Page 16 of Loved By The Bad Boy

“That’s not true,” I whisper. “You’re not single. You didn’t break up with him.”

“Dude, if she says she did, then she did,” Calum adds. What? I spare a glance around the table, but Mira and Imani seem to agree with him. No, that’s not how it works. But as my mouth opens to pass this information, he snaps, “How about you let Tessa decide her relationship status?”

Eight

BEN

A second rolls by,maybe two or three. No one says a word, but I notice the distance between Gracie and me has increased. My fingers tremble, and I fist my hands. My pulse pounds in my ears. I know it’s my fault, and nothing I say will change Gracie’s mind, but I can’t give up.

Calum is saying something to the girls about a band. I don’t want to hear him speak anymore.

“How about you shut the fuck up?” I bark at him.

The table falls quiet. Mira doesn’t look impressed. Imani appears confused. Gracie doesn’t talk.

“Gracie has a boyfriend,” I say in a calmer voice.

But Imani stops me from continuing. “Who is Gracie?”

Gracie’s cheeks stain red. I turn to her, my knees almost touching hers, and she jumps back. We had evidence. We didn’t break up. I’ll prove it right now. “Your phone. Can I have a look at it?”

Calum draws close to Gracie. She must have figured out my plans. “I left my phone at home.”

“Isn’t that your phone?” Imani says. She points at a Samsung beside Gracie’s tray.

Gracie groans. Glaring at Imani, she says, “Seriously?”

The guilty human shrugs. I can’t decide if to hate or like her. I reach for the phone, but Gracie is faster. She snatches it from the table. And before I say a word, she storms out of the cafeteria.

“This is all your fault,” Calum says with venom lacing his words. We stand up at the same time. Forehead almost touching mine, he places a hand on my chest but doesn’t push. “Back off, Benjamin.”

I touch my forehead to Calum’s and push, forcing him to take a step back. “Make me,” I reply.

“Okay, that’s it,” Mira interjects. Sliding her hand between us, she says, “Break it off, you two.”

Taking a few steps away from the group, I swallow a comeback and race out of the cafeteria.

The hallway is empty. I don’t know the school well enough to decide where Gracie went. I pry my iPhone from my pocket and dial the only number I have. Unreachable. I’m still blocked. The search in the parking lot proves abortive. I didn’t see her car yesterday. It’s the same today.

My last option is the girls’ bathroom. I’m not sure how much time I have left until lunch break ends, but my steps quicken. I stop in front of the bathroom with the female logo on top, knock once, and enter. Gracie stands by the porcelain sink, staring at the mirror like she’s in a trance.

“Gracie?” I whisper.

She blinks. “What are you doing here?” Hopping on one leg, she rips her sneakers off the other foot and sends it flying at my head. It hits me square in the face, and she yells, “Get out. Now.”

“We need to talk.”

“I don’t want to talk to you.” Her hair falls out of its bun, and the loose strands caress her nose, lips, and cheek. “What don’t you understand, Ben? Why must everything be done your way?”

“We never broke up,” I say stupidly.

If those brown eyes could shoot fire, they would right now. “Well, I’m breaking up with you.”

“You can’t. I refuse.” Gracie sighs. She looks tired but continues to hold herself up. “I asked if you wanted to be my girlfriend, and you said yes. If you want a breakup, you need to ask me.”

“Then—”

“No,” I interrupt. “Don’t bother asking. The answer is no. We can’t break up, Gracie. You are supposed to be my babe, my Juliet,andmy girlfriend. That’s what the recording says, babe.”

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