LOGINRyan POV“Why the heck are you crying over the phone?”I immediately paused the movie I was watching , some romance thing with too much kissing and sat up because Champ was actually sobbing in my ear.Like full on wet sniffling, shaky breath, mucous vibrating sobbing.He had called me minutes ago sobbing on my ear like he called me just to do that. “Champ?” I said slowly. “Are you dying? Did someone beat you? Did Ethan threaten you? Blink twice.”He sniffed aggressively. “I, I’m not— I’m not dying—”“Then why are you crying like you auditioned for a tragic drama?”More sobs and loud shaky breath.Oh my God. Was he even breathing normal? I put the phone on speaker and grabbed tissues instinctively even though he needed them, not me.“Champ,” I said again, “WHAT happened?”He inhaled shakily, like he was trying to pull the entire atmosphere into his lungs.“K—Kyle,” he finally choked out.I instantly regretted asking.“Oh Christ.” I rubbed my forehead. “What did that boy do now?”“It’s
Champ POVAfter all the questions. Kyle mtum went back to whatever she was doing. I was beginning to think, she worked as a detective."Damn Kyle, your mum is so...""Don't blame aunty, she's like that with everyone." The Kayla girl said smiling at me, " my Kyle had seen enough and it made aunty turn that way.'Your Kyle? The audacity.' my head whispered to itself...Kyle shot me a look, half amused and exasperated, and I knew he was thinking the same thing. I didn’t answer; instead, I let her yap and talk too much, letting Kyle take the lead."I'm leaving, tell your mum that!" Kyle nodded and motioned for me to follow him out to the front gate.The afternoon sun had dipped low, shadows stretching across the driveway, the place looked a bit darker for the time.We moved quietly, careful not to make a sound. I could feel his hand brushing mine once and it was enough to send that familiar warmth through me.We stopped at the edge of the driveway. Kyle crouched slightly, peering toward t
Kyle POVMy phone beeped beside my bedstand. I reached for it lazily, rubbing my eyes as the bright screen slapped my retina.It was a message from Champ. I knew it was going to be him. ~ Champ: Can we meet for a moment?I dropped my head back onto my pillow and stared at the ceiling.Of course he texted. He had to after everything yesterday. Yesterday was a big mess — I was a mess yesterday.I cancelled our plans last minute because I wasn't ready to talk about me leaving the city. I knew it was going to hurt him if he found out and I didn't want him to be hurt.Just because I cancelled on him yesterday, he tried to play it off cool but I knew he was really disappointed. I could hear it in his voice.And then… instead of sleeping, he went out with some of our friends from the club. What was he even thinking? Someone took a picture of him drunk with a girl clinging to him and my team mates really had a way of riling me up, so they sent the picture to me.It annoyed me.No, it burned
Ryan POV“Oh my God, Ryan! Why the hell are you being this sneaky in your own house?”I froze halfway through tiptoeing past the living room, my hoodie half zipped, my hair, a living mess, and my backpack hanging off one shoulder like I had just escaped from somewhere suspicious which… I did.Mom was standing there with her arms folded, her eyebrow raised so high it could cut clouds in half.I blinked once. And then, again.“…I wasn’t being sneaky.”“You literally crawled past the doorway like a cartoon thief.”“My shoelace was loose,” I lied immediately.“It wasn’t.”God. Why were mothers like this? Why did they have supernatural lie detectors installed in their souls?I cleared my throat. “Good morning.”She narrowed her eyes. “Where did you sleep?”My stomach did a violent backflip.The image of Ethan’s lips last night…His hands…His voice when he whispered ‘yours’…We practically melted into each other until sleep dragged us both under.I shook my head hard, do not blush, Ryan, d
Ryan PoV“Don’t leave your calls unanswered next time or else..." I whispered with a calm that had some threat in it.“Else what?” He said it with that stupid smug face that always scares me and makes my brain freeze for two seconds and my blood pressure rises for minutes. Ethan always knew how to push me, and the worst part of it all was I always let him.I swallowed, trying to play it cool, but my voice betrayed me with a tiny shake. I knew he was taunting me… but I still walked right into it like an idiot.Ethan’s hands were still on my ass gripping them firmly and dangerously. His fingers flexed slightly like he knew exactly what that did to me.He tilted his head, looking up at me through those long lashes that should be illegal.“Oh? You suddenly went quiet?” he whispered, letting his lips brush small sniffles on my jaw. “You called me sixty six times but now you can’t answer one single question?”God, I hated him. I hated how right he was. I hated how my heartbeat was basically
Ethan POV“Wake the hell up!”That voice could only belong to one dramatic idiot.But I swear to God, if I opened my eyes and saw the sun —“Wake up!”I groaned and rolled deeper into my bedsheets, pulling the blanket up over my head. Whoever was yelling had one more chance before I lost my patience.“Wake up…”“WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH—!”I ripped the blanket down and froze.“Jesus Christ,” I hissed. “Ryan. What the hell are you doing in my house—”I cut myself off, grabbed my phone from beside my pillow and checked the time.“…Eight a.m.? And —” my eyes widened, “—you gave me sixty six missed calls.”He didn’t answer, not even a blink in my direction. He was clearly fuming. Pacing around my room. His jaw looks fluffy and tightened. Absolutely cute! His hair was slightly messy like he had been running his hands through it.And he still didn’t look at me until he couldn’t hold it anymore. He turned staring sharply.“First of all,” he snapped, “I called you ONE time last night, just







