Page 7 of Mine

He was beautiful in every way.

His mouth was full, and he had a habit of biting his lip when he was silent. My heart raced as I walked towards him and reached for the door handle.

"I need to go, I’m—"

Cal smiled at me crookedly, moving away from the door. Pulling a hip flask out from his jacket pocket, he lifted it to his lips as I watched with fascination, my hand still on the door handle. He sucked on the lid, and I watched, mesmerised as his throat swallowed the liquid with ease. He dropped his hand; the flask hovering close to his chest as he frowned at me.

"What are you staring at?" he asked, the corners of his mouth twitching with amusement.

I couldn’t admit I was staring at his lips as he drank, wondering what they would feel like on mine.

"I don’t know..." I admitted. "Sorry."

He raised his eyebrows, muttering as he did.

"Come here."

It wasn’t a command, but my body responded like it was; moving closer to him as he reached up and pulled my hair clip loose. My dark curls tumbled around my shoulders as he ran his hand through them.

His finger then traced over my lips as I felt myself moan. He studied me before stepping back, turning away from me so I couldn’t see his expression.

"Man, I’ve gotta piss."

He unbuckled his belt as he walked over to the toilet, and I grabbed my stuff and ran out of there. I tried to calm myself down— nothing happened, except—well...

He’d played with my hair. Touched my lips.

Entirely normal behaviour with a stranger in a bathroom.

Immense guilt swept through me at the thought of Luke waiting downstairs for me. I took a deep breath and made my way into the lounge where everyone was still drinking like it was an Olympic sport.

I needed to speak to Rosie. If anyone would know what to make of this situation, it would be her. Luke put his arm around me and whispered I was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen.

Nausea rose in my throat, and I asked him if we could skip the meal and just go to his room. His eyes widened and a cheeky smile spread over his face.

Oh God.

"Guys, can you give us a shout when food is ready? Gretchen and I are just going to my room for a bit."

He stood up, pulling me up to him as the adults continued as though we hadn’t moved at all. We made our way up the stairs, and I noticed someone coming down them; someone who gazed at me intensely.

"Cal, this is my girlfriend, Gretchen. Gretchen, this is my cousin, Cal..." Luke muttered as we met on the stairs awkwardly.

It washim.Cal.

Luke’s cousin. Blood drained from my face as our eyes met. I had assumed that he was Clara’s cousin on her mother’s side. But no, he had to be Luke’s cousin. Cal looked at Luke and then to me.

"Seriously?" Cal laughed with disbelief as he shook his head, smirking at me as I swallowed, pushing my hair behind my ear.

Luke frowned with confusion and peered at me. I wanted the floor to open and swallow me up, and I couldn’t look at either of them.

"Happy fucking then," Cal muttered, pushing past us into the lounge.

Luke squeezed my hand and laughed.

"I’m sorry, he is a bit of a prick."

My phone vibrated in my pocket, and I checked it, glad of the distraction.