How To Lose Your Billionaire Alpha Husband In 365 Days (Or Less)!-Chapter 100: Ares...

LEAH’S POV

"I left it on the bench near the warmup tent. I’ll be right back."

That was a lie.

I didn’t forget my phone; I just needed space, a moment to breathe.

The truth sat heavy in my chest, a weight I didn’t want to name.

Avery kept asking about that girl like it was nothing, like some joke or harmless curiosity. Her words still echoed in my head: "You sure you’re not into her?"

I kept playing along because what else was I supposed to do? Admit it?

Admit that, yeah, I’d been staring? That I noticed the way her hair slipped over her shoulder, the sharp line of her jaw, and the way her fingers tightened around her water bottle? That every time she flashed that wicked, knowing smirk, my stomach twisted in ways I couldn’t explain?

No thanks.

God, I was so tired of pretending that question didn’t hit me like a fist to the ribs.

I wasn’t exactly running, but ever since I first saw her dressed in that custom made uniform, with slouching confidence and a cocky grin, I haven’t been able to think straight. She captivated me in a way that I couldn’t shake off.

Avery saw it. Of course she did.

That girl had my attention from the second she walked onto campus like she owned it.

And yeah, maybe I was watching.

Avery didn’t need to say it. My heart had already screamed it a thousand times: There’s something about her that pulls and burns in a way I can’t look away from.

But it wasn’t like I didn’t still like guys. Hell, I had entire folders on my phone filled with K-pop idols shirtless and smiling, as if they knew me. So what was this?

This wasn’t... gay.

Was it?

I rubbed my temple and ducked into the nearest hallway, then slipped into the girls’ bathroom just past the gym.

Cold water, that’s what I needed. I told myself.

I turned on the tap, splashing my face. My reflection stared back at me: flushed cheeks, messy ponytail, eyes I didn’t recognise lately.

"Get it together," I muttered, yanking a paper towel from the wall.

Maybe I’d go back and pretend I actually found my phone. Maybe Avery would be too busy flirting with Ryan to notice anything off.

My stomach twisted.

I miss her.

That was the truth I hated most.

It wasn’t the attraction or the confusion, or even the mess of figuring myself out. It was just... missing her, missing how it used to be, just the two of us.

Before Kyle. Before Adrian. Before every new guy with a boyish grin and athletic body decided Avery Carter was the hottest thing since hot flames.

I used to be enough for her. Now it seemed like I was a background character in her very love story.

I finished drying my face with a paper towel and headed for the exit. My hand was already reaching for the handle when it unexpectedly opened in my grip.

"Oh my god—" I gasped, as I almost walked into her.

My heart skipped a beat, and I cursed the universe in all ten languages I barely passed.

She caught me, hands firm and steady on my shoulders, like she’d been waiting for the moment I’d stumble.

"Whoa there," she said, that familiar smirk curling back into place. "Didn’t mean to scare you."

She stood casually, one brow raised, a bottle of water in hand, her Oakenshaw guest badge resting just above the waistband of those ridiculously perfect shorts.

Of course.

The girl I’ve been staring at all day... the problem.

"Oh," I said, instantly stepping aside. "Sorry. I was just leaving."

She smiled, stepping in and letting the door close behind her with a soft thud. "Were you?"

I swallowed. "Yeah. Just needed to... fix my face."

"Your face looks fine to me." She leaned against the sink, watching me like a predator with time to kill.

"Thanks," I muttered, already moving toward the exit, but she moved faster.

With just one step, I saw her standing right in front of the door, arms crossed. "Running away?" she asked, tilting her head.

"I’m not..."

"I’ve seen you watching me all morning," she said, voice low and just a little amused.

I froze. "I wasn’t..."

"It’s okay. I don’t bite unless I’m asked." She leaned closer, eyes scanning mine. "You’ve got that look."

"What look?"

Her smile widened. "The ’I don’t know if I want to fight you or kiss you’ look."

My throat dried out. "You’re full of yourself."

