Chapter 64
She takes a breath, like she’s waiting for something.
Anything.
But I stay silent. It’s not like she’s wrong. Everything she said is the truth.
I just wish it could be different with her.
“I’m sorry, Emilia,” it stings. Something in my chest aches so much I can hardly breathe. “I didn’t mean that. I’m sorry.”
Her shoulders rise and fall with the effort of holding it together.
Then she shakes her head and turns away.
It takes everything in me, but I don’t stop her.
EMILIA
Anger rolls through me in thick, uncontrollable waves.
Who the hell does he think he is? Judging me like he’s any better? Like I’m the one who’s screwed up here?
I stalk down the deck, barely aware of where I’m going. The ocean breeze whips against my skin, but it does nothing to cool the fire in my veins.
All the words I should have said claw at my throat. I should have told him exactly what I thought of him. Of his arrogance. His entitlement. His complete inability to take anything seriously
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unless it benefits him.
At least I got over my ex. At least I didn’t leave the girl saving my career alone for two weeks while my psychotic fans harassed her.
My nails dig into my palms as I turn into a corner,
I pass Johnson – the tech bro from karaoke and force mysel to smile, giving him a small wave. He grins back, but I don’t stop. I can’t.
Because the moment I do, my mind goes right back to him.
Liam.
That stupid, infuriating, reckless man–child.
Why do I let him get to me like this? Why does one argument with him feel like it’s stripping me bare, like he sees too much of me when I want him to see nothing at all?
I storm past the pool deck, past the couples swaying to soft music under the string lights, past the bartender who’s watching. me like he already knows I need another drink, then I pause and retrace my footsteps.
Maybe I do need a drink.
A strong one.
Because if I let myself think if I let myself feel – I’ll march right back to Liam and slap him again. And this time, I won’t stop at one.
I take a seat in front of the bartender. “I’ll take the strongest
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thing you have.”
He takes one look at me and wordlessly pours something dark and smoky into a glass. I down it in one gulp. It burns, but I barely flinch.
Another.
Then another.
It’s reckless, stupid, even, but I don’t stop. Maybe I don’t want to.
Would Liam judge me for this too?
The thought alone makes me grab another drink.
Like he has any right.
Like he wasn’t the one acting like touching me was some horrible mistake. Like I was some desperate mess who’d ruin a wedding just because my ex was within arm’s reach.
God.
I squeeze my eyes shut, but the ache in my chest doesn’t go away.
Why does it hurt?
It shouldn’t.
I slide my phone out of my pocket, taking another deep gulp of my drink. No new messages from Tessa. Not that I expected
any.
Chapter 64
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When she’s mad really mad- I’d be lucky if she didn’t delete my number entirely.
I let out a sigh, rubbing a hand over my face as the memory of that day creeps in. I hadn’t meant to drop that bomb on her like that. Or maybe I had, but I hadn’t expected her to react the way she did. Then again, I should’ve known better.
The plastic fork in Tessa’s hand snaps clean in two.
I freeze.
She stares at the broken pieces like they personally offended her. Then her left eye twitches
—
the way it always does when
she’s furious – and I know I’ve messed up. Badly.
“What did you just say?” Her voice is dangerously calm.
I lower my own fork, suddenly not hungry. “Zane came to my bakery.”
She nods. Once. Twice. Then she slowly sets the broken fork down, folds her hands on the table, and levels me with a look that could probably stop time.
1 rush to explain everything, not daring to hold anything back. It‘ s better to get it all out now than have her find out later. But by the time I’m done, her expression hasn’t changed. If anything, she looks worse.
“Tess-”
“So when exactly were you planning to tell me this?” she asks. She’s smiling now, but it’s the kind of smile that makes my
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stomach drop.
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“I just “I swallow. “It wasn’t worth talking about. I’ve moved on.
You were right, he’s not worth it, and I finally realised that.”
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