CHAPTER 20
ANNA’S POV
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The next morning, I woke up feeling sore all over, especially between my legs, and it hit me all at once what had happened last night. My whole body felt as if it had been used, worshipped, and ruined all at the same time, and I honestly loved every part of it. But Ryan wasn’t on the bed with me. I sat up slowly, wincing just a little, then dragged myself to the bathroom to take a bath while trying to wash off the mess and ache still lingering on my
skin.
After I was done, I stepped out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped tightly around my body, rubbing another one through my wet hair as I tried to blink the steam from my eyes. Just then, Ryon walked into the room, and the second his eyes landed on me, that slow, sexy smile tugged at his lips like he already wanted another round.
He walked straight to me, didn’t say a word at first, just grabbed my waist and pulled me in for a kiss, a slow, deep one that made my stomach twist a little. His hands were warm against my damp skin, and I could feel the hunger in him again, feel how easy it would be to fall back into last night all over again.
“Good morning, baby,” he finally murmured against my lips,
“Good morning,” I whispered back, breathless already.
He kissed me once more, a little deeper this time, and then pulled away with a grin. “You should get dressed,” he said, brushing a strand of hair from my cheek, “because if you don’t, I swear to God, I won’t leave this room. Breakfast is ready, and you’re not helping”
I laughed and blushed as he walked out, his voice still echoing in my head. I threw on something simple, still smiling like an idiot while I went downstairs. The smell of tea and toasted sandwiches filled the air, and my stomach grumbled at the scent. He’d even pulled out a chair for me, waiting there like some perfect husband, and I couldn’t help but grin.
“You made this?” I asked as I sat down.
“Obviously,” he smirked, handing me my tea. “What, you don’t think I can cook?”
“I didn’t say that. I’m just… surprised, that’s all.”
We talked and laughed as we ate, and everything felt normal again, simple and light and easy. Somewhere in between bites of sandwich, I remembered something and looked up at him.
“Oh! I almost forgot. Our fresher’s night gala is next week Wednesday. It’s a pretty big deal. I want you to come with me. Like… be my date.
His eyes lit up a little, and he opened his mouth to respond, but then a phone dinged loudly on the table.
I looked at it instinctively, thinking it was mine, but then I noticed it was Ryan’s. The screen lit up with a message
clear as day, and I read it before I could stop myself.
“Hey babe, I’m bacccckkkkkkkkkkk! Wanna meet up?”
The name was Sophie. With a red heart emoji.
My heart dropped. I stared at it for a second, the words dancing in my head, not making sense, not fitting into the image of him I had built in the last few days. Ryan picked up his phone quickly, saw the message, and without saying anything, he locked it and flipped it face down on the table like it didn’t mean anything.
1/2
He cleared his throat and asked, “So when’s the gala happening?”
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I looked at him, my mouth dry, my brain racing. He was clearly trying to change the subject, but I couldn’t stop thinking about that message, about the name, about the heart emoji, about the fact that someone out there called him babe and felt comfortable enough to send that.
Still, I smiled. Just like that, forced the corners of my lips up and said, “Next week Wednesday.”
He nodded, barely making eye contact now. I could see how his mind had drifted elsewhere, how the lightness from earlier had disappeared. I tried to keep the smile on my face, but the silence between us started to feel thick, heavy, awkward.
So I asked.
“Who’s Sophie?”
His eyes snapped up to mine. He blinked, froze for a moment, and then the color drained from his face just enough for me to notice. He rubbed the back of his neck, looked anywhere but at me, and said, “It doesn’t matter.”
And that was it.
He didn’t explain. Didn’t lie. Didn’t offer anything else.
And I didn’t push.
I just nodded slowly, kept eating my food even though I couldn’t taste it anymore, even though I could feel this dull ache starting to build in my chest.
After we were done eating, he stood up and said, “I’ll be heading out. Got a few things to handle.”
He leaned down, tried to kiss me, but I tilted my head slightly at the last second, and his lips landed on my ear instead. He paused, clearly noticing, and I saw the frown tug at his brow. But he didn’t say anything. Just straightened, grabbed his phone, and left.
And I was left sitting there, alone at the table, my untouched tea going cold, and my head spinning.
Who the hell was Sophie?
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