He Was Never Untouchable, Just Untouched By Me Chapter 03

He Was Never Untouchable, Just Untouched By Me Chapter 03

Audrey headed back to the dorm first that night. I stayed behind, wandering the edge of Willow Lake alone, pulling up Julian’s chat over and over and losing my nerve every time.

The live comments had opinions, naturally.

[What is the side character even doing today? She hasn’t blown up the ML’s phone once. Usually she texts him about literally everything. She’d send him a picture if she saw a bug on the sidewalk.]

[Who cares. The ML finally gets a break from her constant harassment. He’s probably loving the peace and quiet.]

Were my messages really that bad?

I scrolled back through our chat history.

[Selfie]

[Julian, how do I look in this dress?]

Julian sent back: [Sent $10,000]

[Treat yourself. Buy one with a little more fabric.]

I replied: […]

[Julian, it’s late… I’m here if you ever want to talk about your family stuff. I’m a great listener.]

[Also, after that, can you send me those photos of you in uniform? Audrey told me about them.]

Julian replied: [Deleted them.]

I tried again. [Julian, it’s pouring here. Is it raining where you are?]

Julian wrote: [Clear skies.]

[Julian, you look like a literal masterpiece that belongs in the Louvre. Meanwhile, I look like a gremlin that just crawled out of a dumpster.]

[Miss Brooks, your finals are in three days.]

It didn’t matter what I tried. Julian had a gift for sidestepping every opening I gave him and dragging the conversation somewhere ruthlessly practical.

Audrey had tried to talk sense into me, too.

“Chloe, maybe tone it down a little? Julian’s more of a slow-burn kind of guy. He’s into emotional connection, not the… full-court press.”

I considered this seriously. “Can that be cured?”

Audrey short-circuited. “That’s your takeaway?”

Back then, I genuinely believed Julian just didn’t know how flirting worked.

Now I could see it for what it was. He knew exactly what he was doing. He was dodging me.

I stared at my reflection in the phone screen: flawless skin, big eyes, a cute button nose.

I was putting Julian back where he belonged, in the “best friend’s brother” box.

My parents didn’t give me this face so I could waste it on a man who didn’t want me. There were plenty of guys out there, and I was going to find every last one of them.

But I was not getting disfigured over this. I loved my face too much.

I opened Julian’s contact and changed his nickname from [Future Hubby 💍] back to his actual name. I was merciless.

A new message popped up almost immediately.

[Mad at me?]

[Since when do you give me the silent treatment?]

[Where are you?]

I stared at my phone, completely lost, but old habits kicked in and my thumbs moved on their own.

[I’m not mad! Just getting ready for bed.]

The reply hit like cold water. [By Willow Lake?]

My stomach dropped. I looked up from my phone, turned around, and there he was: Julian, standing just a few yards away, already walking toward me.