Page 2 of Bad Reputation

“But you did.”

“And I’m trying to undo it!” he shouts. “I’m trying to save us, Emma. Jesus fucking christ, can’t you see that?”

“I’m sorry, did you say you were trying tosaveus?” I snarl. “As in, you are trying to save us both? Save us from what?”

“Emma…” he says, clenching his jaw. “We have nothing in common. We’re not even remotely connected, except through mybest friend. And yesterday he reminded me—”

“Reminded you??!”

“Yes! He reminded me of the fact that he’s been there for me when nobody else even gave a damn if I lived or died! He helped me when there was no one else. I… Iowehim, big time.”

“That doesn’t mean that you owe him your life!” I snap, growing frazzled. “When will you have paid your debt, Jameson? Huh? Five more years? Ten more? Tell me, what is the plan, exactly?”

I see a flash of pain in his eyes. “There is almost nothing I wouldn’t give up if he asked me to.”

“I’m one of those things, then? You can just… just decide to stop being in a relationship—”

“We were never in a relationship!!” he hisses. “At best, we had a fling. And now, it’sover.”

My eyes fill with tears. He means it. This isn’t just anotherwe really shouldn’tmoment.

“You want out?” I say, controlling my voice to keep from screaming at him. “There’s the door. No one is stopping you.”

His expression hardens. “It’s better this way.”

“Fuck you,” I whisper, looking away as tears start to spill down my cheeks, hot and wet. I wipe them away with the back of my hand. “I mean it. Go straight to hell, Jameson Hart.”

He hesitates for a few moments, then shakes his head. “It’s better if I do it this way than—”

“Get.Out!” I scream at him. “No more explaining! Just go!”

He rips the door of my room open, the expression on his face grimmer than any I’ve ever seen.

And I’m left in my bedroom, alone, sobbing over him.

What am I going to do?

2

Emma

Icurl into a ball on my bed, among the messy sheets, and bawl like a baby. Not pretty crying, although I’m not sure there is even such a thing. No, I cry ugly tears, my face red and puffy, with snot running everywhere. I’m not quiet about it either. I sob into one of my pillows and make great big gasping sounds.

I’m feeling bereft. I keep replaying what Jameson said to me, standing here in the doorway.

“We were never in a relationship!! At best, we had a fling. And now, it’sover.”

That hurts more than anything else he could have said. Because he’s right about one thing… we never defined the thing between us, never gave it a name. Clearly what I thought was so amazing and earth shattering, Jameson thought was nothing more than afling.

Maybe Asher is right. Maybe Jameson really is bad news, running through women like a hot knife through butter.

It definitely didn’t feel that way when I looked into Jameson’s eyes, but… I’m starting to question every single moment we were together, every impulse and thought that I had.

I think about Asher again, about his stupid rule and his weird hold on Jameson. Obviously I have missed something in their history together, because Jameson is so devoted to Asher… and Asher seems not to notice.

My tears dry up, until I remember that my period is late. Somehow, in all the breaking up madness, I’ve managed to completely dismiss the most important fact of all.

I could be pregnant with Jameson’s child.

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