After the hike, something between William and I shifted, and the ride back home was filled with anticipation and tension.
Maybe it was the viral video of him looking at me like I was a tasty snack (which I immediately saved to my phone). Or it was the fact that both of us opened up on that mountain.
But it was getting harder to excuse his behavior toward me as just friendly. We went our separate ways at the house and got ready for the rest of the day. Elspeth was already at the pub, and William would shortly follow. Since it was my day off, I was going to draw and bring them both lunch later.
Luke texted me wanting to come over, and I knew it was time to break things off. So I waited for him to pull up as I prepped in the kitchen. William was taking a call in the living room, and hopefully, he wouldn’t witness my first breakup. My confessions to him on the hike made me feel raw and vulnerable enough.
Luke pulled up in his obnoxious Tesla wrapped in holographic vinyl. He got out of the car and looked moody but still ready for a photo shoot in the off chance a paparazzi was hiding in the bushes.
I wiped my hands and went out to meet him by his car. I looked back to find William watching me outthe front window, still talking on his phone. I silently motioned for him to turn away, but I could still feel his eyes following me as I walked up to Luke.
He leaned against his passenger door on his phone and avoided eye contact even though I stood right in front of him.
“Uh, hi.”
“Hi,” he huffed with one hand still in his pocket.
“Are you mad at me?”
“You could say that.” He crossed his arms in front of his chest. “I woke up to BellaBoo’s video going viral.”
“Oh, that.” I looked away, slightly embarrassed.
“Yeah, and I’m not even in it.”
“What?”
“You knew how much it meant to me to get in one of her videos.”
“How is this my fault?”
“You and that guy got in the way!”
“First of all, you can only see the back of my head in that video. And we didn’t ask to be filmed. I thought maybe you’d be mad that I was talking to another guy or something.”
“I don’t care if you talk to other guys. You know how many girls I’ve been seeing?”
My stomach roiled. “Ew, okay, this is over.”
“Wait, wait, wait!” He grabbed my hand and pulled me closer to his chest.
He pressed his hands firmly against my lower back, and I squirmed to put some space between us.
“I’m sorry, okay. Can we just start over? I want to recreate that video with you. See if I can get some hits on my page too.”
This guy was the worst.
I pushed against him. “Get one of your other girls to film it with you.”
“I’ve tried, but it doesn’t work! I think you’re the missing piece. Come on, I’ll even pay you.”
He slid his hands down to squeeze my ass, but I slapped him.
Luke spluttered and freed me, but then I felt two large hands on my shoulders.
William gently placed me behind him.
His lethal gaze was locked on Luke. “It’s time for you to go.”
