Page 31 of Love Me

I seek Bailey’s eyes, and she whispers, “I’ll take care of it.”

If one video gets online, I am fucked.

Inside the college hall, I stride into the first bathroom, analyzing my face in the mirror. The prick got in some good punches. My left side is swollen, and reddish spots have started to form. There’s no fucking way they will fade by Friday.

My head drops. There is so much on the line. I grip the sink’s edge.

Pull yourself together.

The door creaks open, and without looking, I say, “Leave.”

It closes behind me with a click, trapping us inside. I could recognize her by her breathing. Soft steps pad to me and her hand rests on my back.

“Not now, Celine.”

“I won’t tell Grandmother about this,” she assures me.

“Of course not. You’d have something to lose as well.”

This is why she came. How fucking charming.

“Leave.”

She slips under my side, forcing me to make space for her, and cups my face, her eyes searching for injuries.

“Don’t provoke him. Hunter is a great fighter.”

“Really? Did you come to see the damage your boyfriend did? Well, let me fucking tell you, he doesn’t want to mess with me either.”

She sighs, stroking across the afflicted skin. “You started it, Kaden.”

“I’m fine. Go kiss his boo-boos.”

She shrugs. “You got him good too. And I am not in the mood for injured egos.”

“Do not fucking talk about him with me. When you’re in my fucking arms, when you’re touching me, everything in me burns for you.”

I turn my back to her, a heavy breath rocking my chest.

“Stay away from me, Celine.”

“Or what?”

I say over my shoulder, “Keep it up, and you’ll find out.”

With that, I storm away.

Students gawk at me. I must look unhinged. Combing my hair with my fingers to get my looks back to presentable, while on the inside, I am a mess, impossible to tidy up. A storm swirls inside of me, scattering my rationality while I chase after all the fragmented pieces.

Walking to my marketing class, I drop in my seat while Professor Michaelson talks about the life cycle of a product.

As a major in business and marketing, my head should be focused on classes. But when the day ends, my tension does not wane. It’s impossible when Celine’s always glued to Hunter, sandwiched between him and his twin, Mia.

The sun has set by the time I head out to the parking lot at the end of the day. My eyes collide with his, and I smirk. I got him worse.

Celine rolls her eyes at me, but he shows her something on the phone. For a second, her eyebrows knit together.

What’s going on? They’re in deep discussion, and he pushes himself off the hood.

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