this much.
Earlier that evening, Elle had rushed into her room without a word, slamming the door behind her. His heart had shattered when she told him what Callahan had done. That vile, arrogant man had crossed a line. He didn’t just treat Elle as if she were less than, as if her intelligence didn’t matter—he had disrespected her in the worst way possible. Emmett’s blood boiled thinking about it, but his anger was nothing compared to the deep ache in his chest. The only thing he could focus on was Elle, and how much pain she must be feeling.
He knocked lightly at first, then with a little more force when there was no answer. “Elle? It’s me… Emmett. Can I come in?”
No response.
He sighed, pressing his forehead against the door for a moment. He couldn’t force her to open it, but every fiber of his being wanted to. He wanted to wrap his arms around her, pull her close, and tell her that she was so much more than whatever Callahan tried to make her believe. She was brilliant, kind, powerful—everything he had fallen in love with. And yet here he was, standing on the other side of a door, unsure if she’d ever let him in.
He took a deep breath and tried again, his voice softer. “Elle, please. I… I just need to know that you’re okay.”
Silence.
Emmett’s heart clenched. Maybe she didn’t want to see him. Maybe she didn’t want to see anyone right now. After all, what could he say that would make things better? That would take away the humiliation she must have felt when Callahan made his disgusting move? He had been furious when she told him, but the worst part was the look in her eyes—the hurt, the shame, the confusion.
But it wasn’t her fault. Not even close.
He knocked again, more insistently this time. “Elle, please. If you don’t want to talk, I get it. But just… just let me know you’re okay. Knock on the door, yell at me, anything.”
Still nothing.
Frustration mixed with desperation, and Emmett leaned against the door, his hand curling into a fist again. He wasn’t going to leave her. He couldn’t. Not like this. Not when he had so much he needed to say.
Because this wasn’t just about Callahan. It wasn’t just about her being hurt. It was about how much he cared for her, how much he had been holding back for so long. It was about how she had completely changed his life in ways he couldn’t even articulate.
He could still see her in that pink, sequined shirt from the day she showed up at Harvard. It had seemed ridiculous at the time, a walking stereotype of everything he thought she would be—but she had proven him wrong in every way possible. She was strong and passionate, with a heart bigger than anyone he’d ever known. She inspired him to be better, and he loved her for that, even if he hadn’t been brave enough to tell her.
Now, though, standing here, her pain felt like his pain. And if he didn’t tell her how he felt, he’d never forgive himself.
He slid down to the floor, his back against the door, his voice cracking as he spoke. “Elle… I know you probably don’t want to talk to anyone right now. But I just… I need you to know that I’m here. I’m not going anywhere. Not after everything we’ve been through.”
He closed his eyes, willing the words to come. “I know what Callahan did was awful. It was wrong. And you don’t deserve that. You deserve someone who sees you for the amazing person you are… someone who respects you. Who loves you.” His voice dropped to a whisper. “Elle, I’ve been in love with you for a long time. I just… I didn’t know how to tell you. And now… now I feel like I might lose you before I even had the chance.”
The silence on the other side of the door was deafening, but Emmett continued, his heart pounding in his chest. “I don’t expect you to say anything right now. I just… I just want you to know that you’re not alone. That I see you. I’ve always seen you.”
His voice faltered, and he leaned his head back against the door, swallowing hard. “Please, Elle. Let me in.”
For what felt like an eternity, there was no sound. Just the quiet hum of the dorm building, the occasional distant murmur of students in the hallway.
And then, finally, the soft click of the door unlocking.
Emmett’s heart leaped in his chest as he scrambled to his feet, carefully pushing the door open. Inside, Elle sat on the edge of her bed, her eyes red from crying. She didn’t look up when he entered, but he didn’t care. Just seeing her, knowing she was willing to let him in, made the tightness in his chest loosen just a little.
“Elle…” His voice was soft as he approached her, crouching down in front of her. She was so quiet, so still, and it broke his heart to see her like this.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered, her voice shaky. “I just… I didn’t know what to do.”
“Hey, you don’t have to be sorry.” Emmett reached out tentatively, gently taking her hand in his. “You didn’t do anything wrong. None of this is your fault.”
Her lip trembled as she looked down at their intertwined hands. “I thought… I thought I was finally proving myself, and then…”
“Elle,” he interrupted softly, “you have proven yourself. You’re incredible, and don’t let anyone—especially Callahan—make you doubt that.” He squeezed her hand, his voice thick with emotion. “He doesn’t deserve to be in the same room as you, let alone make you feel this way.”
Her eyes met his for the first time, and there was a glimmer of something—maybe hope, maybe relief—but it was enough. “You really mean that?” she whispered.
Emmett swallowed hard, the words pouring out of him before he could stop them. “I mean it with everything I am. You’ve changed my life, Elle. You’ve made me believe in things I didn’t even think were possible. You make me want to be better. And I… I love you.”
Her breath caught in her throat, and for a moment, Emmett panicked, wondering if he’d said too much. But then, slowly, she let out a shaky breath, her eyes filling with tears again—but this time, they weren’t the same tears she’d been crying before.
“I love you too, Emmett,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Relief washed over him like a tidal wave, and without thinking, he pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly as she buried her face in his chest. He could feel her shaking, but he didn’t let go. He couldn’t. Not now. Not ever.
They stayed like that for a long time, wrapped in each other’s arms, finding comfort in the quiet. And for the first time that night, Emmett felt like things might just be okay. They still had so much to talk about, so much to work through—but they would get through it together.
He wasn’t going to let her go.