I smiled, slow and sweet. “Where do you want me to sign?”
She blinked. “What?”
“Well, you’re clearly obsessed with me and who I’m fucking,” I said with a shrug. “So I figured, autograph?”
Her friend’s eyes went huge.
“I’m not?—”
“I don’t do it for free, though. But you already knew that, right?” I stepped closer, lowering my voice. “Honestly, you don’t look like you can afford me. But I’m feeling charitable.”
An offended scoff left her. “Could you be any more arrogant?”
“It’s not arrogance, sweetheart. It’s confidence. The same confidence that got me Sebastian in the first place.” I tilted my head. “Which is what’s been killing you, right? Lying awake, wondering why he wanted me and not anyone else.”
Their faces were priceless—insulted, curious, furious.
“Here’s the secret,” I said. “You’re never going to know. Because it’s not your fucking business. So maybe focus on your own technique and stop obsessing over mine.” I turned on my heel before I said something truly unhinged, forcing my walk to stay calm and not a full-on stomp.
It wasn’t even about them. Not really. But they’d lit the fuse, and I was done pretending I didn’t want to burn something down.
Hey? Was he fucking kidding me?
I was the one getting all the backlash. Being called a rent boy four times a day. Being the laughingstock of this school. Being exiled from every family gathering—except ones the Langleys hosted. And I could handle it. I could. Because at least it was real. But lately, I was starting to fucking doubt it.
Three weeks of unsatisfying replies. Three weeks of ignored calls. Three weeks of excuses about why we couldn’t make plans. And if I was being honest with myself, his affection had started fading even before that.
I knew it was over. We’d agreed to that at the end of September. But did that mean we couldn’t even be friends? We’d been talking almost every day since he left. So what changed? What happened now? Had he found someone else already?
The thought hit low, burning like acid in the pit of my stomach. I hated how fast it spread, how quickly it twisted everything inside me.
By the time I got back that evening, I was drained. I mumbled a greeting to Maya, closed my bedroom door behind me, and curled up on my side on the bed. My fingers found the medallion at my neck, and I squeezed my eyes shut.
This wasn’t fair.
I missed him. So much. So fucking much. And it hurt, damn it.
Pulling out my phone, I stared at our chat. At that stupid, meaninglesshey.Pain and longing swirled violently through me. I blinked furiously and started typing.
Me
I have spring break coming up
how about a getaway?
I stared at the screen.
He read it. Started typing. Then stopped.
My thumb hovered over the keyboard as I bit back the urge to remind him I’d grown my hair out—howhe’dbeen the one to ask me to. A hollow laugh slipped past my lips.Get a fucking grip.
Creep
I’m sorry darling
don’t think I can
building a company remember?
