Chapter 7 KEEPING CALM INDOORS

KARIMA HEART

I dropped to my knees beside Ellie, shaking her like that would magically wake her up. My heart raced with guilt. I hated myself for what I'd done, even if I had every right to be mad.

Then Nathan shoved me aside, and before I could blink, his hand cracked across my face.

I hit the ground, dazed.

"Do you always have to turn everything into a d*mn scene? What do you even gain from this?!" he barked.

His voice was thunder. "Just pray nothing happens to my girlfriend."

I sat there, soaked in silence like a stray cat caught in the rain.

His girlfriend? Wait! He just said his girlfriend?

If she was his girlfriend, what was I all along? His backup plan? His fool, who paid for everything and got nothing but heartbreak in return?

You name it... what didn't I do for Nathan?

Every lunch, I paid.

Every date, I picked up the bill.

When he broke down about his sister, I held him, wiped his tears, told him it would be okay... and still paid for everything.

If that wasn't love, then what the hell was?

But none of it mattered.

Because right there, in front of me, he picked her up, held her like she was fragile glass...

And I? I was nothing.

Like, I didn't even exist.

He really left me... This wasn't a nightmare. This was real.

Like a child abandoned in the storm, I crawled toward him, grabbing his ankle.

"Nate, please... I'm sorry. You know I didn't mean to push her-"

My voice cracked into a plea so pathetic, that it felt normal to be that shameless.

He didn't even glance back.

He just kicked my hand away.

And of course, Tyla stood there like she'd just won first prize.

She probably thought this was her big break. That now she had a chance with him.

"Get that camera out of my face, Tyla!" I snapped.

She knelt down, filming closer, grinning like the devil.

"And if I don't? You think I'm gonna miss the golden moment of watching you cry like a homeless puppy?"

As if her words lit a match inside me, something went off.

I didn't even know where the strength came from-maybe it was all the rage I had bottled up for Nathan and Ellie, now finding the nearest outlet.

I grabbed her phone.

And with just a BANG! It shattered against the floor.

I didn't give her a second to gasp. My hand flew to her hair.

She shrieked, twisting and struggling to fight me off.

Then, just like that, a hand yanked me back.

I thrashed, and tried to shake it off, but the grip tightened.

And then I saw him.

Lo and behold! It was Owain.

Oh, perfect.

What a beautiful d*mn timing. *In sarcasm*

I glared at him, my jaw clenched, and then I turned in Ethan's direction.

But before I could take a step, Owain shoved me aside.

"What do you want from me? Can you just stay out of my d*mn business!" I yelled, my voice cracking through the air.

He didn't flinch, he just stood there, staring at me like we were in a theater act, and he was the director trying to figure out which scene needed fixing.

I shoved past Tyla, who was still trying to untangle the mess I left in her hair. Honestly, she looked like a clown whose head had just been set on fire.

"Stop making a fool of yourself, Karima," Owain said, calm as ever.

"Oh, I'm the one being the fool?" I scoffed. "You don't even know what happened, and you're already pinning it on me?"

I let out a long, shaky breath. My chest burned from yelling, but slowly the storm inside me began to settle. The tremble in my nerves dulled a little.

I marched to the table and snatched my bag.

He moved closer, his hands shoved in his pockets like this was some casual stroll.

"Where are you going?" he asked.

"Let me be... Ellie fainted earlier, and I need to f*cking see her. So, kindly move away."

"No, you're not. Not while you're still breathing like fire."

I blinked at him. "Why? Who the hell do you think you are? My boyfriend? Move the hell out of my way!"

"I'm not moving just because you said so," he replied, his voice steady. "And yes, I am your boyfriend. We had a deal, remember?"

Jesus Christ...

Tyla's head jerked up at that. She didn't care about her hair or her phone anymore. "What do you mean you're her boyfriend? You liked me first!"

Seriously? Does every single hot guy she stumbles on have to be her crush?

