I leaned against the counter, letting that truth sink in. I hadn’t meant for this to happen. I didn’t want it to happen.
James was infuriating. Flirty. Bright and bold in all the ways that reminded me too much of?—
My phone buzzed. My head jerked toward it like I’d been electrocuted. I lunged for the device on the nightstand, screen lighting up with a name I hated.
Kellen.
I hesitated only a second before answering. Stupid. So dang stupid. But I answered.
“Finally,” came the syrupy voice, laced with fake pout and false fondness. “Raf, babe. Thought you blocked me.”
My stomach twisted. Why did I ever fall for that voice?
“What do you want?” I said, already exhausted.
“You sound tense. Bad day?”
“Cut to the chase, Kellen.”
He tsked. “No foreplay? Where’s the fun in that?”
I said nothing.
“I’ve been thinking about you,” he continued smoothly. “About us. Maybe we gave up too fast. Maybe I made a mistake?—”
“You cheated on me,” I said flatly.
“Let’s not rehash ancient history.”
“It wasn’t the first time.”
He sighed, like I was the one being unreasonable. “You know I was scared, right? You were always so serious. So intense. I needed... something lighter. But that didn’t mean I didn’t love you.”
A pause. “I still do.”
My grip on the phone tightened. I could feel the rage simmering under my skin, that old familiar burn of betrayal mixing with disgust.
He was still the same. Still smooth-talking. Still charming in all the worst ways. Still incapable of taking responsibility.
Still pretending the problem was me.
“Kellen,” I said, voice low, cold. “If you ever call me again, I swear to every god that listens—I’ll show you what intense really looks like.”
His sharp inhale was audible. “Excuse me?”
I hung up. The silence after was deafening. Finally, I blocked his number. I stared down at the phone in my hand and felt... lighter. Just a bit. He was poison. And I finally, finally felt done.
He wasn’t James. God, why did I ever think they were alike?
Kellen flirted because he wanted something. Control, attention, admiration.
James flirted because it was part of his nature. But tonight, tonight there hadn’t been a trace of a game in him. Just vulnerability. Honesty. Hunger. Need. And he trusted me.
I rubbed a hand over my chest, trying to steady my breathing. My bear was still restless beneath my skin, prowling quietly now. Not angry, but aware.
Aware that something had changed tonight.
I didn’t know what this thing was between me and James. I didn’t know if it would end in disaster or if we could actually build something from the mess we both were.
