Stole My Heart 💕

24 - I hate you

Nick's pulse thundered in his ears as he paced the length of the workroom, his fingers curling into fists before releasing, only to repeat the motion. Twenty minutes. She had been gone for twenty damn minutes.

Logically, he knew he was overreacting. Candice could have stepped out for something trivial—maybe a drink of water, a quick chat with a friend, or even just some air. But logic did nothing to calm the storm brewing inside him. The memory of their last interaction gnawed at him, every detail replaying in an unrelenting loop. She had been distracted, her responses clipped, her gaze evasive, as though she were hiding something. That unsettled him more than anything else.

A knot twisted in his gut. He couldn't shake the unease creeping up his spine. Something wasn't right. He had to find her.

Shoving his chair back, he strode out of the workroom, his sharp gaze scanning the halls. He checked the storage room first, his eyes narrowing when he found it empty. The attendant hadn't seen her either. His frustration grew with every fruitless inquiry. Passing students gave him blank looks or casual shrugs, none of them offering the answer he was desperate for.

Then, just as he was about to turn a corner, a slow, taunting voice halted him in his tracks.

"Did you know Candice and Blake are alone on the football field?"

Lisa.

Nick stiffened. The smirk in her tone was unmistakable, and when he turned to face her, the satisfaction gleaming in her eyes made his blood simmer. She feigned innocence, tilting her head ever so slightly. "Just thought you should know," she added, her voice dripping with something sickeningly sweet.

The football field?

Nick's stomach clenched. Candice wouldn't go there without a reason. And the first name that surfaced in his mind made his entire body go rigid.

Blake.

Heat surged through his veins, anger flashing hot and uncontainable. Without another word, he turned and bolted down the hall, his long strides eating up the distance as he tore toward the field. His thoughts tumbled chaotically, dark and relentless. Was she meeting Blake? Had she lied to him? The possibility sent a sharp pang of jealousy straight through his chest, an unfamiliar, unwelcome ache that left him breathless.

By the time he reached the field, his heart was pounding against his ribs, sweat beading at the back of his neck despite the cool breeze. He scanned the area, his breath catching when he spotted movement near the bleachers.

Then, he heard it.

Laughter.

Soft. Musical. Hers.

Something inside him twisted, raw and unbearable.

He turned toward the sound, his jaw tightening. And that's when he saw them.

Blake, kneeling in front of Candice, holding out a bouquet of roses.

Nick's breath hitched.

Candice stood there, a brilliant smile illuminating her face as she accepted the flowers, her fingers brushing against the delicate petals. Beside her, Blake's smug expression was like a blade to Nick's chest.

His Candice. Smiling like that. With him.

Something inside him snapped.

He didn't wait. He didn't think. He turned on his heel and walked away, each step heavier than the last, his teeth clenched so tightly his jaw ached. It felt like dragging an unbearable weight behind him, like forcing himself to retreat from something he didn't even know how to fight for.