Emma's stomach twisted. She handed the phone back to him slowly, with a smile that didn't reach her eyes.
"Can I ask you something?" she said, voice trembling.
"Emma..." he began.
"Don't Emma me!" she shouted, though the music swallowed her scream. She stepped closer, eyes burning. "Why? Why do you bother with me?"
Jayden was silent, jaw tight.
"When you left for Spain the week before your game started... did you sleep with Jenny?"
He hesitated, then gave a stiff nod.
Emma's chest heaved. She grabbed his jacket and shoved at his chest, hitting him in rage. "Then why?! Why make me believe I mattered? Why make me give you my innocence if she was always there?!"
His face hardened. "When it happened in Spain, it was supposed to be a one-time thing. But Jenny... she's someone I can't resist. She knows how to..."
"I DON'T want to hear it!" Emma screamed, her voice cracking.
"I'm sorry, Emma. I know I hurt you, I know this feels like betrayal..."
"Do you love her?" she demanded, tears streaking her face.
Jayden froze.
"Answer me!" she yelled.
Finally, he whispered, guilt written all over him:
"I've loved her since I was five. And I never stopped."
Emma's knees nearly buckled. "Then why the hell did you do this to me? Was I just a distraction?"
He reached for her, but she stepped back. "Emma, I don't want to lose you. But I also can't let her go. I'm stuck in between."
"No." Her voice shook, but her eyes blazed. "You're not stuck. You're selfish."
He flinched.
"You'll have to decide if you want to keep hiding me in the shadows or not...." Emma said and Jayden's silence followed.
"And your silence right now? That's my answer." She said to him
"Emma, don't be irrational..."
"Irrational?!" she choked out a bitter laugh, shoving at his chest again. "You call four months of lies irrational? You call making me fall for you while you were already hers irrational?!"
"I'll call you tomorrow," Jayden said tightly. "Maybe by then you'll be ready to talk calmly. Without yelling. Without acting like I used you."
Her jaw dropped. "Wow." Her laugh was sharp, broken. "You did use me. And now you want me calm about it?"
"Happy birthday," he muttered, holding out the Lamborghini key.
She stared, then snatched it, only to hurl it back at him. "You think you can buy my forgiveness? Take your car and get out of my life. Don't call. Don't text. Don't even think of me again."
He gave a low chuckle, mocking. "You'll still crave me, Emma. Everyone does."
"I hope you crash and burn in your overpriced Lambo," she spat.
He smirked faintly. "I'm still the same Jayden you've always known." With that, he turned and walked out into the night.
Emma collapsed where she stood, shaking. Mandy rushed over, wrapping her arms around her as Emma broke down completely, sobs tearing from her chest.
"You were right," Emma gasped. "Maybe I was just an off-season fling. He used me... just to kill boredom."
Mandy's voice was steady as she rubbed her back. "Shhh. Don't cry, please. He doesn't deserve your tears."
Emma sat curled up on her bed, face buried in a pillow as Mandy rubbed her back.
"Just stop crying," Mandy said softly. "I know it hurts, but sitting here acting like your whole world just ended isn't going to fix anything."
Emma sniffled loudly and wiped her cheeks. "Trust me, this is the last time I'm ever crying because of a guy."
"Good." Mandy leaned back with a sigh. "And now you see why I don't want any form of commitment? No boyfriends, no heartache. I don't have to live with the fear of some guy cheating on me or messing me up."
Emma gave her a tired look. "I'm not saying you're wrong, but I still believe in love, Mandy."
"Sure," Mandy shrugged. "Just not with someone like Jayden. I told you from the start."
"Well... now I know better," Emma muttered.
Just then, the bedroom door which had been cracked slightly swung open.
"David... Alec," both Emma and Mandy said at the same time.
His real name was David, but everyone knew him by his stage name, Alec. He was a musician, famous, charming, and there he was standing in the doorway with a small smile.
"Hi," he said casually.
Mandy instantly stood. "I'll leave you two to talk."
"Mandy, no..." Emma grabbed her wrist, but Mandy slipped free with a knowing glance and left the room.
