Chapter 44

Chapter 44: Something you... love

LYRIC SPENCER POV 

    The days passed quickly, and it was my last class with Gavin Hawkins. Avoiding him had been difficult when we were only inches apart.

    As always, I arrived minutes earlier than the designated time. I spotted Gavin pinning a woman against a Lexus, his arms caging her in. Our eyes met, and something twisted in my stomach. I didn’t like it.

    They were so close—so close they could taste each other’s breath.

    I didn’t like how her perfectly manicured hands rested on his chest as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

    I wanted to look away, but I couldn’t.

    Gavin gripped her chin and pressed his lips onto hers. I noticed her entire body squirm against his, her toes curling as a soft moan escaped her lips. He deepened the kiss, and I felt my insides churn with discomfort—especially because his eyes never left mine.

    I didn’t like this.

    Tears pricked my eyes, stinging like a freshly peeled onion. I wanted to run away and never return, but the money was too tempting.

    Blinking back my tears, I hurried toward the porch.

    Gavin whispered something to her, and she laughed—a flirty, sickening sound that made my stomach turn. Then, she shot me a sideways glare before slipping into her car and driving away.

    “You’re here,” Gavin acknowledged my presence with a lopsided smile, his lips still stained with the remnants of her lipstick.

    Anger flared in my chest.

    I clenched the tissue in my hand, fighting the urge to storm over and wipe his lips clean—wipe them and mark them with my own lipstick instead.

    What was I even thinking?

    Luckily, the day passed without incident, though I couldn’t shake the image of Gavin dragging his tongue over her lips. Every time the memory resurfaced, my lungs tightened.

    I hated that I was jealous.

    She was probably just his next victim.

    Stupid boy.

    As I packed my belongings, Gavin appeared in the doorway wearing an apron.

    “I made us dinner.”

    I shook my head, silently refusing.

    “Lyric, you can’t say no. It’s the least I can do for you teaching me mathematics. The whole team owes you.”

    I glared at him, the image of his lips on hers flashing through my mind. Disgusting.

    Frustrated, I shut my book harder than I intended. The loud snap startled Gavin, making him hiccup.

    A soft, cute sound.

    Then another. Then another. Then another.

    It was nonstop.

    “Sorry,” he apologized, a red tint creeping onto his cheeks.

Without thinking, I reached into my bag and brought a bottle of water. 

As he drank, I watched his Adam's apple move with each gulp. My eyes flickered to his lips, touching the same spot my lipstick had imprinted. 

For the strangest of reason, it cooled down my dragons. The hiccups gone.

    Suddenly, he snatched my phone. My brows furrowed at his actions, I reached out to jerk it from his clutch but he was quicker on his feet.

    "What types of songs do you listen to?" he asked while going through my Lark Player app on my phone. He tapped into the section for my most played songs; I noticed his mouth part.

    "Tell me, Lyric, what's so special about this song that made you play it a thousand times?" I only shrugged. Why should I tell him anyway?

    We weren't on talking terms.

    Gavin sighed. He took my phone and connected it to his speaker system, and soon the beautiful, upbeat sound of my most played song, "Sweater Weather" by The Neighbourhood, started to play.

    "Tell me, Lyric, what makes this song so special?" he asked, as he started to corner me. My heart began beating faster at the lyrics about goosebumps when thaw touched her waist.

    For some reason, I started to move my hips sideways, and my arms moved upwards, following the beat. It was rare for me to dance so freely when I was not in the privacy of my bathroom.

    That day, I did not care. I was in my own world, thrusting my arms in the air, popping my head left and right recalling bits of choreography I had watched on Tiktok.

    Gavin took steps back, his fingers gently touching his lips. He watched me like I was the most interesting painting he had ever seen.

    Closing my eyes, I danced to the song, imagining the scene the singer describes. 'One love, two mouths, one love, one house... Cause it's too cold for you here and now. Let me hold both your hands in the holes of my sweater.'

    My eyes flashed open when I felt Gavin's hands on me; he pulled me in. Staring down at me, his fingers wandered around the fringe of my hair.

    The song was now faint in the background. His fingers moved to the back of my neck; I could feel the hairs on my neck standing, and my breathing turned erratic.

    Slowly, his arm snaked around my waist in a more formal hold; my heart continued to beat harder. Blinking one, two, three, Gavin lowered his head, his two fingers holding my chin and bringing it forward.

    There was nothing louder than my heart beating; several thoughts swirled in my mind. Gavin Hawkins was about to kiss me.

    I placed my hand on his chest, my fingers grabbing his shirt so I wouldn't collapse. My fingers shook from the hard beating in my heart.

    His lips were only inches from mine; the scent of his mint gum wafted into my nostrils. I breathed in sharply; the song was done. The trance was over.

    He let go of me; a shy smile pulled up on his beautiful lips - the lips I almost kissed. My toes curled at the thought of his lips on mine, our tongues intertwined.

    Next, he cleared his throat, biting his lower lip. "The song is..." His gaze wandered to my lips; I imagined rushing and slamming my lips together like in the movies. 

Oh my goodness. What filthy thoughts!

    "You have good taste in music," he said. "I'd like to listen to more. Can you create a playlist for me to listen to during practice?"

    I typed, and the AI voice answered, "What genre?"

    It was exciting to create a playlist for someone else, no one had ever asked me to create a playlist for them. Usually, I created playlists for me for moments when I was sad, happy or anxious. Then, I didn't know what I was feeling.

    The presence of Gavin Hawkins was creating a different emotion in by my pituitary.

    "Something you... love. I like your taste in music, Lyric Spencer."

    I liked the idea , several songs I listened to flooded my brain. I will make Gavin the best playlist ever. Next, I typed in my fingers fast over the keyboard. "Okay. I'll mix a blend of rock, pop, folk, and more."

    "Okay." He smiled, and I felt my knees weaken. What was this guy doing to me? Every minute with him, I felt myself falling deeper.

    The loud sound of thunder struck outside; a screech escaped my throat. I found myself in Gavin's arms; he was rocking me like a baby. I felt my cheeks warm.

    "Afraid of thunder?" 

    I nodded in response. At that moment, I expected him to put me down—but he didn’t. He only smiled and held me in his arms.

    I smiled back until I realized we weren’t even in the talking anymore.My lips pressed into a thin line as if someone had just poured a bucket of ice-cold water over me.

    I struggled to free myself from his grip, and in the process, I landed on the cold floor with a sharp sting of pain and fresh bruises I hadn’t anticipated.

    Gavin crouched beside me, his brows furrowed. "Are you okay?"

    Before he could touch me, I pushed his hands away. Hurt flashed in his eyes as he rose to his feet.

    "Lyric, did I really hurt you this badly? Why are you treating me worse than trash?"

    I wanted to yell yes, but I couldn’t. Frustration overwhelmed me.

    Without another word, I scrambled up and rushed outside—straight into the pouring rain—finally letting my tears fall.