Free Rhythm by Ena Page B

She better not.
    I am unconsciously preparing my fist to punch
something—or someone, more specifically—when I hear someone
approaching. I compose myself and walk a little closer to them but
not close enough for them to notice.
    They sit across each other, and I feel less
tensed. But their eyes, their look on each other’s faces . . .
    Should I really watch this? Or should I just
wait for Rhy in her dorm to confront her?
    Okay. Last one look then I’ll go.
    But then I wish I didn’t.
    Rhy puts her hand on top of Cale’s and rubs
it.
    This is not happening.
    I don’t know what to do. Confront them? Walk
away? I feel like I am punched in the gut.
    I don’t realize that I am walking aimlessly
to Rhy’s dorm until I am in front of it. I stop and slump. Lola
opens the door. She’s probably going out.
    “Grant, hi.” She scans around. “Where’s
Rhy?”
    I lost it. I cry in front of her. She doesn’t
know what to do, so she pats my back. “Is everything okay between
the two of you? She told me she’d have dinner with you. Where is
she?”
    “She told you that?”
    She nods, puzzled by the piqued tone I
sport.
    “I think she’s cheating on me, Lola.”
    “She’s what ?”
    I cry harder instead of answering her.
    “Come here.” She hugs me in an attempt to
comfort me. “Don’t jump into that conclusion until you talk with
her. Okay?”

Chapter 14
    Rhythm
    Is what I’m seeing real? Why is Grant and
Lola hugging? Is he cheating on me? I couldn’t make it to our
dinner and he went with L?
    “What is happening?” I ask, attempting to
calm myself.
    “Rip,” Lola says in surprise. She looks at
Cale and back at me. “You and Grant need to talk.”
    “I bet we do.” I can’t contain my anger,
though I know I need to be calm. I am anything but calm.
    “Thank you, Cale,” I say my goodbye to
him.
    “You’re welcome,” Cale answers then pats the
back of Grant.
    Grant shrugs it off.
    What is up with him?
    “I’ll head out. Behave the both of you. Let’s
go, Cale.” Lola leaves with Cale tagging behind.
    After they leave, I go inside the dorm
without inviting Grant.
    He hesitates for a while then follows me. He
looks defeated. He sits on the sofa bed then cry.
    I should comfort him, but why would I? I
should be the one crying with what I have seen.
    “Are you cheating on me?” Grant asks.
    “What? What are you talking about? Shouldn’t I be the one asking that?” I counter, enraged. I will not
let him turn the table 180 degrees and make me at fault.
    “Don’t do this to me, Rhy. Please. I love you
so much. I gave you everything. I did anything that would make you
happy. Why, Rhy? Why are you doing this to me?”
    His barrage of questions puzzles me. “Grant,
I just saw you and Lola hugging then you’ll pass on to me what I
think you are doing.” I shake my head in disbelief. “Are you
cheating on me? With Lola?”
    “What? No, Rhy. I wouldn’t do that. She was
hugging me to comfort me because I saw everything, Rhy. I saw you
with Cale,” he says, pausing to take a deep breath. “I’ll ask you
one last time, and I want you to be honest with me. Are you
cheating on me with Cale?”
    “Oh, my word, no! Of course not.” I tell him
with all honesty. “I will never do that to you, Grant.”
    “Then please explain why were you together?
Why did you cancel on me? Why were you holding hands?”
    “First and foremost, we didn’t hold
hands.”
    He shakes his head. “I saw it, Rhy. You were
across each other at the DINER, and I saw that you initiated to
hold his hand.”
    I thought for a while and try to remember
what he’s talking about. “Grant, I rubbed his arm while thanking
him for meeting me. No holding hands, I promise,” I explain to him,
desperately wanting him to hear me.
    “You rubbed his hand—not arm. I saw it.”
    “Okay, fine. I rubbed his hand, but it
doesn’t mean I cheated. Grant, I am not cheating on you.” I exhale.
“If I knew that this will be the result, I