The Devil In Disguise

Declarations

Gianina took a shaky breath, gathering her thoughts as Cal's figure disappeared down the hall. Her hands clenched, her mind buzzing with a mixture of frustration and something else she couldn't quite name. She wasn't ready to let this go—not yet. There were too many unanswered questions, too many hints he'd dropped that lingered like a trail she couldn't help but follow.

Without hesitating, she pushed off from the wall and hurried after him, her footsteps quick and purposeful. He was already halfway down the hall when she caught up to him, her hand reaching out to grab his arm.

"Cal," she said, her voice sharp, unwavering.

He stopped, looking back at her, a smirk playing on his lips as he raised an eyebrow. "Couldn't resist following me, huh?"

Ignoring his tone, she tightened her grip, pulling him back toward the dimly lit room they'd just left. He raised an eyebrow, amused but intrigued as she led him inside, the silence between them stretching taut as she closed the door behind them.

"You still have questions, GG?" he asked, crossing his arms and leaning casually against the wall, his gaze steady on her. "Or is this just an excuse to get me alone again?"

She exhaled, her frustration breaking through. "Did the killer tell me the truth, Cal?" she demanded, her voice trembling despite the resolve in her tone. "About you... and the way you feel?"

For the briefest moment, something flickered in his expression—something that looked like surprise, or perhaps hesitation. But he quickly masked it, his usual smirk returning as he tilted his head, studying her.

"And what exactly did he say, GG?" he asked, his voice low, challenging.

She hesitated, feeling her cheeks flush under his intense gaze. The killer's words played back in her mind, his dark, taunting promise that both Marcus and Cal were in love with her. She swallowed, her voice barely a whisper as she repeated them. "He... he told me that you were in love with me."

The words hung in the air, heavy and charged. Cal's smirk faded, his gaze sharpening as he straightened, taking a step toward her. She felt her heart quicken, her pulse pounding in her ears as he closed the distance between them, his expression unreadable.

"And what do you think, GG?" he asked, his voice quiet but filled with something she couldn't quite decipher. "Do you think he was telling the truth?"

Her breath caught, her mind racing as she searched his face for any hint of an answer. She could feel the weight of his gaze on her, the way he seemed to see right through her, his usual lighthearted demeanor replaced by a raw intensity that made her stomach twist.

"I... I don't know," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "You're... you're always joking around, flirting, but I never know if you're serious or if it's just... just part of the act."

Cal's gaze softened for a moment, a flicker of vulnerability breaking through the mask he usually wore. He took another step closer, his hand reaching up to brush a stray strand of hair from her face, his touch lingering longer than necessary.

"Maybe it's both, GG," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "Maybe I hide behind the jokes because... because it's easier that way."

She felt her heart skip a beat, her mind spinning as she tried to process his words. "Easier?" she echoed, her voice trembling. "Easier than what?"

"Easier than telling you the truth," he replied, his gaze locked onto hers. "Easier than admitting that maybe... maybe the killer was right.  Easier than saying what I need to say."

Her breath hitched, her mind racing as his words sank in. She felt a strange mix of emotions—fear, confusion, and a flicker of something else, something she couldn't quite name. "Cal... why don't you just tell me?"

He let out a soft, humorless laugh, his gaze drifting away for a moment before he looked back at her, his expression filled with a quiet resignation. "Because, GG, I know how you feel about Marcus. I know that, no matter what I say, he's the one you want. So what would be the point?"

His words hit her like a punch to the gut, the truth of them sinking in. She had always been close to Cal, but Marcus... Marcus was different. He was her anchor, the one she relied on, the one she'd chosen. And yet, standing here with Cal, she couldn't deny the pull she felt, the connection that lingered between them like an unspoken promise.

"Cal, I..." She trailed off, unsure of what to say, her mind racing as she searched for the right words.

He shook his head, a bitter smile tugging at his lips. "Don't worry, GG. I know where we stand. I've known it from the start. But that doesn't change the fact that, no matter how hard I try, I can't just turn it off."

Cal moved closer, his gaze piercing as he leaned in, his voice low and rough. "Gianina," he murmured, her name slipping from his lips like a confession, dark and intimate. The sound of it—so rarely used, so unexpectedly raw—sent a shiver through her, and she felt her breath catch. Her heart pounded, her skin tingling under the weight of his gaze as he lifted a hand to her face, his fingers tracing a slow path along her jaw.

She swallowed, unable to break eye contact, the world narrowing to just him, the darkness, and the heat between them. Her pulse raced, betraying the thrill and tension twisting within her. He leaned closer, his voice a low whisper that stirred something both thrilling and terrifying deep inside her. "I've waited too long to say it, to show you how deeply you're bound to me, Gianina," he said, his fingers resting at the nape of her neck, his eyes never leaving hers. "No one else will ever make you feel this, no one else will ever know you like I do."

He goes in to kiss her but stops as if something is telling him not to. Gianina can't keep the look of disappointment on her face. She then felt a pang of guilt, a strange sense of loss she couldn't quite explain. She reached out, her hand resting lightly on his arm as she looked up at him, her gaze filled with a mixture of empathy and regret.

"Cal, I... I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice filled with sincerity. "I didn't mean to hurt you."

He let out a quiet sigh, his gaze softening as he looked down at her hand on his arm. "You didn't, GG. Not really. I guess I just... I just needed you to know."

Silence settled over them, heavy and bittersweet. She searched his face, her heart aching with a mixture of emotions she couldn't fully name. Cal had always been there for her, always standing by her side, and now, she saw the weight he'd been carrying, the unspoken feelings he'd hidden behind his jokes and flirtatious smiles.

She felt him shift, his hand moving to cover hers as he held her gaze, his expression raw and vulnerable in a way she'd never seen before. "But I'm not going anywhere," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "I'll still be here, no matter what. Because that's what you do when you love someone."

A tear slipped down her cheek, and she quickly brushed it away, nodding as she looked up at him. "Thank you, Cal," she whispered, her voice filled with gratitude. "For everything."

He managed a small smile, his thumb brushing gently over her knuckles before he released her hand, stepping back. "Just... don't forget about me, GG. That's all I ask."

She nodded, her heart heavy as she watched him turn and walk away, his figure disappearing down the hall. Tears slipping down her cheeks as she slipped down the wall. All she could think of was how hard this past year had been on Cal and how she felt she was betraying Jordan.