Page 26 of Taken Online

He was clearly going through something. And I was too focused on jealousy to pay attention.

I cursed myself for that.

But I would make it right.

I needed to find out who his boyfriend was.

And then I’d make him disappear.

Chapter Seven

ASHER

IwasignoringKaleb.Well,ignoring all my male fans, really.

Doctor’s orders?

I hated men. Truly. But... I also felt lonely. I wanted one of them to double-text me. Needed them to.

I hated feeling like this: needy, desperate for male attention. For validation.

Didn’t even matter what kind. Call me a dirty little slut or a perfect boy, it all hit the same. And I hated that. Hated that I still got hot either way.

So, I decided to take Dr. Peterson’s advice. Today, I was distancing myself from my fake boyfriend: Kaleb.

But halfway through the day, I found myself bummed out. Kaleb hadn’t texted me. Not once. Not even a message asking for a private photo.

All the other horny guys did, obviously. But they never pried. Why would they? I wasn’t their boyfriend. Just a guy on a screen they found… fuckable.

I hate it.

I hate it.

I even went to the grocery store, just to be around people. It was the weekend, and I thought maybe... maybe something would help. I passed a lot of couples and somehow felt lonelier than ever.

Isolation wasn’t working. Not even a little.

I wandered through the park for a bit. Still nothing.

Had the sudden urge to post a picture. Something hot. Maybe even try something risky in public.

Maybe I should actually let a guy fuck me for once.

Go to a club, find someone decent-looking, and just… do it.

But I didn’t.

I walked home, defeated.

Scrolled through my messages. My sister’s name popped up again, just more apologies.

Sister:Talk to me.

Sister:I’m sorry I didn’t believe you.

I closed the thread and opened my messages with Kaleb. Mostly sexual stuff, sure. But every once in a while, he’d remind me to eat. Or text something stupid like “The moon’s beautiful tonight.” It was weird. Weirdly sweet.

I wanted to send him a sexy photo. Get his attention.

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