Page 77 of Eternal

“Will do.” Kole nods, and I walk over to Teal.

The moment she spots me, she grips her bag tighter, refusing to look at me. If she thinks ignoring me will make me stop, she hasn’t been paying attention.

“What are you pissed about now?” I ask, meeting her pace just to annoy her.

“Don’t talk to me like that.”

“Like what?”

Her glare cuts in my direction. “Like I’m being irrational and overreacting.”

“I don’t even know why you’re upset, Teal. I haven’t seen or heard from you since yesterday. How could I be treating you like you’re overreacting?”

“It’s the way you said it.What are you pissed about now?” She throws up air quotes, punctuating her irritation by rolling her eyes.

“It was a question.”

“Well, I don’t appreciate your tone.”

“Teal, stop.” I grab her arm, pulling her to the side of the building. “Just be straight and tell me what’s got you in a fucking mood. You were fine last night.”

“There’s a difference between being fine and pretending, Declan. Last night, I wasfakingit for the party. Today, I’m not.” She crosses her arms over her stomach.

She stresses the word fake like she’s done a hundred times since we made this arrangement, and it’s the crack in her facade that makes it clear why she’s upset with me.

“I see.”

“You see what?” She grinds her teeth.

“Why you’re pissed.” I smirk. “You don’t want to fake date me anymore.”

“I never wanted to date you, Declan. That’s not news. But I’m proud of you for finally catching up.” She rolls her eyes again.

“Nuh-uh.” I shake my head, reaching for her chin. “What I said is you don’t want tofakedate me. You want this to be real.”

Her eyes widen. “I do not.”

“Liar.” I angle her chin up. “Admit it. What’s bothering you isn’t that you’re my girlfriend. It’s that you still think I see this as fake, even after what happened in my bedroom.”

“That’s not true.”

“Isn’t it?” I tilt my head. “I saw that look on your face when you caught Jase watching us kiss last night.”

“You mean when you kissed mebecausehe was watching.”

“You think that’s why I kissed you?”

“I know that’s why.”

“And it bothers you,” I point out. “Because you like me for real.”

“I hate you.”

“I hate you too, Teal.” I smirk. “And you love that, don’t you?”

Her eyes narrow. “Your ego really does know no bounds.”

She tries to pull away, but I don’t let her. She can claw all she wants, but she’s not avoiding this any longer.