I Like Him Too

CALLAI’m not sure when exactly my heart stops racing after that moment with Ryder.At some point I think it slows down just enough for me to function. The ride home passes in a blur. Every time I close my eyes, I see Ryder’s grin in between the scenes of the whole day, the way he looked at me, and at the beach. I force that one out of my frontal lobe because I’m not ready to process it yet.By the time the cab pulls up outside the house, I have managed to convince myself that I’m calm. I pay the driver, climb out, and head for the front door. The second I step inside, that illusion disappears.Miles is in the living room.For a moment, I just stop. Of all the people I expected to see, he wasn’t one of them. His gaze lifts from his phone, and the surprise lasts less than a second before I force my expression back under control.“Hey.”Miles stands. His eyes sweep over me once before settling on my face.“Hey. Where have you been?”The question is casual enough to not sound interrogati

You Are Right

CALLA I sit at the blacktopped lab table, my notebook open to a blank page, trying to focus on the worksheet instead of the two boys bracketing me. Science class feels like a trap today.Miles is on my left, leaning in, his arm brushing mine in that familiar way. It should spark something— the old flutter I used to chase for hours in my head. But it doesn’t. It’s just ordinarily warm like a sweater I have worn too many times.On my right, Ryder reaches for the pipette. His fingers graze the back of my hand as he passes it over, and heat shoots straight up my arm, settling low in my stomach. My breath catches. I yank my hand back, cheeks burning, hyper aware of how close his knee is to mine under the table.“You okay, Pierce?” he murmurs, voice low and teasing. His knee bumps mine deliberately, igniting that spark again."I’m fine,” I whisper, eyes glued to the instructions, trying not to move because if I do, I’ll touch him again and want it more. My heart is doing that annoying flip

I Noticed You

CALLAA small smile tugs at his mouth, complete opposite of what I expect. “Sounds like your universe needed better planning.”I let out a small humorless laugh, shaking my head. “Yeah. I guess it did.”The teasing fades from his expression as he holds my gaze a moment longer. “Someone who never looked at you the way you deserved could never be the center of your universe, Pierce.”The smile leaves my face. I don’t know whether he realizes what he has just said, but it settles somewhere deep inside me. Miles had always been the one I looked toward, hoping one day he would look back the same way. Ryder never had to ask me to chase his attention. Somehow, from the very beginning, he had been the one looking at me.“I know.” I shake my head, my throat tight. “I’m just... I do like you, Ryder. A lot. Hanging out with you, especially yesterday, has been the best time I have had with anyone in forever.”“But?” He looks braced for rejection, but his eyes are soft.“I want more of that... wit

All Chapters of SAINT, SINNER AND THE GIRL IN BETWEEN: Chapter 21 - Chapter 23

I Like Him Too

You Are Right

I Noticed You