Late night calls

Sage

We both looked down at the phone that was laying on the table buzzing.

The name “Lisa💋” flashed across the screen. Before Kaiden could react, it went to voicemail, and the audio played out loud.

“Hey, baby. It’s me,” a syrupy voice cooed. “Last time was amazing. You’re incredible, you know that? I’d love a repeat. I would like to feel your thick cock inside of me, I can’t stop thinking about you, call me.”

The words hung in the air like poison.

I stiffened, every muscle in my body locking up. My jaw clenched so tightly it hurt, and I could feel my face heat up with a mix of embarrassment and something darker, jealousy. Not that I’d admit that.

Kaiden’s smirk vanished. “Sage, it’s not—”

I cut him off, shoving him abruptly. “Save it. I don’t care what you do with your conquests.” My voice was sharp, colder than I intended.

Damn it.

I started gathering my clothes on the floor, struggling to put them on.

He reached out, grabbing my wrist. “Sage, don’t. Listen to me—”

I yanked my arm free. “No, Kaiden. I’m not doing this. I am going home so I don’t get in the way of your plans,” My words felt like they burned my throat as I said them.

He stood, stepping closer. “It’s not like that. You know it’s not.”

I scoffed, backing toward the door. “Do I? Because it sure feels like it. Stay out of my way, Kaiden.”

His voice was desperate now. “Sage, please. Don’t go.”

But I was already out the door, slamming it shut behind me.

He could go to hell for all I care.

I felt tears of humiliation burn through me as I waited for my uber. I was so stupid for thinking that he was even into the lessons and I was more stupid for being bothered about this.

The next day, I buried myself in distractions. I had classes, assignments, and a stack of reading that I didn’t actually care about but pretended to for the sake of appearances. Anything to keep Kaiden out of my head.

I was thankful he didn’t go to my college. It meant I could avoid him entirely, at least for now.

By late afternoon, I was in one of the study rooms, a thick textbook open in front of me. I wasn’t really reading, just staring blankly at the same sentence I’d read ten times already.

That’s when they showed up.

A group of seniors strolled in, laughing and talking loudly. At first, I ignored them, hoping they’d move on. But then one of them, a guy named Jared, stopped in front of my table.

He was notorious for bullying but I had been careful not to cross their paths, well until now…

“Well, well,” he drawled, leaning over me. “If it isn’t the little princess.”

I sighed, keeping my eyes on my book. “Go away, Jared.”

He snorted, pulling the chair out across from me and sitting down. His friends circled the table, smirking. “Why so cold, Sage? Aren’t you going to welcome us?”

I looked up, narrowing my eyes. “I’m busy.”

He leaned in closer, his smirk widening. “Too busy to show us what you’re hiding under that shirt?”

The room felt like it dropped ten degrees. I shoved my chair back, standing. “Back off.”

One of his friends, a beefy guy named Greg, stepped in front of me, blocking my way. “What’s the rush? We’re just having a little fun.”

Jared stood, his tone turning mockingly sweet. “Don’t be shy, princess. We just want to see if you’re as pretty as everyone says.”

My hands curled into fists at my sides. “Say that again, and I swear—”

Jared laughed, cutting me off. “Or what? You gonna cry? Maybe we should find out how loud you can scream.”

I felt the tears come hot, but I couldn’t cry in front of them, not when they would tease me for being weak.

I tried to push past Greg, but he grabbed my arm, shoving me back into my chair. Jared’s smirk turned into a leer. “Maybe you should kneel, Sage. Show us what you’re really good at.”

My blood boiled, but before I could retort, a new voice cut through the room.

“What the hell is going on here?”

We all turned toward the door. Kaiden stood there, his expression cold like a storm about to break. His fists clenched and unclenched, I knew that sign.

Jared’s smirk faltered. “Just messing around. No big deal.”

Kaiden didn’t reply. He crossed the room in three long strides, grabbing Jared by the collar and slamming him against the wall. “Messing around? You call this messing around?”

“Hey, man, chill—” Jared didn’t get to finish. Kaiden’s fist connected with his jaw, and he crumpled to the floor.

Greg stepped forward, but Kaiden turned on him, his voice a low growl. “Try it. I dare you.”

Greg hesitated, then backed off, hands raised. The others followed suit, dragging Jared to his feet and retreating quickly.

The room fell silent except for my ragged breathing. Kaiden turned to me, his expression softening slightly. “Are you okay?”

I swallowed hard, standing on shaky legs. “I didn’t need your help.”

His jaw tightened. “Right. Because getting slapped around and humiliated is your idea of handling things?”

I flinched at his tone. “I had it under control.”

He stepped closer, his voice quieter but no less intense. “Sage, you were outnumbered. That wasn’t control, that was reckless pride even if you don’t want to admit it.”

I glared at him, the anger bubbling up again. “Why do you even care? You’re just going to go back to playing around with your little conquests, right?”

His expression flickered, hurt flashing across his face before he masked it. “Is that what you think of me? That I don’t care about you?”

I didn’t answer, pushing past him toward the door. But he grabbed my arm, stopping me.

“Sage.” His voice was softer now, almost pleading. “I can’t change what you heard last night, but I need you to know, it’s not what you think. You matter to me. More than anyone else, you are my best friend.”

For a moment, I wanted to believe him but I wasn’t that naive, I shook my head, pulling free. “Leave me alone, Kaiden.”

He clenched his jaw and shook his head, “No,”

With that, he dragged me out of the room.