JEALOUSY KNOWS MY NAME

Chapter FOUR ~ Jealousy Knows My Name

CYRUS’s POV

As Dominic ran towards me, his length danced in between his legs. He handed me the cup to drink the water but I couldn’t just move my hands. 

He placed a hand at my back, rubbing it gently as he helped me to raise the cup to my mouth. My lips parted as I gulped down the water with the hope of erasing whatever my eyes had seen. 

“I so much want to believe it wasn’t my hot body that made you almost choke to death… but it is what it is.” He said casually before he strolled back into the bathroom. 

He came out again. This time with a towel wrapped around his waist. 

I sighed. 

“Good night, Cutie. I’m gonna go cuddle your sister to sleep.” He winked and walked out of the room, slamming the door. 

I groaned, gritting at my teeth as I imagined Phoebe placing her head on his broad chest with her hands wrapped around his sexy waist. 

And him whispering affectionate words to her while gently stroking her hair. 

I buried my face in my palm again. “Fuck. What the hell is happening to me?” 

This man called Dominic wouldn’t just leave me alone. He had been in my dream days ago as well. And now he showed up at my door as my sister’s boyfriend? 

I’m finished. 

I rolled onto the middle of the bed and closed my eyes but all I could still see was his face—smirking, smiling, teasing—and the way his lips had felt against mine. 

I pulled the duvet over my body as I bit down on my lips. From there, I didn’t know how sleep engulfed me. 

~~~~~

The next morning was a Friday. I slipped out of bed as early as possible. I had my bath and put on one of my best looking suits that always made me look dashing. 

And of course, effortlessly handsome. 

Someone like Phoebe would say I have always been favored because of my looks. Yes, I’m breathtakingly handsome but I never received favors from anyone that much. 

I crept out of the house as I made my way towards the door. And just like that I escaped seeing any of them—Phoebe and Dominic. 

I took Phoebe’s car as I drove to Dravings High tech. I was on my way for an important job interview which I was hoping it’d be a success as this was the third I was going for in two weeks. 

Studying abroad hasn’t even helped much. 

Arriving at the big company, I patiently waited for my turn to be called in. And immediately I was called in, I whispered some prayers as Mom had always instructed and gave the interview my best shot. 

The panel looked quite impressed by my performance too. 

I left with a big smile on my face, hoping for positive results in the coming week. 

Getting back home, I felt a little exhausted as I emerged from the car. I opened the house’s door gently and walked in. 

My eyes narrowed when I heard two people talking from the dining area. Phoebe and Dominic. 

Why was he still here at 10 AM??? 

Phoebe sure does have some explanation once he’s gone. 

I crossed over there. They were having breakfast. Dominic beckoned that I should join them. I could have just rejected the offer but I found myself settling down on the inviting chair. 

I sat stiffly at the dining table, poking my eggs like they had offended me. Dominic sat across from me. Phoebe was beside him, glowing like she swallowed a spotlight.

“Why did you leave so early in the morning dressed up like this?” Dominic asked, curious. 

“In search of a job.” I replied sharply, stuffing some bread into my mouth. 

“So Dom,” Phoebe cut in loudly, batting her lashes at him, “tell Cyrus what happened last night.”

I did not look up. I already felt that ache building in my chest. 

Dominic cleared his throat. “Phoebe, we do not have to talk about everything.”

But she giggled in a way she never did before. “Stop acting shy. Cyrus should know. He studies all the time. He needs a reminder that real life exists.”

A sharp sting hit me. She knew studying was the one thing I did right, yet she always treated it like a flaw.

I kept my voice flat. “I am fine knowing nothing.”

She hummed and trailed her fingers down Dominic’s arm, slow and dramatic. “Well, just so you know, we had such an intimate night. He held me so tight. My boyfriend is such a man. I could feel how much he wanted me.”

My fork slipped from my fingers and clattered against the plate.

Dominic’s jaw ticked. He tried to pull his arm away from hers gently, but she only clung tighter, smiling at me like she won a trophy.

“You should find someone too,” she continued, pretending to pity me. “Then maybe you will not look so lonely all the time.”

Lonely. The word stabbed deeper than anything else.

I swallowed hard. My throat burned. Dominic watched me, his eyes soft but guilty.

I pushed my chair back. “I am not hungry.”

Phoebe rolled her eyes. “Of course. Run away like always.”

That was it. I stood up and walked out. I did not trust myself to speak. If I did, things might end up getting fucked up.

I stormed out of the house, barely holding myself together. It felt like my chest was made of cracked glass, each step threatening to shatter it completely.

Why did her words hurt this much? Why did he get to be part of her happiness while I remained like an outsider in her life?

I sat on the porch steps, forcing air into my lungs, rubbing my face with both hands. The morning sun was bright but nothing about me felt warm.

The door clicked behind me.

I did not have to look to know it was him. His presence moved the air. That stupid musky scent of his crawled under my skin like it owned space there.