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Harleigh
“Miles,”Celeste giggled, nuzzling his arm as we sat outside in the yard. They were lost in their own little world. Had been all morning.
I’d wanted to stay in my room, but she’d refused to let me, insisting that they both wanted to hang out with me. But I’d barely said two words while they drifted deeper and deeper into their bubble.
It was cute, watching them. But it made my heart heavy.
“Sorry, Harleigh.” He flashed me an apologetic smile. “I just can’t believe this one”—he hugged Celeste into his side—“finally agreed to go out with me.”
“Technically, you never asked.”
“Because you’ve always kept me in the friend zone.”
And they were off again, gazing at each other with those dreamy lust-filled expressions. Miles nipped Celeste’s jaw, tenderly holding the back of her neck, teasing her with featherlight kisses that made her squirm and sigh.
My stomach curled, the bitter sting of jealousy shooting through me.
I’d never had that.
Never had anyone looked at me the way Miles was looking at Celeste right now.
Even when Nix had kissed me, he hadn’t gazed at me like that. His eyes were always clouded with regret, his expression tortured. Because things were never simple between us. He’d put me on a pedestal. Treated me as if I was some kind of precious stone or rare bird, to be cherished and protected but never touched. He’d loved me, I never doubted that. Not for a second. But it wasn’t the kind of love that consumed a person until they couldn’t think of anything else but being with the object of their desire.
If it had been, he would never have left me.
He would never have willingly let me go.
Miles’s cell phone chimed and he leaned over, snatching it off the small rattan and glass table.
“Who is it?” Celeste asked, trying to peer over his shoulder.
“No one.” He batted her away, concealing his screen as he texted the no one back.
“Hmm, keeping secrets, Mulligan. I can probably think of a few ways to get them out of you.” She latched her mouth onto his neck, sucking and kissing. A deep groan rumbled in Miles’s throat, a breathy cuss falling from his lips.
Rolling my eyes, I clambered off the lounger and said, “I’m going to grab some more snacks from the kitchen.”
The house was empty. My father and Sabrina were out of town with some business associates, and Max was off doing whatever Max did with his spare time. Ever since he’d outed me to his friends, he’d been avoiding me more than usual.
Good.
I wanted nothing to do with him.
I’d been here for weeks now. I knew what lay behind every door, around every corner, but it didn’t feel like home. It never would. It was beautiful, sure. A light and airy canvas full of perfectly positioned vases full of fake, never wilting flowers; abstract wall art splashed with vibrant colors. Everything had its place, had been picked out to compliment the ambience. But what it had in style and aesthetic beauty, it lacked in feeling. And maybe it was weird, but I felt cold here. Empty.
Even my room didn’t feel like my room. It felt borrowed. Temporary.
“Harleigh?” I turned to find Celeste frowning at me. “What are you doing?”
I hadn’t even realized I’d wandered over to the sideboard and picked up a rare photograph of my father with his family—the one he’d wanted, the one he’d claimed for himself.
“Nothing,” I said, placing it back down, ignoring the bitter sting of jealousy stabbing my insides.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah. I’m fine.”
“I’m sorry… about Miles. I know it’s been like a day and we’re already that annoying lovesick couple. I’ll try and—”
