Page 27 of Mine

GRETCHEN:

Luke wants to talk. Don’t know what to say.

CAL:

That you’re mine?

My heart pounded in its prison, as desire swept through my body.

How had this happened? How am I supposed to explain this?

I dialed Rosie’s number not caring how early it was.

She eventually answered, whispering into the phone. “Babes, I’m asleep. Ill ring you later!” Then she hung up.

I stared at my phone in disbelief.

How rude!

I called Sienna again, who answered on the first ring. “Gretchen, what theactualfuck? Where are you?!”

I quickly explained that I was at home. “It’s really complicated, Si, and I don’t know how to explain...”

She abruptly cut me off. “The thing is, Gretchen, we were all at the dance, having a great time. Then you disappeared, and no one knew where you were. We were worried. Then Luke went looking for you, and he didn’t come back!”

I winced at the mention of Luke as Sienna exhaled into the phone. “So, what happened?”

I sighed as tears stung my eyes; this was going to be difficult. “I was with Cal.”

I heard Sienna inhale sharply. “Cal Fallon? Are you shitting me, Gretchen? With him, how?”

I decided not to give her an answer, instead focusing on the consequences of my actions. “I need to call Luke, Si.” I hung up and stared at my phone.

How was I going to explain this to Luke?

Luke answered straight away, his voice gruff. “Gretchen?”

Hearing his familiar voice made me want to cry.

“I’m so sorry, Luke.”

He was silent at the other end. “Are you at home?” he asked.

I sniffled. “Yes, why?”

“I’m coming over.”

Chapter Eleven

GRETCHEN

Luke didn’t wait for an answer and hung up.

Fuck.

I chewed on my fingernails, wondering what the hell I was going to say to Luke.

When the doorbell trilled some fifteen minutes later, my body trembled. My heart was in my mouth as I made my way to the door, still thinking of what I was going to say to him. When I opened the door, all thoughts left my head, and his steely glare made me swallow hard.