NovelXXXChapter 370 "Crestwood Art Gallery's hosting an exhibit tomorrow. I bought tickets-want to go together?" Hastings texted.
Citrine glanced at her calendar. Nothing scheduled for tomorrow. She typed back quickly: "Sounds good!" Meanwhile, at the club.
Theo and the guys were drinking in a private lounge, laughter echoing off the walls. They lounged on the sofas, legs crossed, each with a couple of fresh-faced college students at their sides-everyone except Hastings, who sat alone in a corner, hunched over his phone.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtHe must've just gotten a message, because a small smile curled on his lips before he could help himself.
Someone nearby caught the change in his expression and ribbed him, grinning, "Hastings, what's up with you lately? You're glued to that damn phone every night." Then, as if hit by a sudden realization, the guy's eyes went wide. "Wait-don't tellyou've got yourself a girlfriend?" Hastings just shot him a flat look, said nothing, and dropped his gaze to his phone again.
He kept rereading Citrine's short reply, a quiet happiness filling his chest.
Theo, sitting between two girls, suddenly shoved away the sweet-looking brunette beside him and sat up straighter, eyes narrowed in disbelief. "Hastings, are you serious? Did you really get a girlfriend?" Quentin looked just as stunned. He grinned at Hastings and teased, "Con, when did this happen? Is it that 'pain in the ass' you mentioned last time?" Both of them fixed their attention on Hastings, waiting for him to spill.
Hastings let out a resigned little laugh. "It's her. But she's not my girlfriend-at least, not yet." He couldn't help but smile again. "But I'm pretty sure she will be soon." Quentin burst out laughing. "Man, you really kept this under wraps! No wonder you've been wandering around in a daze, clutching your phone like it's got your soul trapped in it." He was already imagining the peace of not having to compete with Hastings for Kali's attention anymore, and the thought made him grin even wider.
But Theo didn't look thrilled. He studied Hastings for a moment, his tone abruptly serious. "I thought you liked Kali. Are you really over her?" "Are you sure you can let Kali go?" Theo and Hastings had grown up together, and he'd seen firsthand how much Hastings doted on his little sister. No matter how ridiculous Kali's requests, Hastings always indulged her he'd spoiled her rotten for years.
Hastings hesitated, clearly caught off guard by the question. He paused, then said carefully, "Now, I just see Kali as a sister." "I really did think I liked her once, but it turns out, what I felt wasn't the way a man loves a woman. It was just brotherly affection." Meeting Citrine had shown him the truth-he'd always thought Kali was the one, but with Citrine, everything felt different. He only ever spoiled Kali like a sibling. Citrine, though... she made his heart race. She was the one he couldn't stop thinking about, the one who kept him up at night.
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If he didn't see her, he missed her like crazy. If she didn't respond to his texts, he got restless. But when she did reply, he'd be happy for days.
Citrine could turn his world upside down with a single.
XOmessage-something Kali had never done. After Hastings finished, Theo pressed his lips together and didn't mention Kali again.
A beat later, he gave a crooked smile and teased, "With your status it's only a matter of tbefore you win her over." "When are you bringing her around to meet the rest of us?" "Yeah, don't keep us waiting," Quentin chimed in.
Hastings gripped his phone, eyes shining with anticipation. He chuckled, "You'll have to wait a bit. Only if she says yes."
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