Chasing Red (Chasing Red 1)

What kiss?

Caleb told me he didn’t sleep with her… Oh my God.

“It was only going to be a kiss, I swear. But…one thing led to another, like it always does with me and Caleb, and before we knew it, we were all over each other. I’m so sorry, Veronica. Caleb and I…he and I…had sex last night. I don’t hold him responsible, and you shouldn’t either. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you. I didn’t mean to ruin your relationship. It just happened. It always happens.”

My throat closed up, and my limbs felt cold and numb. I stared at her unblinkingly, at her eyes filled with apology and sincerity.

It lasted only a second, and I would have missed it if I had blinked, but the side of her lip lifted in a triumphant smirk.

My palm tingled.

“Veronica, I hope you now understand that Caleb and I will always—”

She didn’t finish what she was going to say because I walked right up to her, lifted my hand, and slapped her across the face—hard. Her head snapped to the side.

I could see the red mark and the imprint of my fingers on her white cheek.

Her mouth opened in shock, her hand covering the spot where I’d slapped her. When she turned to face me, her eyes were filled with hate.

“Drop the act,” I said quietly.

“I-I don’t know what you’re talking about, Veronica.”

Her innocent mask was back in place. I dug my nails into my palms, resisting the urge to punch her. Maybe knock out a few of her teeth.

“I know your type,” I said. “You may have fooled everyone, but you don’t fool me.”

Beatrice-Rose licked her lips, shaking her head. “You’re mistaken. I know you’re hurt that he broke up with you last night, but he and I… We loved each other even before you came in the picture. Caleb is—”

“You’re pathetic,” I bit out. I realized at that moment that I’d had enough. This girl wasn’t worth another second of my time.

I forced myself to walk away steadily. I was so angry I started to shake.

I pushed open the door and stepped out of the washroom. My vision was fuzzy, but I kept going.

“Red.”

I whirled around so fast that Caleb had to grasp my arms to steady me. Shocked, hurt, and confused, I stared at him. What was he doing here?

And then it hit me.

He’d called me a coward when he was the coward. Did he send Beatrice-Rose inside to talk to me while he waited outside? He didn’t even have the courage to tell me himself.

In the back of my mind, I was hoping he hadn’t lied, that he’d told me the truth yesterday…but I was right all along. Caleb had lied to me.

He said he didn’t sleep with her. But he did. He did. He did.

Furious, I pushed him away. Then I slapped him in the face. Hurt and confusion reflected in his eyes as he looked at me.

“I hate you,” I lashed out at him. “I fucking hate you.”

I turned away from him. When I heard the washroom door open and Beatrice-Rose’s shocked voice calling for Caleb, I ran.

My vision blurred. I didn’t know where I was going. I just wanted to get the hell away from him. From them.

I lost my breath when I collided with a hard object and strong arms wrapped around me.

“We have to stop meeting like this, Angel Face. Hey, what’s wrong?”