Page 34 of Only When It Breaks

I glance over to where he’s watching from the other side of the pool. A flashback of him pressed against Bella infiltrates my mind and I swallow back the lump in my throat. I shouldn’t feel surprised, they’re meant to be. The entire college know it. And I kind of saw it coming after they spent all week together again like they were thick as thieves.

I groan, and now he knows I saw it. And now he knows I’m bothered. Why didn’t I just stay quiet?

“Emmie, hey!” I blink up at the soft voice. Luna is suddenly in front of me with a sweet smile and a plastic cup in hand. “You okay?”

“Peachy,” I say, even though my throat feels like it’s closing.

She giggles like we’re old friends. “We’re about to go in the pool, but you’ll need a bikini. Want to borrow one? I’ve got loads upstairs.”

I hesitate. Something about her feels too perfect, too sugary. But everyone else is half-naked, laughing, splashing around like they don’t have a care in the world. And I want to beinit for once, not looking in from the outside.

“Sure,” I say.

Her smile widens. “Yay! Come with, I’ve got one that’ll lookamazingon you.”

Upstairs, she jumps into action like she’s been waiting to do my glow-up her entire life. “Your hair is gorgeous,” she says as she sweeps it over to one shoulder. “It’s so long. And is this your natural colour?” I nod. “Wow. I wish my mum had stopped me experimenting with dye when I was eleven. I miss my brunette days.” She goes to a huge closet and opens one side. There are hundreds of swimsuits and bikini’s hanging up. She grabs a red one, holding it up. “Um,” she murmurs thoughtfully. “I think we need something with more wow factor.”

“What about a swimsuit?” I ask, praying she agrees so I have to show off less skin.

She shakes her head. “Absolutely not. Look, if you want guys like Kai to notice you, you have to show them the goods.”

I wince. My sober brain would roll its eyes and tell her to shove it. That I don’t need a man’s validation to feel good. But drunk me laughs, with warmth blooming in my chest at her attention.

The bikini she hands me is microscopic. It’s black, strappy, and almost nothing, but I take it and hold it up, like that will somehow make it look better.

She gets a similar one out for herself in red. “Matchy, matching,” she coos.

I don’t want to back out now. I want to be bold. I want to be the girl people look at anddon’tpity. So I smile wide and repeat her words.“Matchy, matching.”

Minutes later, I step from the bathroom wide-eyed. The material hardly covers anything. And if Ava could see me now, she’d freak. But Luna smiles widely. “Oh my God, you look amazing.”

I take in her fuller bikini in white. “Where’s yours?” I ask.

She waves her hand dismissively as she spins me around to face the mirror. “Oh, I can’t pull it off like you,” she tells me, gripping the back of my bottoms and tugging them into a thong-like state, wedging half the material up my backside. I wince and she laughs. “Uncomfortable, right? But totally necessary for that wow factor. And besides, you have the best bum.”

Before I can object, she slips her hand into mine and drags me from the room and downstairs.

The moment we step outside into the garden, heads turn, and if I’m not mistaken, the music dips lower. A few people cheer, and I blush as Luna pushes me forward a step, like she’s showcasing her art.

And then I seehim. Kai. His eyes widen, and his jaw tenses like he’s clenching his teeth in anger. He marches over, “What the hell are you wearing?” he demands, and my confidence falters.

“It’s a bikini, Kai,” I say, my tone tight as I glance around to see if we have an audience.We do.“Chill out.”

“Go cover up. Now.”

I laugh, but it’s sharp and cold. “No.”

He steps closer, his voice low and angry. “You don’t have to dothisto get back at me.”

“Keep your voice down,” I hiss, eyes darting around. “You’re embarrassing me.”

“Emmie!” Bella’s voice is syrupy sweet as she suddenly appears at my side. “You’re so brave,” she coos, looping her arm through mine.

“Seriously, this bikini iseverything,” Luna adds, appearing on the other side, her nails cool and sharp against my skin as she adjusts one of the straps.

I barely have time to react. There’s a tug. Then another.

And suddenly,everything’s gone, the bikini bottoms flutter to the ground, my eyes on them wide and surprised. And then the top is ripped from me, as Bella cackles uncontrollably.

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