He Loved Me Under a Spell - Chapter 3: Chapter 3

Lucy tugged awkwardly at my sleeve, hastily explaining to Liam, "Sarah's seriously allergic. One sip and she's done for the night."
I sat back down, but Liam stayed frozen, his expression unreadable. He didn't say another word for the rest of dinner.
Honestly? I didn't care what his deal was. When the group started talking about karaoke afterward, I made my exit.
Chloe bit her lip, offering a half-hearted apology. "I'm so sorry, Sarah. I don't know what's up with Liam tonight. Maybe he's just in a funk."
I waved her off. "It's fine."
As I headed out, I caught Jake and Liam in the middle of a heated exchange.
"What's your problem?" Jake snapped. "You drunk or something? Why'd you have to be such a jerk to her?"
Another friend chimed in, "Yeah, even if she's not your type, you could've just ignored her. You made things weird for everyone."
Just my luck—I walked right into that conversation. The group went dead silent, eyes wide. Jake recovered first. "Sarah, you coming to karaoke?"
I gave him a tight smile. "Nah, you guys have fun. I'm heading back."
Jake took a step toward me. "I'll walk you."
Before I could answer, Liam's icy voice cut in. "Let her go alone."
I shot him a glare, irritation flaring. "Actually, Jake, I'd love the company."
Jake blinked, surprised, then nodded. "I'll catch up with you guys later."
Once we were outside, Jake couldn't hold back. "So… did you two know each other before tonight?"
"Nope," I said, shaking my head.
I flagged down a cab, then turned to him. "Look, I only said that to piss Liam off. You should go back. I don't need an escort."
But Jake was stubborn. "It's late. I don't like the idea of you riding alone."
I smirked. "Wow, a real gentleman."
The ride was quiet. When we got to campus, Jake asked for my number.
I shut him down with my best unimpressed look. "Not really looking to date, so… no hard feelings."
Jake flushed. "I didn't mean—"
"See ya." I cut him off, walking away before he could finish.
Let's be real—there was no way a guy like Jake, who looked like he'd stepped out of a magazine, would actually be into someone like me. I was just making excuses to keep them all at arm's length.
But from that night on, Jake wouldn't leave me alone.
He got my number from Chloe and started showing up after class. Today was no different—he was leaning against the hallway wall, coffee in hand, flashing me a grin.
"Got plans? Wanna grab food?"
Chloe, walking beside me, raised an eyebrow. "Wait… you're asking Sarah out?"
Jake nodded.
Even I was baffled.
I agreed, mostly out of curiosity. On the way, I turned to him. "So, do you actually think I'm pretty? Am I your dream girl or something?"
Jake choked on air.
When it was clear he wasn't under some weird spell, I pushed. "Probably not, right? I'm pretty average. So why bother?"
He thought for a second. "I like your personality. You're… different."
I smirked. "Uh-huh. Sure."
We kept talking, the vibe almost comfortable—until I spotted Liam.
He was standing a few yards away, his gaze locked onto us like a predator.
I held his stare, then casually slipped my hand into Jake's.
Jake stiffened.
Liam was on us in seconds, fury rolling off him. He grabbed my arm, wrenching me away. "Jake, she's not what she seems! Open your eyes!"
A chill shot down my spine.
Jake looked lost. "What the hell are you talking about? Let her go—you're hurting her!"
He tried to pull me back, but Liam's grip was iron. He dragged me away, leaving Jake standing there, stunned.
I struggled, but Liam didn't let go until we were alone. His eyes were dark, furious. "What, Sarah? Couldn't get to me, so you moved on to Jake? Is this your game—manipulating everyone who gets close?"