Page 140 of Bitter When He Begs

My stomach flips and I unlock the app, opening Instagram with the same trepidation people use when checking their grades. The moment it loads, I see it. There. Right at the top of my feed.

It’s us.

Or rather, it’s me. Asleep on Luca’s chest, his arm wrapped around my waist. His shirt is half off my shoulder, the sheets a mess around us. It’s domestic and intimate in a way that makes my pulse stutter.

But it’s the caption that lands like a sucker punch right to the chest.

My reason.

Two words. That’s it.

“Holy shit,” I whisper.

Nate peeks over my shoulder. “It was the most disgustingly sweet thing I’ve ever seen at 6 A.M.”

“He posted this,” I say, barely audible.

“Yeah, and judging by the thousand-plus likes and the three hundred comments, the internet has thoughts.”

I scroll down, my heart hammering as I see the likes, the comments, the shares. Because of course it’s blowing up. Lucais one of the most well-known athletes at Blackthorne. He’s not just popular—he’s idolized.

@blackthornewolves: Get it, QB1. Secure that nerd.

@titans4life: I LOVE THEM YOUR HONOR

@killian.king: So when’s the wedding?

@damien.moore: I’ve never seen Luca look this soft before. It’s disgusting.

@romanbishop: Sage, blink twice if he’s holding you hostage.

@thornknight: Nerd supremacy wins again.

And then there’s a barrage of comments from random students, fans of the team, people who don’t even know me personally but are fully invested.

— So Devereaux is officially off the market?

— Not him being a soft boyfriend

— SAGE WON LIFE WTF

— THE POSSESSIVENESS IN TWO WORDS. DEAD.

— This is the softest, most unhinged thing I’ve ever seen.

I don’t know whether to laugh, cry, or melt into the floor.

It’s so obvious he’s showing me off.

…I love it.

I love that Luca isn’t hiding me. I love that he wants people to know. I love that he—

“You’re literally glowing.”

I jerk my head up, glaring at Nate, who’s watching me with the most smug fucking grin on his face.

“Shut up,” I mumble, flipping my phone face-down.

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