Between Us

Chapter 42

I would have gasped if I could find my voice. If I could fight the rock that had wedged itself in between my oesophagus.

They were kissing.

I didn't know why that sight hurt so much. My unblinking gaze was fixated on them like I wanted to soak as much of it as I could as a reminder of why I hated Caden.

But that was the problem. I didn't hate Caden. I didn't know why I wanted to. He was so kind, so sweet to me, showing me sides to him I had never seen before, taking me to this place I thought was special between us, helping me out and confusing my heart.

I knew better than to trust Caden. It was then, as Leo swore under his breath and pulled me away, my ears static, that I accepted the fact that Caden was completely bad for my heart. He had a reputation as a bad boy for a reason. The reason why so many people were scared of him and were shocked that he'd 'changed'. The reason I was so choked up about this sight flitted about the corners of my mind but I pushed it away.

That couldn't be it. There was no way.

"He's bad news," I heard Leo mumble as he guided me quietly away from the scene. "He warns people away from me, but then goes and does shit like this."

"Can someone please just tell me the truth for once?" I sobbed out, not being able to control it.

Leo stopped nearby and put his hands on my shoulders. There was nothing but gentle sympathy across his features, a flicker of something else there that I couldn't decipher. "I'm not going to stand here and lie to you. I was a grade-A jerk, but so was Caden, if not worse. He was a player. He liked Leilani, but had other girlfriends." Maybe the disbelief was showing on my face because he shrugged. "If you don't believe me, ask him. Ask Leilani."

Was he telling the truth? He had to be if he wanted me to ask Caden himself. If someone was lying, they wouldn't say that.

We didn't talk the rest of the way, the only sound of the twigs and leaves crunching, snapping into two beneath my feet. A lot like my heart at that moment.

***

Caden had texted me a week ago.

Caden: hey.

I had ignored it then because I couldn't get the kissing scene out of my head.

We didn't text all that much because we practically saw each other everyday but when we did it was always...fun.

Like seeing a different side to him. But I couldn't see him without thinking about what happened.

Then today after a long stretch of silence I got another text.

Caden: you're avoiding me.

I gulped and turned my phone off. I mean, why was I feeling bad? That's what he wanted anyway. To stay away from him, right?

Sai and I went down to Betty's Parlour, one of the downtown cafes, and of course, Leilani and Caden were there, too. There were only two cafes in Meadow Springs, so the chance of seeing them at one was pretty high. It was a small world, one that I couldn't get out of no matter how hard I tried.

I did my best to ignore them, despite my peripheral vision more focused on them than on what Sai was telling me. All I could concentrate on was the guy several tables away. Wanting to know if he was looking my way. If he felt guilty for what he did. Because here he was with Leilani after making out with Trixie. Leo's words never stopped floating around in my head.

I allowed myself a surreptitious peek.

He wasn't looking my way.

A disappointed pang in my chest made me deflate.