Stole My Heart 💕

23 - Possessiveness

The tension in the room was suffocating, thick with the weight of unspoken emotions. Nick sat rigidly on the couch, his heart pounding in a chaotic rhythm, his jaw clenched so tightly it ached. He wasn't sure when his emotions had become so entangled with Candice, but the thought of her walking out that door to meet Blake sent a violent surge of jealousy crashing through him. His fingers curled into fists at his sides, his entire body coiled with frustration.

It wasn't fair. He knew he had no right to feel this way, no right to dictate where she went or who she spent time with, but knowing that didn't stop the possessive rage from tightening its grip around his chest. Every time he thought about Candice standing close to Blake, laughing at his jokes, looking at him with those warm, expressive eyes, Nick felt something raw and ugly clawing at his insides. He wanted to be the only one who could make her smile like that. The only one she looked at like that.

When her phone buzzed on the table, Nick's instincts took over before rationality could intervene. His hand shot out, grabbing the device before she could reach it. His pulse was erratic as he saw Blake's name flashing across the screen. His stomach twisted painfully, and without thinking, he slipped the phone under the couch cushion, his hands trembling with the urgency of his actions.

He convinced himself she wouldn't notice—she wouldn't care. But the moment she glanced at her phone minutes later and saw the missed call, her entire face lit up. A bright, cheerful smile stretched across her lips, the kind that made Nick's breath hitch—but this time, it wasn't for him. That realization felt like a punch to the gut.

Candice didn't hesitate to call Blake back, her voice warm, familiar, intimate in a way that sent Nick spiraling further into his frustration. His grip on his own knee tightened as he listened to her hum lightly, completely oblivious to the turmoil burning inside him.

"I'll meet you in ten minutes," she said, her tone so casual, so full of ease.

Nick's stomach dropped.

A suffocating helplessness washed over him, wrapping around his chest like a vice. She was actually going. She was choosing to leave—to meet Blake. That single fact sent every rational thought out the window. He could feel the anger rising in his veins, simmering under his skin like an untamed storm.

His gaze followed her every movement as she stood up, brushing her hair back with effortless grace, moving as though she hadn't just wrecked him with a few simple words. She hummed softly, grabbing her bag, and Nick knew—he knew if he let her go now, he would regret it. The jealousy was unbearable. The thought of her being with Blake tonight, sharing smiles, conversations, moments—it was too much.

Before he even realized what he was doing, he lunged forward and snatched her bag off her shoulder, halting her in place.

"What plans?" he demanded, his voice sharp and edged with desperation.

Candice turned to him, blinking in confusion at his sudden outburst. "Some personal work," she answered, her tone defensive.

Nick's grip on the strap tightened. "What personal work?"

She hesitated. That brief pause was all it took for his heart to hammer against his ribs, each beat a cruel reminder of what was coming. Finally, she sighed, deciding there was no point in hiding it.

"I'm going to meet Blake."

Nick inhaled sharply, his entire body tensing as though she had physically struck him. The admission sliced through him, raw and unforgiving. His hand clenched around her bag as a surge of anger flared in his chest, burning away any sense of reason.

"What's the need to meet him now?" His voice was harsher than he intended, but he didn't care. "Cancel it. We need to finish this today."

Candice flinched at his intensity, her lips parting in surprise before her expression softened into something that always made him weak. That pleading, innocent look she gave when she wanted him to give in.