He Heard Every Thought I Had About His Body Chapter 03
Before heading out that Tuesday, Warren spent forever getting ready.
Everything was flawless, from his hair to his shoes.
He was already ridiculously good–looking, and with a body that made every outfit look expensive, dressing
up only made him stand out even more.
Tara says when a guy suddenly starts primping this
much, he might got a side piece.
Warren’s hand froze mid–spray. He quietly set the can back down.
Then he turned, his gaze drifting to my bare shoulders.
“It’ll get chilly tonight. Bring a shawl.”
“It’s ninety degrees out.”
“…Be careful on your way.”
By the time I got there, the private room was already packed.
Tara waved me over.
The second I sat down beside her, she nudged my arm.
“Look at his wrist.”
Cole had long since shed that high school awkwardness.
He chatted easily with everyone around him, a drink in one hand.
His sleeve slid back as he raised his glass, revealing an
old braided bracelet.
Just a cheap little thing I’d picked up from a street
vendor across from our high school years ago.
Back then, Warren was in the class next door.
We weren’t close. All we really had was the fact that we’d grown up together, and we barely even spoke at school.
Still, Mrs. Cross was always asking Warren to bring things to me.
And every single day after school, he’d wait outside my classroom.
Eventually, everyone noticed. Then they started
assuming we were dating.
I tried explaining a few times.
No one believed me, so I eventually stopped bothering.
The rumors only died down after Cole came along.
Every chance he got, he’d jump in and clarify that
Warren and I weren’t together.
He did it so often that everyone got sick of hearing it.
Eventually, the gossip just died out.
To thank him, I bought him bubble tea after school one day.
It was the first time I didn’t go home with Warren.
When I told him, he didn’t say much. Just gave a small nod and left.
Cole was the complete opposite of Warren.
Cole was warm, outgoing, and completely transparent.
If he was happy, you’d know it. If he was upset, you’d know that too.
When we were eighteen, he confessed his feelings.
I didn’t really understand what it meant to like
someone. Or not like someone.
But after his thirty–fifth confession, I finally said yes.
Then he wouldn’t let it go until I admitted I liked him too.
He kept pestering me until I finally caved.
“Yeah. I like you.”
The moment the words left my mouth, I saw Warren.
He stood in the doorway with the sunset behind him.
The light cast his handsome face in shadow while the
evening sun turned his dark hair soft and gold around the edges.
His expression was calm. Impossible to read.
For some reason, I felt a little self–conscious.
Cole slipped one hand into his pocket while holding my backpack in the other.
The little rabbit keychain Warren had given me still dangled from the zipper.
Grinning without the slightest restraint, Cole called
out, “Warren, Cora and I are together now. I’ll take her
home from now on.”
“Thanks for looking out for her all this time, but your
services are no longer required. Dinner’s on me someday.”
Warren didn’t blink. He just stared at Cole, his lips pressed into a tight, thin line.
Even someone as oblivious as I was could tell something felt… off.
I walked over and tugged on Cole’s sleeve.
Then I looked at Warren.
“I’ll be home late. Could you let my parents know?”
He paused for a moment. “Okay.”
After that day, I never walked home with Warren again.