Chapter Ten — The Realization That Changes Everything
235 Words
She found Caleb at the gym that evening, bench-pressing like gravity was optional.
“Guess who I ran into today,” she said.
“Your sworn enemy?” he grunted.
“Ethan.”
His arms froze mid-rep. “What?”
She laughed. “Relax. I didn’t stab him.”
“Disappointing.”
“He asked me out.”
Caleb’s jaw tightened. “And?”
“I said no.”
His shoulders relaxed — subtly, but she noticed.
“Good.”
She tilted her head. “Why?”
“Because he doesn’t deserve you.”
“That’s not why,” she said.
“Oh?”
“I don’t want him.”
He blinked. “You don’t?”
“No.”
“That’s… huge.”
“I thought I wanted revenge,” she said. “But I don’t. I just wanted to stop hating myself.”
“And did you?”
She smiled. “Yeah.”
He stared at her — long and quiet.
Then said softly, “I’m really glad.”
Something in his voice made her chest tighten.
And suddenly, the truth hit her like a freight train.
She didn’t want Ethan.
She didn’t want validation.
She didn’t want revenge.
She wanted…
Him.
The realization terrified her.
Because Caleb wasn’t temporary.
He wasn’t a rebound.
He wasn’t replaceable.
He was her best friend.
Her safe place.
Her anchor.
And she was in love with him.
- Writer
