Page 9 of Broken Hearts

Her sarcastic, blunt dismissal catches me off guard, and I genuinely laugh. It’s refreshing; her spunk so different from the usual reactions I get.

“I’m being friendly,” I insist, but she cuts me off.

“Friendly? With Eva’s friends? Since when? Let’s not pretend you care about anyone here except yourself. And I’m telling you right now, whatever you’re planning for her and think you can involve me in, you’re at a loss. I will never be on your side for anything, and if you try to hurt her…” She shows me her pointy black nails. “Your balls will never recover.”

Her protectiveness is like a shield, her loyalty to Eva clear and unapologetic. I’m momentarily thrown off by her fierceness, a quality I hadn’t expected but begrudgingly respect.

Before I can respond, Liam suddenly appears beside us, his protective stance unmistakable. “Is there a problem here, Cole?”

Hands raised in mock surrender, I take note of the unusual intensity in Liam’s eyes. “No problem at all. Just chatting with Nessa here.”

“Nessa? Since when did we become friends?” she asks, raising her red lips in a sneer. “It’s Vanessa to you.”

Responding with a bow, the words escape me in a tone of mock deference. “Of course, Your Highness.”

Liam doesn’t seem convinced but stays close, his body language signaling that he’s not about to leave Nessa’s side. Interesting. Liam’s always been the team’s peacekeeper, but this… this is something else.

Seizing the moment, I excuse myself under the guise of grabbing another drink. Moving away from the pulsing heart of the party, a thrill courses through me, the weight of Nessa’s keys in my hand feeling like raw power. The chatter and music fade into a distant hum as I focus on the task at hand. I find a quieter corner, my actions swift and precise.

I press the key into the soft clay, a tool I acquired and kept, just in case. My plan to enter Eva’s apartment, one way or another, demanded such preparedness. As I ensure every detail, every notch and groove of the key is perfectly imprinted, there’s no flicker of guilt, no second-guessing. This isn’t just a key; it’s a means to an end, a necessary step in my plan to get Eva back.

In my mind, I justify every action. Every decision. The prom night stunt, the entire high school drama—it’s all child’s play compared to what we shared. To me, it’s simple. Whatever it takes to get her to see that everything that happened before had just been childish incidents. So once she gets over it, we can be together again.

The imprint is perfect. I return to where Nessa is; her attention is now on Liam. I slip the key ring back into her bag, a smooth, practiced move, ensuring it’s exactly where it was. In that moment, I’m acutely aware of the line I’m crossing, yet I don’t falter. Morals and rules blur into the background when it comes to winning Eva back. To the world, it might seem extreme, unethical even, but to me, it’s clear-cut. I’m doing what’s necessary, what anyone in love would do.

Bits of their conversation drift to my ears, talk of looking out for each other. This tidbit is mentally filed away—it might prove useful later.

Nessa turns back toward me and huffs. “You know, maybe you should take a hint. Eva doesn’t seem to care much for you.”

Leaning in, my response is in a low, confident tone. “Give her time. People change their minds.”

Nessa snorts, clearly unconvinced. But I know better. She might be resisting now, but I’m patient. I know how to wait for what I want.

Liam gives me a long, hard look, but I smile and step back, melting into the crowd. The night is still young, and I’ve already made significant progress.

Leaving the party later, the imprint of the key in my pocket feels like a victory. Nessa, Liam, the crowd—they’re all pieces in a game they don’t know they’re playing. And I’m always several moves ahead.

Eva might think she’s out of my reach, but I’m closer than ever. And I won’t stop until I have her right where I want her.

Chapter 5

Eva

The fading light of the evening sun filters through the tall windows of the glass building, casting a soft glow that feels like a gentle embrace. I’m here to find Nessa for our customary pizza night, a simple tradition that has become a small anchor in the chaos of college life.

I take a deep breath, hesitating to enter this building. The art building, the place I would have spent my whole day before, I now avoid like the plague.

At least there’s one positive thing: I haven’t seen Cole since that day in the library, and I’m starting to think that maybe he has given up. He is stubborn, but he gets bored quickly so it’s possible he has just moved on.

As I approach the building, a distant melody catches my ear from an open window—the tender, haunting sound of a violin.

The music tugs at a part of me I’ve long tried to silence, pulling me irresistibly toward its source. Inside the room, a young woman stands awkwardly with a violin, her bow quivering over the strings. The notes of “Méditation” from the opera Thaïs by Jules Massenet are hesitant, searching for a rhythm and grace they haven’t yet found.

“That’s a beautiful piece,” I say, stepping into the room. My voice is soft, almost lost against the melody.

The girl looks up, startled. “Oh, thank you. I just started learning. It’s… it’s a lot harder than it looks.”

Memories flood back—the countless hours of practice, the dedication, and the pure joy of music coursing through me. “It’s all about the basics. Mind if I show you a few things?”

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