Alec stepped inside, hands tucked in his pockets. "So... you didn't invite me to your party."
Emma crossed her arms. "You didn't need an invite. You showed up anyway."
He smirked, then his expression softened. "Emma... where did we go wrong?"
She frowned. "What do you mean?"
"One minute we're fine, sharing a kiss at lunch and the next, I go on a short tour in Canada and come back to you avoiding me like the plague."
"I..." she started, but he cut her off.
"I know. It's because of him. The football player."
His tone was firm. "I didn't get it at first. All I knew was that you were ignoring me. But after Spain... everything made sense."
"We never dated, David," Emma said quietly. "And we're not friends anymore either."
He blinked, almost offended. "Since when?"
"Since forever," she replied, voice flat.
Silence stretched, heavy and charged. Then Alec stepped closer, his palm brushing her cheek. His touch lingered as his eyes searched hers.
"So... does this mean I can kiss you now?" he asked softly.
Before she could answer, his lips were already on hers, warm, insistent, pulling her into a kiss that lasted a few seconds too long.
When Emma finally pulled away, her lips curved into a faint smile.
"Want to dance?" she asked suddenly, as though shaking off the weight of everything else.
Alec grinned. "Wonderful idea."
They stood, and Emma slid her hand into his as they walked out of the room, the music from downstairs growing louder with every step.
It was a little past eight in the morning. Emma and Mandy were at Mandy's place while a cleaning company handled Emma's house. With both their parents away on their Miami trip, the whole house belonged to just the two of them.
Jayden had already called several times that morning, but Emma ignored every single one until he eventually stopped trying.
"Please, whatever you do, don't pick up his calls," Mandy said firmly, turning to face her. "You know he's only calling because he's alone right now. If you make the smallest mistake of letting him back in, you'll end up kicking him out again. Men like him don't bargain, Emma... they just break your heart. And as much as you don't want to admit it, he's not worth it."
"I know..." Emma said quietly.
"I just want what's best for you," Mandy added, her voice softening.
Emma smiled faintly. "Thanks, my love."
"And please," Mandy continued, pointing a warning finger, "don't even think about trying to be his friend. You'll only end up back in his bed. If you have to block him, just do it."
"Yes, ma'am," Emma said, giving her a mock salute, followed by a smile.
Mandy grinned, then leaned closer with a mischievous glint. "Sooo... what happened with Alec?"
"Nothing," Emma replied flatly.
"Come on," Mandy teased, nudging her shoulder playfully.
Emma sighed, then blurted, "Okay... he asked for sex."
"Ouuu," Mandy squealed, instantly intrigued.
Emma rolled her eyes. "I couldn't, okay? I mean, we tried. At least, the tip went in." She laughed awkwardly. "But then I begged him to stop because I just wasn't interested."
Mandy raised her brows. "And what did he say?"
"Nothing much," Emma shrugged. "He just told me he'd be here whenever I was ready."
"They all say that," Mandy muttered knowingly.
Emma scoffed, but her smile faltered slightly as Jayden's words echoed back in her mind. He had said the same thing once, and now it only left a bitter aftertaste.
Emma sat frozen, staring down at the small object in her trembling hand as tears streamed down her face. Her breath hitched, uneven and shaky. She fumbled for her phone, her fingers barely steady enough to dial.
"M-Mandy..." she whispered the moment her best friend picked up, her voice almost breaking.
"Don't tell me you went back to crying again," Mandy sighed through the receiver, trying to sound firm.
"Please... just come. It's urgent," Emma cut in, her words rushed, desperate. Before Mandy could ask anything else, the call ended.
Minutes later, Mandy pushed into the room, worry written all over her face. "Why the hell are you still crying?" she demanded, her voice sharper than she intended. It was her way of covering her fear.
Emma didn't answer. Instead, with shaking hands, she stretched out the little strip toward her. Her lips quivered, but no words came out.
Mandy's brows furrowed as she snatched it from her. She looked down, her chest tightening the moment she saw the plus sign glowing clearly on the test window.
Her eyes widened. Silence hung heavy for a beat before she muttered under her breath, "Oh, Emma... you're fucked."