جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 80

Dave hadn't touched me for six days. Not a real touch—the kind that meant something. The kind that said *I love you* or *I forgive you* or *I still want you*. I moved around our house like a ghost in my own life, cooking meals he barely ate, asking about his day and getting one-word grunts in return. The confession hung between us thicker than the cum Marcus had pumped into me that afternoon in the parking garage. Every time I sat down, I still felt the sticky reminder of my mistake, even after three showers. Even after trying to wash the guilt away with hot water and soap.I hated myself for it. Twelve years of him showing up, of him being *there*, and I'd thrown it away in five minutes in some intern's BMW. I had shattered the only one person who had never let me down. But God, my body wouldn't let me forget how good it felt—that frantic, no-holds-barred pounding while I bit his shoulder and came so hard my vision whited out. Different cock. Different rhythm with no routine. Just p

# Chapter 25: Maybe This Could WorkI'm shoving books into my locker on Monday morning when Kai appears like he materialized out of thin air or something. He's got that post-weekend look—hoodie, messy hair, the kind of casual energy that makes it look like he just woke up five minutes ago and decided clothes were optional."You got plans for lunch?" he asks.I turn around, holding a stack of textbooks against my chest. "Plans? Kai, it's Monday. My plans are to survive until Friday.""So that's a no?""That's a 'why are you asking me this right now.'"He scratches the back of his neck, which is apparently his nervous tic, and I watch it like it's the most interesting thing I've seen all week. Which, honestly, it might be."Cool. Eat with me," he says.I blink at him. "That's... random.""Yeah. I'm trying something.""Trying what?""Giving you an actual chance instead of acting like an idiot."I laugh before I can stop myself. "Wow. That almost sounded romantic."Kai grins, and it's the

space because he literally has bought most of it Personality Traits:Brilliant but impatient with incompetence Calculated risk-taker (sometimes to a fault) Genuinely curious about people if they're interesting Terrible at small talk; would rather sit in silence Dark humor that makes people uncomfortable Protective of people he loves, to the point of obsessiveness Struggles with emotional expression (shows love through action, not words) Trust Issues: His ex-wife (Prime Minister's daughter) cheated publicly. He married her for status, she married him for control. The humiliation shaped him. Emotional Unavailability: Even when trying to be vulnerable, he creates distance. He's so used to power that intimacy feels like weakness. Ruthlessness: He's built an empire by making hard choices that hurt people. He doesn't always feel bad about it. This haunts him. Commitment Phobia: Has cycled through wives and girlfriends because once things get real, he runs or finds excuses to end it. Cont

Fountain Senior High School ain't like the regular public school bullshit most people deal with. This place? It's built for a different breed. President's kids, minister's kids, old money, new money, the kind of families that got their last names on buildings and shit. You walk through the gates and you immediately feel the difference. The hallways smell like money. I never thought I could be close to the one and only best student Quinn. Like, realistically? That wasn't in the cards for me when I got that scholarship letter. But she's honestly one of the greatest people who made it worth it—made Fountain actually feel like somewhere I belonged, even when everything in that place screamed I didn't.I remember the first time I saw her real close. Not just passing her in the halls or seeing her name on the honor board (which, let's be honest, was basically tattooed there). We was in the library, me trying to find some research book for AP Lit, her sitting at one of them quiet tables wit

I was at the mall when Amber texted saying she wanted to show me something. Which meant she wanted me to buy something. That's what that text always meant.I didn't want to go. Honestly, I was trying to avoid being around her as much as possible lately. Every time I was with her, I just kept thinking about—No. Not doing this right now.I drove to meet her at the mall anyway because that's what you do when you've been dating someone for a year. You show up. You play the part. You pretend you're still into it.The problem was I wasn't sure I was into it anymore.Amber was waiting outside of this jewelry store, and the second I saw her, I already knew this was gonna be a whole thing. She had that look. The one where she'd gotten an idea in her head and she was about to make it my problem."Hey, babe," she said, kissing me, and I kissed her back because that's what you do. Even when your brain is somewhere else and thinking about someone else's lips.Dammit, Chase."Come here," Amber sai