Page 34 of Fame & Chaos

Always Indi.

Maddie smiled against my mouth and kissed me harder, clearly encouraged by my response, but the longer it went on, the worse I felt.

Because no matter how angry I was, this wasn’t me.

I wasn’t this guy.

I didn’t want random girls.

I wanted Indi.

Only Indi.

Maddie’s hand slid lower, her fingers reaching for my belt, trying to undo it, and reality slammed back into me hard enough to make me jerk away instantly.

What the fuck was I doing?

I took a sharp step backward, breathing hard while guilt flooded my chest, and Maddie blinked up at me in confusion. “Caleb?”

I dragged both hands through my hair. “Sorry,” I muttered quickly. “I can’t do this.”

Her face fell. “Seriously?”

“Yeah.” I exhaled shakily. “I’m sorry.”

She crossed her arms, glaring at me. “You seemed pretty into it two seconds ago.”

I rubbed the back of my neck awkwardly. “Yeah, well…” I shook my head. “I’m an idiot.”

“That much is obvious,” she snapped.

Fair.

I deserved that.

I apologized again before walking away, ignoring her annoyed muttering behind me as I headed out toward the street.

I could have caught the bus home.

Instead, I walked.

I needed the air.

I needed time to think.

Because trying to punish Indi by kissing another girl had made one thing painfully clear.

There wasn’t anybody else for me.

There never would be.

And if I wanted Indi back, then acting like some jealous, heartbroken dickhead wasn’t going to get me there.

I needed to fight for Indi instead.

Properly.

Because losing her after finally having her in my arms?