Aiden
It’s a great feeling being able to touch Leila without her flinching every two seconds and looking around for people.
I can’t keep my hands off her. She’s probably annoyed by how much I’m touching her, but she hasn’t said anything so I’m not stopping anytime soon. Not when I’ve been deprived of this exact thing for months now.
When I lean in to brush my lips against hers, Rosie chuckles. “So cute.” I grin when I pull back, looking down at Leila. She glances at me, rolling her eyes but her lips say another story when she smirks. “You guys are adorable.”
“Just make sure you don’t hog her like Grayson does,” Gabi says.
I shake my head, smiling down at Leila. “I can’t promise that.” Now that I have her, it’ll be impossible letting her go. I want to be with her all the time, it doesn’t feel enough having her right next to me. Safe to say I’m obsessed with this girl and so fucking in love it blinds me.
The server comes out with our food, placing it in front of us. I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket and I take it out.
I pull my arm from around Leila, turning the phone away from her. What the fuck?
Unknown:
You broke the rules.
Now? I hear from him now? I haven’t heard a peep since I threw the game and did what he asked and sent… fuck. I haven’t heard from him since I sent Leila’s number. Why the hell is he texting me again?
“Are you okay?” I jump at the sound of my girlfriend’s voice. My girlfriend who I betrayed.
I scratch my jaw, turning my phone off and stuff it in my pocket. My attempt at a normal smile falls flat when I remember everything that asshole told me to do. “Yeah, gorgeous.”
“I’m going to throw up.” Gabi fake gags and I snicker, watching Madi roll her eyes at her.
“Don’t be jealous.”
She sighs, shaking her head. “I’m going to be the last single girl here,” she says. “I just know it. I’m going to be all alone.”
“That’s not true,” Madi says. “I’m not dating anyone.”
Gabi glances at her. “Yet.”
“Ever.”
Gabi shakes her head, letting out a scoff. “Right.”
Madeline narrows her eyes at her. “I’m serious. The day you bear witness to me falling in love is the day I dye my hair red.” She lifts her eyebrows.
“You’re lying,” Gabi replies skeptically.
“I’m not.”
“You? The control freak? You would never.”
“You’re right.” Madi nods. “I won’t because I won’t lose.”
Grayson grins. “You sound confident,” he says, his arm wrapped around Rosalie. My palms itch to do the same to Leila but after that text reminded me of how we started, I feel like a traitor.
“I am.”
Gabi grins, turning her body to face Madeline. “You want to bet?”
“And what would your forfeit be when you lose?”
Gabriella shrugs. “Nothing.”
“Come on,” Madi says, rolling her eyes. “We have to make it fair.”
“Fine,” Gabi concedes. “If I date first, I’ll dye my hair pink.”
Madi scoffs. “That’s not a bet. You’ve been wanting to do that for ages.”
“Alright bossy, then what do you suggest?”
Madi stares into space, narrowing her eyes, thinking of a forfeit for Gabi. “You have to get a tattoo,” I reply instead.
Madi seems to like that idea, and so does Gabi who shrugs and says, “That’s not a big deal, I want to get a tattoo anyway.”
I shake my head, leaning forward. “Madi chooses the tattoo,” I say, gesturing to Madeline whose smile is getting bigger by the second. “And she chooses where you get it.”
Gabi’s eyes widen. “She’s going to choose like… her name on my back or something.”
I laugh. “Exactly.”
Gabi narrows her eyes at Leila. “Your boyfriend is evil.” Those words that made me so happy just ten minutes ago now feel like a heavy weight on my chest. How am I supposed to tell her everything without her thinking I was lying?
“Yeah,” Leila replies, running her hands down my back. I let my eyes fall closed at the feel of her. Fuck, I love her. What am I going to do? “I’m fond of him though.”
“Deal,” Gabi says, turning back around to face Madi. “If I date first, then I’ll get a tattoo of your choice.”
“And if I date first, then I’ll dye my hair red.”
They shake on it, Madi shooting Gabi a grin. I chuckle watching them, this is going to be interesting. But when my phone buzzes in my pocket again, my body stiffens and I reluctantly take it out of my pocket, reading the message.
Pictures.
Not of my family this time, though. Of me and Leila, just now sitting in this café.
I lift off my seat, very aware of everyone staring at me as the chair stumbles onto the ground and look around. This person was here? Right in front of me, taking pictures and I didn’t see them?
When my phone buzzes again, I glance down, my jaw clenching when I read the two words that make my stomach drop.
Unknown:
End it.
The feel of Leila’s hands on me once brought me so much joy and peace, but now it’s just a reminder of everything I did, and what they want me to do. I turn around, stuffing my phone in my pocket and my heart breaks when I see her frowning, placing her hand on my arm.
“What’s wrong?” she asks, glancing down at my pocket. “Is it your brother?”
I shake my head, running a hand through my hair. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. “No, gorgeous, I thought I saw someone.” Before she can say anything, I lean down, pressing a kiss against her cheek and move past her. “I need to use the bathroom.”
I don’t even look back, knowing if I see her face I’m going to break down. When I shut the bathroom door, I pull my phone out and start texting.
Who the fuck is this?
Unknown:
Not important.
End it.
I don’t understand. My fingers tremble with rage as I type away.
Why?
Unknown:
Do as I say or the pictures leak.
My teeth grind so hard it fucking hurts.
I thought you deleted them?
Unknown:
I lied.
“Motherfucker.” The phone in my hand is seconds away from getting crushed like a bug. I should have known whoever got the pictures of my family would have kept them. I still don’t know what they wanted from me. I gave them what they asked for and I hadn’t heard from them. Until now.
Telling me to do the one thing that will break both my heart and the girl out there who owns it.
