Chapter 4: Falling Out

As good as it felt to shut Jessica down, I still felt raw inside. The truth was, the gap between me and Caleb was real—family, money, everything. Hearing it thrown in my face burned in a way I didn’t expect.

That night, I couldn’t bring myself to hug the body pillow. I just rolled over and tried to sleep, pretending none of this mattered.

But in my ear, Caleb’s voice surfaced, soft and wounded:

[Why didn’t Nat hug me more today?]

[So uncomfortable.]

[What do I do, I’m about to cry.]

Cry? Seriously? A guy’s tears are my kryptonite. I bit my lip, a little too excited at the thought.

I bolted upright, straining to hear. But after a long wait, all I got was Caleb’s usual cool monotone:

[Nat might be tired today? She hasn’t moved at all.]

[A little aggrieved, but that’s all.]

[Nat, good night.]

Well, that was a letdown. I flopped back on the bed, not even bothering to drag the pillow close.

Somewhere outside, a siren wailed, echoing the restlessness in my chest.

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Sleeping without the body pillow was a disaster. I flipped my pillow over and over, chasing a cool spot that never came. Every time I closed my eyes, I heard his voice, sad and soft, like a song stuck on repeat. I tossed and turned all night, yawning through my major class the next morning. As soon as the lecture ended, I grabbed my backpack and trudged across campus, coffee in hand.

I had a magazine club meeting. As a comms major, I’d scored a writing assignment: interview a star business student for our feature spread. Of course, the interviewee was Caleb Foster. Because the universe loves irony.

The business building smelled like old textbooks and burnt popcorn from the student lounge. I headed to the advisor’s office, but when I got there, the room was empty. I heard voices echoing from the hallway, so I followed the sound.

Just as I turned into the emergency stairwell, I froze. Jessica was up on tiptoe, hands on Caleb’s shoulders, her face tilted up to his. From where I stood, it looked like they were kissing.

Jessica’s eyes flicked open, landing right on me. She raised her brows, pure challenge.

My stomach twisted, sour and hot, as if I’d swallowed a mouthful of battery acid. My hands clenched around my phone. Fine, fine, fine. Let them have each other. I spun on my heel, heart pounding. I didn’t stick around to see her get pushed away and land on her butt, looking totally ridiculous.