Page 18 of Only When We Fall

“Tool?” Emmie offers bitterly, cutting him off.

Zara leans toward me, curious now, eyes gleaming with gossip. “So, you two dated and you ghosted her?”

I scoff at the lie. Maybe she told them that to make me look a bigger dick. “I didn’t ghost her,” I say smoothly, my eyes locked on Emmie. “She blocked me.”

“For a good reason,” she fires back, arms now folded, defensive. “How are you even here?”

“What, you didn’t think I could get into Uni?” I ask, mildly offended.

“What with all your scheming, I didn’t think you’d have time,” she bites back.

Noah finally steps in, scratching his neck awkwardly. “Okay, this got weird.”

I can’t pretend her words haven’t got to me, so I take a drink of my beer. “Whatever, Em. It’s good to see you’re still a bitch.”

She rolls her eyes, grabbing Landon’s hand. “Come on, let’s find a table upstairs.”

I watch them go, Landon’s hand ghosting the small of her back, marking her for my benefit.

Cute.

But I’m not worried.

This year’s just getting started.

Chapter Six

Emmie

A growl escapes me as I clench my fists at my sides and pace the smoking area. Zara watches from the bench, cautious but patient.

“Why is he evenhere?” I snap. “He hates studying. He spent college shagging his way around thinking he’s Hugh fucking Hefner.”

She shrugs. “Well, if that’s what he loves, this place is paradise. Plenty of willing victims.” I stop pacing and glare at her. She lifts her hands. “Obviously I didn’t meanme.”

“Everything was going so well,” I whisper, the words catching on the lump rising in my throat. “I’m not that girl anymore.”

Zara steps in front of me, her hands gentle on my arms, her voice calm but firm. “Exactly. You’ve moved on, Em. You got hurt, but you’re not broken. Not anymore.”

I swallow, eyes stinging. “Am I really over it?” I ask, barely more than a whisper.

She nods. “Yes. And even if you’re not, youwillbe. Kai Banks is a dick. Say it.”

A small smile tugs at my lips. “Kai Banks is a dick.”

“Louder.”

“Kai Banks is adick.”

She grins. “Scream it. Let the universe hear.”

“KAI BANKS IS A DICK!” I yell, startling a couple of people lighting cigarettes nearby.

Zara smirks. “See. Don’t you feel better?”

I nod, exhaling all the pent-up rage and ache. “A little.”

“Repeat it daily,” she says, looping her arm through mine, “and soon you won’t eventhinkabout him.”

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