Page 12 of The Bittersweet Bond

And guys noticed.

He noticed.

And that’s what Cat hated most.

While he was texting Evin, he shifted on the lounge chair, stretching one leg, then pulling the other in.

Today the cushions were too soft.

He wasn’t even sure what he wanted from the party.

To see her, obviously! To watch her.

Kiss her? Maybe.

Remind her who she kept coming back to? For sure.

He told himself it was nothing. Just a game.

Just enough to keep her close, but not enough to lose control.

Though he’d never admit it… He just needed to know she hadn’t stopped wanting him.

When the screen dimmed, he picked up the phone again, rolled his neck once, and walked toward the gym.

He needed to move.

To sweat out the feeling.

To make sure that by tomorrow night he could see her. Want her—without giving anything away.

Chapter 2

The Games We Play

Evin

"Oh my God! Do you think Ben will be there?" Hannah grinned mischievously at Evin while Milka scrolled through her playlist for the next song.

The bass of the music pulsed through the taxi, and they sang along loudly and off-key. Evin sank into the soft seats, watching the passing lights. Ben was the new golden boy of their class.

Hot, smart, and warm-hearted. He had managed to charm his way into the hearts of many classmates, especially the girls.

Hannah had already noticed his secret glances at Evin and wanted to tease a reaction out of her.

"Ugh," groaned Milka. She didn’t think Ben was serious about Evin, and Evin appreciated her friend for it.

She already had enough on her plate to worry about. School was weighing on her; the teachers seemed to ignore her more with each passing day, and it felt like she was being crushed from all sides. Evin struggled through her coursework while trying not to lose herself under the pressure.

"Honestly, I don’t quite trust Ben’s intentions, Evin. Besides, you need someone who can light a fire under you," Milka continued, scrolling through the playlist. The next song blasted through the speakers, and the whole taxi seemed to pulse to the beat. Their favorite taxi driver, Rico, drove them across town to the location.

"Light a fire? I already feel like I’m on fire," Evin murmured, pulling her legs up. Her friends laughed, but there was a bitter undertone to her words. She let her head fall against the window, watching the passing lights. In the last few weeks, she had barely found a moment to catch her breath.

"Hello? Earth to Evin!" Hannah nudged her lightly in the side. "Don’t zone out again! Tonight, we’re going out to have fun! No stress, no guys bothering you. Just us three and a huge party."

Evin forced herself to smile. "I know, I know. I’m here. You’re right," she said, straightening up in her seat. But deep down, it felt different.

She had hoped the party would be a distraction, but somehow Bas still hovered in her thoughts. No matter how hard she tried to get rid of him, he was like a shadow she couldn’t shake. The uncertainty of school and the complexity of her feelings for Bas hit her at the same time like two waves crashing over her.

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