Page 19 of Mine

I couldn’t bring myself to watch.

My phone vibrated in my bag, and I pulled it out curiously, to see it was a text from Cal. My heart was in my mouth as I scanned the room.

Where was he?

I opened the text, my heart thumping in my chest when I read it.

CAL:

Come outside.

Chapter Nine

GRETCHEN

Oh, my God.

I spun around, catching Sienna’s eyes as she lifted her brows at me. I mouthed to her, ‘I’ll be right back’, and she beamed at me before moving her attention back to Ethan.

I stopped for a second, watching as Ethan dipped his head to hers, whispering things in her ear that made her throw her head back with laughter, the smug grin on his face showing how close they were. I swallowed down my envy, casting a glance at Luke, who was now doing some kind of peacock dance with his buddies.

My heart raced in my chest as I pushed through the throng of bodies, perfume and aftershave clogging my airwaves. The music faded behind me, and I sucked in the cool air, pulling my bag under my arm. I had to address the reason I was out here when my boyfriend was inside.

What does Cal want?

I glanced around, seeking him out. My heels clicked on the tiled pathway as I scanned the area for him, wrapping my arms around my chest as I shivered in the chilly air.

My eyes locked onto the silhouette of a figure leaning against a tree in the distance, in his usual jeans and t-shirt combo. My body relaxed as I walked over, offering him a polite smile.

His gaze travelled along the floor between us until it reached me, and my core tightened when he gave me a dark stare that told me he wasn’t playing games.

The closer I got, I noticed my heart drumming in my chest, my body shivering not only from the cold, but from his heated gaze.

“You look…beautiful.How is it going in there?” he murmured, his electric green eyes piercing into mine.

This wasn’t the behaviour I expected from someone’s boyfriend.

His gaze journeyed down my body, stopping once he reached my hips. His eyes travelled back up to my eyes, and he stepped closer to me.

Being so attracted to him is painful.

If Cal asks me, I’ll leave with him right now.

I recalled Krystal’s words from earlier that day, and I scowled, fixing him with a cool stare.

“Krystal isn’t happy,” I held my chin up. “She wants to swap psych partners. According to her, you should be hers and I should be with whoever they have given her.”

My voice deceived me, showing the jealousy that raced through every fibre of my being. Being this close to him made me want to melt into his arms and ask him to take me home.

“Is that right?” he said, studying my face as I tried not to react. “I don’t think that would be the best course of action, do you? I think we are good together. So,fuck Krystal.”

Tingles shot all over my body when he said the word ‘together’. I knew he was referring to being stupid partners, but a trickle of excitement ran through me. I was beyond rationality when it came to Cal.

“That’s your job, I gather,” I folded my arms as I stared at him with what I hoped was utter disgust, and he frowned at me in confusion. I couldn’t help being so fucking juvenile.

I’m jealous.

“It isn’t my job. I haven’t fucked her,” his eyes flashed at me, his hands dangerously close to mine.