Page 51 of Mine

“What, Luke?!” I retorted as I glanced at my phone with a smile.

The thought of Cal warming me up was enough to thaw out this entire stadium.

I slipped my blade guards on, as Luke’s hand gripped mine, dragging it to his chest against his heart.

“I love you, Gretchen,” he swallowed.

I moved my hand back like I’d been burnt. His ocean blue eyes gazed at me, pleading with me to say it back.

“We could go back to normal, if we love each other enough—”

“Luke! You cheated on mefor a year!” I hissed as I pushed past him, dragging my skates with me.

Despite being with Cal, it still hurt me.

I’d adored him, and until Cal, I’d never so much as looked at someone else.

“It wasn’t like I was with her every fucking day, Gretch,” Luke protested as he jogged beside me.

I shot him a look of disgust as I pushed through the exit.

“Come on, Gretchen, for fuck’s sake,” Luke snapped, his hand on mine as he tugged me back towards him.

“You don’t get it, do you?” I cried. “I fucked up by hurting you, but I didn’t sleep with him! You, though? You slept with Krystal for—”

“Because you wouldn’t!” Luke yelled. His eyes bulged as he grabbed my arms. “I swear—”

“No, Luke, we’re over,” I shook my head at him as I backed away.

“For him? Come on, I am the better man, not that fuckingcriminal—-” It was then that his gaze moved behind me, his eyes darkening. “What a fucking surprise,” Luke muttered.

I felt his presence before I saw him, but then the tell-tale scent of smoke and cologne wrapped around me like a second skin and I knew.

Cal was here.

I turned to see the black leather jacket that he wore over the white t-shirt, his messy blonde hair loose to his neck. But it was his eyes that drew me in, the way they flickered over to me, the smile that told me I was safe.

I exhaled as I moved into his arms, muttering that we needed to leave.

“You and I are going to have a real problem,” Cal warned, his thumb dragging across my cheek as he gazed at me. He frowned, turning his attention back to Luke. “If you don’t leave my girl alone.”

Luke scoffed; his lips twisted into a sneer.

“She won’t stay with you. What can you give her? You won’t even finish school, you’re a deadbeat—”

“But he isn’t a cheat,” I hissed as Cal rolled his eyes. “Leave me alone, Luke. Please.”

A battle of will locked their eyes together, chaos threatening to escape at any moment.

“Cal,” I pleaded, my fingers on his jaw as I turned his head towards me.

His eyes met mine, and I smiled, stroking his face as I studied him. His eyes hid his real age; the pain and hurt mirrored in them told me stories his lips didn’t. He nodded, so briefly that I almost missed it.

Luke muttered something, and I ignored him, sliding my hand into Cal’s.

I didn’t care about Luke anymore; but I didn’t want them to fight. It was exhausting.

“Coming to mine?” Cal drawled, his arm around my shoulders.