"Guilty." She stepped forward again, and I stepped back into the tiled wall. "But I’m also right."

"You don’t even know me," I said, though it came out softer than I intended.

She reached up, fingers brushing a damp strand of hair off my cheek. "No. But I know a flustered girl when I see one. And I know eyes that linger."

"You’re... confident."

"Confident girls scare you?"

"They annoy me."

She laughed. "Liar."

I looked away, trying to breathe past the heat crawling up my neck. "Why are you doing this?"

"Because you’re cute," she said simply. "And because you’ve been staring at me like I’m a forbidden spellbook you’re not supposed to touch."

"You’re not."

"Am I not?"

She touched my wrist gently, her fingers gliding slowly over my skin. I felt a spark, almost like magic. I didn’t pull back or flinch; I just remained still.

"You’re blushing," she murmured.

"You’re in my personal space."

"And yet you haven’t moved."

She took another step forward, and I couldn’t help but mirror her movement, till my back hit the wall.

"What are you doing?" I whispered.

"Making this easier."

Her eyes scanned mine slowly. "You’re scared. But not of me."

"I’m not—"

"You’re scared of what you feel."

I swallowed hard.

She tilted her head, gaze lingering on my mouth. "You don’t need to be."

"I don’t feel anything."

"Liar."

The air was still, and my fingers twitched at my sides. She lifted one hand slowly, brushing a strand of hair from my face. Her touch wasn’t rough, but it wasn’t hesitant either. "You know what I think?" she said.

"What?" I whispered.

"I think you’ve been waiting for someone to make you stop pretending."

I didn’t answer... couldn’t answer, because she was right. Everything in me wanted to look away. But I didn’t.

Her thumb brushed my cheek. "So let me ask the real question..."

I breathed in too fast. "What?"

"Do you want me to kiss you?"

Her face was so close now that I could feel her breath against my lips, cool and sweet, like peppermint. I wanted to push her away. I wanted her to stop.

But mostly, I didn’t.

I wanted her to come closer, and I hated that I wanted it.

She whispered, "You ever kissed a girl before?"

I swallowed. "No."

Her smile turned into something deeper. "Want to?"

I didn’t answer.

She leaned in and closed the space. Her lips met mine slowly, like she was testing the current before diving in.

And it was... God, it was warm, soft, but with this sharp edge that lit me up inside. Nothing like those clumsy first kisses you blame on nerves or bad timing. This one was different; it was real. My fingers curled into the fabric of her jacket before I even knew I’d moved.

It didn’t feel wrong; it felt like a match strike... quick, sudden, and warm.

She deepened it, fingers sliding gently to the back of my neck, holding me in place like I might vanish.

But I didn’t want to vanish; I wanted to stay here... in this dizzy, too-loud heartbeat.

She pulled back an inch, her breath warm against my lips. "There it is."

"There what?" I whispered.

"That sound. The one your heart just made."

I looked away, dazed and blinking.

"You don’t have to say anything," she murmured. "Not yet."

She stepped back then, casually fixing the hem of her jacket. "Name’s Sloane, by the way."

"Leah," I murmured.

Sloane’s eyes glinted. "So, Leah, want to kiss me again?"

I didn’t hesitate; I nodded.

She grinned and pulled me back in, this time slower and deeper. Our lips found a rhythm, her tongue brushing mine, and for a moment, I let myself forget the world outside this tiled room.

Then, the door creaked open too fast to pull apart and too late to pretend.

"What the..." came a gasp.

We froze, and then Lena’s smug voice sliced through the air. "I said it! I said it, that you were gay."

My heart dropped straight into my stomach.

Shit.

She grinned and pulled me back in, this time slower and deeper. Our lips found a rhythm, her tongue brushing mine, and for a moment, I let myself forget the world outside this tiled room.

Then, the door creaked open too fast to pull apart and too late to pretend.

"What the..." came a gasp.

We froze, and then Lena’s smug voice sliced through the air. "I said it! I said it, that you were gay."

My heart dropped straight into my stomach.

Shit.