Cael POV
Cael stood under the shade of the large cedar near the eastern garden, arms folded across his chest as he stared out into the sun-drenched grounds. The trees swayed gently with the wind, birds chirped in the distance, and yet all he could feel was the twisting in his gut.
Mira's words from the gym echoed like a damn earworm.
"You're pushing her away."
"She went on a date."
A muscle twitched in his jaw as he caught sight of Elisa by the fountain, sitting cross-legged on a bench with the sun hitting her just right, her skin glowing, and her auburn hair looked red as the sun rays hit it. She was laughing as she typed on her phone.
His chest tightened as the wind blew the tinkling sound to his ears.
He knew that laugh. Soft, unguarded. It wasn't meant for just anyone. It shouldn't be.
Jealousy stabbed at him like a hot blade. Who was she texting?
Stop being stupidly irrational; it is none of your business who she is texting.
