I lowered my gaze, hiding the sharp sting in my chest. “Don’t bother him,” I muttered. “We’re… not close.”
At that moment, the soft click of the door unlocking reached my ears. I quickly ended the call, bracing myself.
When I looked up, Caleb was there. His smile was dazzling, his eyes alight with a brilliance that made my chest tighten. It wasn’t meant for me. It couldn’t be.
“Not close to who?” he asked, playful and curious.
“Not close to you,” I said bluntly, though my voice wavered under his gaze.
Caleb’s brow lifted. Before I could step back, he closed the distance and pulled me against him. Mischief danced in his grin, his breath warm against my ear.
“Really?” he murmured, low and teasing. “Then tell me… how exactly are we not close? Haven’t we shared enough to count, hmm?”
The intimacy that had once made my heart race now set it pounding with anxiety. I struggled gently in his hold, and then my eyes caught it—the faint smear of lipstick on his collar.
The burns on my wrist throbbed sharply, each pulse a reminder of betrayal I hadn’t healed from. Tears sprung unbidden, hot and unstoppable.