Endless

10

Ty POV

His phone would NOT stop buzzing.

And the worst part?
He wouldn't look at me.
Not even for a second.

You know how some people can lie easy, like water?
Not Kentrell.
When something bothers him, it sits heavy in the room. Thick. Loud. Like heat.

And right now the room felt like a damn sauna.

My heart was still going too fast from the kiss — those kisses — but everything inside me dropped cold the second that notification lit his face.

"Kentrell," I whispered again, softer. "Who's texting you like that?"

He didn't answer.
He didn't even breathe right.

He just stared at the floor like the message was a ghost that followed him here.

When he finally spoke, it was low enough to make my stomach flip:

"Ty... don't ask me that."

That wasn't an answer.

I sat up straighter on the edge of his bed, fingers knotting in my hoodie sleeves.
He wouldn't look at me.
That hurt more than a damn calc grade.

"So it is someone else," I said. I didn't mean for it to come out so quiet.

He exhaled sharp — frustrated — like my words physically hit him.

"Bruh," he muttered. "Don't start jumpin' to conclusions."

"I'm not jumping," I said, voice shaking. "You just got two back-to-back messages the second we kissed. That's not—"

"Ty."
He stepped closer, dreads swinging forward, jaw clenched like he was holding back fire.
"Stop."

That made panic rise up my throat.

"No," I said, pushing to my feet. "You just kissed me like you meant it. Twice. And then you look at your phone and act like you saw a ghost. So tell me what's going on."

He finally met my eyes.

And the look there wasn't guilt.
It was something worse.

Fear.

Then anger sparked under it, like a flame catching gas.

"Ty," he said, voice low and Louisiana-thick, "you ain't got no reason to be jealous."

"Then tell me why you're acting like that."

He breathed out slow, nostrils flaring.

"'Cause it ain't your business."

My chest cracked.

"Oh."
I nodded once, even though my throat was tight. "Right. Okay."

Instantly — instantly — he realized what he said.

"Damn... Ty, wait—"

I stepped around him, headed toward the door.

But he grabbed my wrist.

Not hard.
Not tight.
Just enough to keep me from running away from him.

"Don't do that," he said. "Don't act like I don't want you here."

"Then tell me the truth."

He shut his eyes like that physically pained him.

When he opened them, his voice was quieter.

"It's my ex."

My heart dropped through the floor.

"Your... ex?"
My voice actually cracked.