She shoved me, and for a second, I thought she might just bite me.

Whatever. She could have the stage. I stormed to the door, ready to leave the whole drama behind.

But I didn't make it far.

Something swept my feet off the floor.

"Put me down, you pervert!" I screamed, thrashing over Owain's shoulder.

He didn't flinch. His grip tightened around my waist.

Was he insane?

"I swear to God, I'll sue you for sexual harassment! Let me the hell down!"

Still nothing. My words bounced off him like rubber bullets.

He went straight to his sleek black luxury car, and flung open the door, tossed me inside, and slammed it shut.

I scrambled for the handle, but he was faster. In one smooth move, he slid into the driver's seat and yanked me back.

Before I could speak, he leaned over and strapped the seatbelt around me, tight.

And without another word, he sped off.

***

OWAIN LUTHER

She's so d*mn stubborn. Hard meat to grind, no doubt. But if I'm being honest... I was starting to love every ounce of drama she kept throwing at me. It was like she didn't know how intoxicating her fire was.

The second we pulled into the parking space, she turned to me sharply, those eyes of hers already shouting a thousand things before her lips could even catch up.

And hell, I'd be lying if I said that look didn't do something to me.

"What? Need me to open the door for you?" I smirked.

She didn't have it. Not even a twitch of amusement.

"Why are we here?" she asked, throwing me a glare that could melt steel.

"Why else?" I shrugged. "Brought you home to clear your head. It's the only place you actually stay calm."

"And you think being stuck at home with you would calm me? Is that supposed to be funny?"

"No. Unless you want it to be." I leaned back casually. "You said it yourself, staying indoors keeps you calm."

I didn't even mean to say that. But it came out anyway. And yeah, it was a little embarrassing that I remembered something she said years ago.

Her brows twitched, surprise flickering across her face, but she said nothing. Just opened the door and stormed out like I hadn't just exposed myself.

We barely got inside before she shot straight to her room.

And like the fool I was, I followed right after her, catching the door before she could slam it in my face.

"What now?" she snapped, whirling at me.

"You're seriously going in without me?"

"Was I supposed to invite you in?"

I didn't bother answering. I just pushed the door open and walked in like I owned the place.

The room screamed pinky girl, sweet, soft, too neat. But my eyes found what they needed.

Lying on the reading table... was a frame. The photo we took ten years ago.

Seriously?

She saw what I'd seen and ran for it, then, snatched it like it was her last defense.

"There's no point hiding that," I said, moving closer, my eyes locked on hers.

She clutched the frame behind her, like it could save her from the heat she knew was about to rise between us.

But it wouldn't. Not this time.

***

KARIMA HEART

My eyes stayed locked on Owain as he moved closer, that smug calmness written all over his face.

"Look, I was just clearing out some old stuff and... I found it in the junk pile. It's not what you think," I blurted, even though he hadn't asked for a single d*mn explanation.

Why did I even say that?

"Yeah," he murmured, his voice low like a whisper, "I believe you."

He was already standing right in front of me now, his lips hovering just inches from mine.

I swallowed hard.

My knees gave in a little, but his arms slid around my waist, catching me before I completely lost balance.

God, I hated how that made me feel.

How my body reacted to him, like I had no say in it.

How his dark smirk crawled under my skin, annoying... and yet, frustratingly inviting.

I shouldn't be feeling this way. Not when I was still dealing with heartbreak.

But then his hand shifted slightly lower and my breath hitched.

I bit down on my lower lip, cursing my own body for responding.

He didn't move.

He just stood there, looking at me like he could read every thought I was trying to bury.

I slowly shut my eyes, bracing myself for whatever came next.

Then... the door flung open.

Malcom stepped in.

For a second, he just stared blankly, trying to process what he walked in on.

Then his gaze dropped straight to Owain's arm, wrapped tightly around my waist.

His face turned into stone. "What the hell is going on here?"