My first crush (COMPLETED)√

Chapter 10

The air between us was thick with tension, heavy enough to choke on. I didn't know what to say, and the words I wanted to throw at him seemed trapped behind my teeth. Should I shout at him? Blame him for what had just happened to me? Or stay silent and let the anger simmer?

"Here's your phone. It dropped out of your pocket." His voice was calm, almost casual, but I could hear the underlying hope.

I snatched it from him, my fingers brushing his, gripping it with more force than necessary. I was still too angry to speak, too furious to even look at him.

"Sharon... are you angry with me? Say something, please. You know I didn't mean for any of that to happen. I... I love you."

He held my hands gently. Our eyes met, and for a split second, I felt my defenses weaken. Panic flared, and I looked away quickly before anything else could happen.

"Sharon, say something. Talk to me," he urged, his tone soft but intense, like he could read every unspoken thought.

I stayed mute.

"I said I'm sorry. Let me make it up to you," he pleaded, his grip firm but careful.

I exhaled sharply, trying to steady myself. "Stephen... the first thing you should know is that I'm not your girlfriend. We don't have a thing together. You are with Patricia, and she's my friend. I can't betray her. You've apologized, and I forgive you. End of story." I turned my face away, my pulse still racing.

He didn't let go. "I know, but Sharon... I want you. I can't stop thinking about you. Patricia and I have broken up, so please... stop putting her into this."

"She still wants you back," I whispered, almost to myself.

"Don't you want me?" His question hit me like a jolt, sudden and electric.

I blinked rapidly, my heart hammering. I did want him — wanted him like crazy — but the words wouldn't come. My cheeks threatened to burn bright red, and I pressed my hand to my face, trying to hide it.

At that moment, my mom entered the room, and my moment of indecision was interrupted.

"Drink some milk, Sharon," she said, lifting the cup gently to my lips. I drank, the cool liquid grounding me, giving me a small measure of composure.

Stephen cleared his throat and stepped back. "Goodbye, Sharon," he said, a hint of awkwardness creeping into his otherwise confident tone. Watching my mom feed me clearly made him uncomfortable.

"I'll be leaving now, ma'am," he added, winking at me with that infuriating charm.

"Call me Mrs. Katherine. Thank you for watching over my daughter," my mom replied, her tone warm but firm.

I watched him leave, a swirl of confusion and exasperation in my chest. Why did he have to be so... infuriatingly charming? Flirting even in this situation? And what was my mom even saying? If she knew he was the cause of all this, I knew she would have ripped his heart out.