Another pang made me grit my teeth. “I don’t care if they’re friends or not. Why should I anyway? It’s not that I’m his girlfriend or something. And whatever he did yesterday, it didn’t mean anything. So, let’s just forget about it.”

My fork kept playing with the food, I seemed to lose my appetite. Even if I didn’t want to, my gaze went back to them.

Her arm was now linked with him as his hand patting hers. And my treacherous eyes stung, heart squeezed with something.

Thunder cracked outside, announcing the upcoming downfall.

I didn’t look away when his gaze met mine. Surprise flashed into them, and then something else I couldn’t decipher. Seeing his lack of attention, she followed his gaze. Her eyes widened slightly as she untangled herself from him once she noticed the direction of my stare. But he remained as comfortable as he was. As if he didn’t care.

And why would he? It’s not that he really cared for you or he’d any soft corner for you, anyway. Everything he said and did was just a pretense.

A sense of suffocation engulfed me.

Turning away, I stood abruptly, grabbing my purse. Cassie and Beth went to follow me, but I stopped them.

“You guys finish your dinner. I’m done.” When they went to protest, I shook my head. “Don’t. I will see you guys later. Bye.”

A storm was building in my chest, wanting to be released. My fingers clutched my purse in a vise grip. My jaw was tight, holding the emotions that threatened to surface.

I needed to go away. I needed air.

Just as I stepped out of the exit, a shoulder bumped into mine.

“Em? What a pleasant—are you all right?” Caleb held my shoulder. His face held concern. The flash of lightning fell on us.

Without giving him an answer, I moved away and walked into the open air.

“Wait, where are you going? It’s raining!” he called out behind me, but I didn’t pay him any heed.

Drops of rain slapped against my face, along with the gust of cold wind. Goosebumps rose across my arms as the water drops pricked my skin. But it didn’t stop me.This storm was nothing before my inner one.

The rage that boiled inside me, it didn’t make any sense. But it did bother me. It did bother me to see him with that girl, even if I didn’t have any right over him.

It hurt. It hurt like a bitch! And that’s what frustrated me. I didn’t want to feel, but I couldn’t help it.

My car wasn’t parked where I left it. The valet must’ve parked it in the parking lot. So, ignoring the rain and howling wind, I strode towards the parking lot.