Chapter 28

“What?” His question had thrown her off. What game was he playing with her?

“Are you jealous?” he repeated. She pushed him away and gathered blankets to cover herself up.

​ “No, of course not,” she lied. “Why would I be?” Will smirked at her discomfort.

​ “I think you are,” he teased, amused at how flustered she was.

​ “I am absolutely not jealous of Vivian Stone.” Emma argued. “Not at all. In fact, I could care less if you’re with. I’m fine with it, if you want to be with her. Happy for you, even. Go and be with all the women you want for that matter. Go and hook up with ten more women if that makes you happy. It’s none of my business who you’re with,” Emma finished. Feelings for Will were beginning to grow in her, and she didn’t want any part of that. Nothing good would come from it.

​ “You are a horrible liar. Not only are you lying to me, but you’re lying to yourself,” Will responded. It was clear his mood had changed. Sexy, playful Will was gone. Angry, brooding, moody Will had taken his place.

​ “I’m sorry you want me to be jealous, but I’m not!” Emma snapped at him. “Why should I be jealous? It’s not like you care about me or anything.”

​ “Why do I even bother with you?” Will backed away from her, and started putting his clothes back on.

​ “Excuse me?”

​ “If you just did what I wanted, we could be enjoying ourselves right now.”

​ “I am not some obedient servant girl you can just order around! If that’s what you’re looking for, someone submissive and passive, then you need to find another girl.” Emma wrapped the blankets around herself, and got up from the bed. She gathered her scattered clothing began to get dressed as well.

​ “You’re impossible,” Will muttered, as he buttoned his shirt.

​ “I’m impossible?” Emma scoffed. “You’re the one that brought me here after spending the evening tangled up with another woman. I’m just supposed to be okay with that?”

​ “I could have chosen to bring her here. Instead, I brought you,” He answered as though it was the most obvious thing in the world.

​ “Yes. But why?” she asked again, bringing her shirt over her head.

​ “Damn it, Emma!” he yelled. “Why did you have to ruin it?”

​ “Tell me why you brought me here instead of Vivian!” she yelled back.

​ “I don’t have to explain anything to you.” He shrugged on his blazer. The spell was broken. Their steamy moment had been ended by Emma’s insecurity and she kicked herself internally.

​ “Whatever, Will.” Emma finished putting her clothes back on, gathered her things, and left the apartment in a huff. Will didn’t say a word to stop her.

​ They were either fucking or fighting. There was no in between. That’s why she couldn’t allow herself to have feelings for him. They would never work. Emma pulled her phone from her bag and called Sabrina.

​ “Emmie!” Sabrina squealed when she answered the phone. “Where did you go?”

​ “Nowhere important. I just needed some air, but I’m going back now. I’ll meet you there, okay?”

​ “Okay!” Sabrina hung up. Emma hailed a cab, and rode back to the club simmering in anger. When she arrived, she saw Sabrina and Alex by the bar. Sabrina was very drunk, and Alex was holding on to her.

​ “Em!” Sabrina called. “Come here, come here.” She laughed as she waved Emma over. Emma stifled a giggle at the sight of her drunken friend. “I just want you to know that Vivian is still sitting back at the table. There’s like… 4 bottles of wine around her, and she drank those all mostly be herself. I had a little bit. Just a little bit.”

​ “I think more than a little bit,” Alex said, patting Sabrina’s hair down.

​ “I’m not drunk,” Sabrina declared her words slurring together. “But Vivian is blacked out. She tried to fool everyone, but she’s back there so drunk. Ha! Tried to lie, talking about how she doesn’t drink. I don’t think she’ll bully you anymore. I won’t allow it!” She stepped forward and pulled Emma in for a giant hug. “I have avenged you!” She shouted with a triumphant smile.

​ “Friends don’t get much better than you,” Emma said. Her friends were the only good thing she had in her life.

​ “They sure don’t!” Sabrina yelled, throwing her hands in the air. “Best friends forever!”

​ “Brina,” Alex said, turning Sabrina around to face him. “Drink some water. Don’t want you feeling sick tomorrow.” He brought a glass of ice water to Sabrina’s lips. He dabbed the corners of her mouth when she was done, and kissed her. She noticed it earlier that night. They were together for such a short a time, but it was clear that Alex was love-struck. He looked at Sabrina like she was the only person in the room. No else existed. He only had eyes for her.

​ He was so caring and doted upon her. It was sweet, and Emma was happy for her friend. But her heart sank a little. She’d been cheated on, and now she was being used as a plaything. Someone that could be picked up and put down as needed. Perhaps she’d never have someone to care for her that way. Sadness swelled in her chest.

​ Sabrina noticed a change in Emma’s mood.

​ “What’s wrong?”

​ “Nothing.”

​ “Come on. I know you. You can’t hide from me.”

​ “It’s just,” she looked up at Alex and then at Sabrina. “I see you and Alex together. And it makes me happy for you. He’s really sweet and it seems that he really likes you.”

​ “Yeah. I knew I liked her pretty much the second she punched me in that face,” Alex joked.

​ “It was a love punch!” Sabrina laughed. “Like fists instead of arrows.”

​ “See? That’s what I mean. Someone to laugh with, that cares about you and only you. That will watch over you when you’re drunk in a club. I just feel like I’ll never have that.”

​ Alex frowned. He didn’t know much about her, but he’d seen her with Will. He misjudged her at first. That fight she had with Will was brutal, and she had said some pretty hurtful things. But after seeing the interaction between them tonight, and how Will was acting, he realized he was wrong about her. Emma was a sweet girl in a bad situation. And William Stewart on his own was a bad situation.

​ “I’m not drunk,” Sabrina argued, sounding very drunk. “Vivian is drunk. Like a lot.”

​ “You’re a nice girl, Emma,” Alex offered as comfort. “You’ll find someone that appreciates you someday.”

​ Emma smiled at him. He was so different from the night they had met. It proved to her that first impressions are not always correct.

​ “That’s nice of you to say. Thank you.” She didn’t believe him. Her prince charming, her knight in shining armor, wasn’t going to save her. She was not the princess in this fairy tale. She was the chambermaid that doesn’t get a happy ending.

​ “He’s right, Emma!” Sabrina hollered. “You’ll find the best guy in the world. Well maybe second best because Alex is the best. But you’ll get a great guy!” she hiccupped.

​ “Maybe we should get going,” Alex chuckled.

​ “No! Emma’s gonna… get an awesome boyfriend!” Sabrina’s words were becoming more and more difficult to understand. She was always a sloppy drunk. When she got like this, it was a sign that she was absolutely wasted. Emma would not envy her in the morning. “And… and…” she continued, falling all over Emma. “I’ll beat down all the nasty, dirty bitches that even dare to try to mess with you! No one messes with my friend.”