Chapter 1
I was momentarily stunned.]
All I could do was awkwardly fumble around.
I didn’t dare look at Leo, and after pushing him away. I grabbed my clothes from the floor and threw them haphazardly.
“Chloe, look at me,” Leo said, propping himself up on an elbow, his eyes full of amusement.[]
“You don’t actually think we’re, like, a couple, do you?”
on
The words “just a casual thing” echoed in my mind. My hands were shaking, and I couldn’t get my bra clasp to fasten.]
Leo threw back the covers, revealing his lean, toned abs, and half–knelt at the side of the bed.
He reached out, his fingers familiar as he did up the clasp for me.]
I looked down and mumbled, “Who is she?”
I let out a bitter laugh. “Don’t tell me you finally decided to ask someone out seriously?”
Looking at myself in the mirror, I could see the red marks scattered across my skin, my legs still aching.
Leo, wearing only grey sweatpants, came up behind me and buried his face in my neck.
“It’s Layla.”
He raised a brow with those striking hazel eyes and repeated.]
“You know, Layla, from the art department, the one from college.
“Honestly, I’m kind of hervous to see her again.”
My hand, holding my lipstick, froze. Of course, I remembered.[]
Leo had a crush on her. He never confessed, then heard that Layla had gone abroad
I had thought that was all in the past…
Leo stared at me, pursing his lips. “Chloe, you better not be getting any weird ideas about me.]
“We’ve known each other forever, practically grew up naked together. And even though you are… really pretty, I just see you as one of the guys.]
“You’re my best buddy for food, for rides, for well, you know…“]
I felt like I’d been hit by a train. My body went cold. I forced a weak smile as I looked at Leo’s grin.Leo kept talking.]
“Besides, I know exactly what you’re going to wear. Even down to your underwear–I could probably guess the set you’d pick.”
“Honestly? It’s kind of boring.”
“Sometimes, I wake up in the middle of the night and see you sleeping next to me, and it actually freaks me out.”
“I mean, what if we actually ended up getting married because of some stupid joke–just like our families used to tease about?
“Can you imagine? My whole life, over in the blink of an eye.”
He gave an exaggerated shudder.]
As if the mere thought was terrifying enough to make his skin crawl.
I dug my nails into my palm, clenching my fists so tight it hurt–desperate to keep the tears from falling.
“There are some other things to do so I need to leave first. I’m so sorry.“[
I threw on my coat and left in a hurry, stumbling out like a coward running from battle.
