Page 20 of Replay
“Don’t do it, man,” Riggs mutters under his breath, and I force myself to breathe.
For now, I have to let him live, as I wait and bide my time. I can’t risk messing this up and pushing Emmarys further away from me. Even though it kills me to think about her with him; in the end, she’ll be mine again. I had her first and I’ll fight against anyone and everything to never lose her again.
I shake my head and drop my glare down to the table instead, focusing on breathing in and out, concentrating on the conversations going on around me. Above all else, I need toremain calm and focused. Riggs’s phone dings in his hand and his eyes widen and he glances at me.
“The fuck.”
The table quiets and eyes turn to him. “Everything okay, Griffin?”
Riggs flashes a dimpled smile, one I know he uses when he’s talking to the press only and my brow quirks. “Ah yeah.” He tucks his phone back into his pocket. “Just a text from a friend in Texas.” He glances down at my phone, which is lying face down on the table, and my heart lurches.
Riggs keeps talking casually while I pick up my phone and see Falcon’s name blaring with little red exclamation emojis. Tapping on my phone slowly, even while my heart is beating furiously against my chest, I open the message from my brother.
FALCON: This should definitely be enough.
Swiping up, an image appears that sets my teeth on edge. Any guilt I felt for making Emmarys upset vanishes. Kellan is a dead man. I just need to figure out the way to hurt him the most.
ME: Get her information.
FALCON: I think that Isla chick is already on it.
Riggs shoots me warning looks, but I ignore him, getting up off my chair and walking the short distance over to where the group of hockey players are congregated. They notice my approach and I’m met with a few chin nods and misplaced smiles of welcome. Tuning them out, I turn to Jax who eyes me warily, a flash of uncertainty on his face. I pull out the chair nearest him, sitting on the edge, my phone still clutched in my hand.
“Is there a problem, Sheppard,” Jax chuckles slightly, leaning back in his chair, arms crossed over his chest. The table has quieted somewhat, everyone focusing on us.
His cocky smirk starts slipping the longer I’m there, in his space, glaring. “Break up with her.”
His brow lifts. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me.” I shake my head, my lips curling. “Break up with Emmarys. You don’t deserve her.”
His face goes blank, anger rippling off his body. “Why don’t you back the fuck off, man? I have no idea what you’re talking about and you know nothing about me and my girlfriend.”
A laugh escapes my chest and I see Riggs approaching, having my back like always. I tried being calm about this situation but that picture Falcon sent tipped me over the edge.
“Guess she hasn’t told you about our history then has she?”
He pales slightly. “I don’t need to know Emma’s past. You obviously didn’t make it to her present for a reason.”
His words feel like a small dagger in my chest because in a way he is right. Up until now, I haven’t been present in her life as much as I’ve wanted to be. If I had, there is no way guys like Jax Kellan would think they stood a chance with her. Everyone would have known from early on that she was claimed, that I was gone for her, and that she was completely mine.
“I’m going to give you one last chance.” I lean forward. “Break up with Emma before you regret it. Let her go now, before I’m forced to make her hate you.”
For the first time since I sat down, Jax looks unsure of himself. I can see the war going on inside him. He doesn't know what I have over him, but he also doesn’t want to let Emmarys go. Not that I can blame him. Once she’s mine again, I don’t plan to ever let her go. We’ll be together until death do us part, and even then, I’ll follow her across lifetimes, stalking her ass forever.
Somehow I manage to get up without punching his face in and force myself to leave before it's too late. If he’s a man, he’ll figure it out. If not, I’ll take great pleasure in showing him never to cross me. Jax’s time in Emmarys’s life is limited. It's up to him how painful he wants to make it for himself in the end. If he wants to force my hand, I won’t hesitate to ruin him.
emma
. . .
“How are you holding up?”Riley leans toward me enough so I can hear her and I shrug.
“I’m fine.” I’m not, but it’s the same lie I’ve been telling myself and everyone around me all week. Guilt has been gnawing at my insides, making it impossible to concentrate on anything else other than my dilemma. I haven’t done what Hawke demanded of me, refusing to give him what he wants. I decided to take my own advice and just come clean to Jax. Tell him about my history with Hawke and confess that he kissed me. Except that my boyfriend has been pretty absent this week, distant almost, and when we are together, he’s lost in thought. I haven’t felt comfortable enough to approach him and talk about this seriously, which is how I find myself at the guy’s hockey house party tonight. I’m claiming it's to just be supportive of Sam, who claims she needs us tonight, but it's also to avoid any situations where I’m alone and Hawke could corner me again.
Riley sighs next to me, biting the inside of her cheek. Her eyes glance to the left and my line of sight follows hers. Sam is leaning against the pool table, loosely holding a bottle of waterwhile her gym partner casually talks to her. That is the only other reason I’m out tonight instead of barricading myself in my room: to be supportive of Sam’s first date sincehe-who-should-not-be-named.
“Calm down, mama bear. They look like they’re having a casual conversation,” I joke with Riley and finally she cracks a smile.
