Page 6

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 even here ?” 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 mean me .”

“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, you will be. Kai Banks is a dick. Say it.”

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

“Louder.”

“Kai Banks is a dick .”

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 even think about him.”

We go back inside and the buzz of music and voices feels like a slap after the quiet outside. The lights are dimmer now, casting everything in a golden haze, and the air is thick with heat and sweat.

Kai’s a few tables over with his football mates, lounging around as if he’s a prince on a throne made of bravado and aftershave. More girls have joined, all hair flicks and giggles. I shudder with repulsion.

I look away too fast and grab the nearest drink from the table, ignoring whose it is. Zara arches a brow but doesn’t stop me. I knock it back and feel the burn. Good. Maybe if I drink enough, I’ll stop feeling anything at all.

Landon appears at my side, holding a fresh drink and a dimpled smile that always seems to be just for me.

“You okay?” he asks, scanning my face.

“Brilliant,” I lie, taking the drink from his hand and knocking half of it back before I’ve even tasted it.

He eyes me but doesn’t push. “Wanna dance?”

I glance towards Kai again. One of the girls has her hand on his chest now, and he’s letting her trace the edge of his shirt like he’s forgotten anyone else in the room ever existed.

My heart clenches.

I smile at Landon, slow, deliberate, and slide my arm through his. “More than anything.”

His brow rises slightly, and he gives me that look again. He’s not sure whether he’s flattered or about to become a casualty.

We head to the middle of the room where the music’s louder. Landon places his hands on my hips, tentative at first, but when I press closer, he holds tighter. I toss my head back and laugh too loudly. I want Kai to hear it. I want him to feel it.

“What’s this about, Em?” Landon murmurs, his lips near my ear now.

I meet his gaze, drop my voice to a whisper. “Isn’t this what you wanted?” He’s hesitant, but he nods anyway. “So, what’s the problem?”

His eyes flick to Kai’s table. “We’re friends, right?” I nod. “And if you want to use me to make him jealous, hey, I’m down for that. But at least be honest with me, Em. So I know where I stand.”

I wince, my arms falling away from his neck. “Oh God, you’re right. I’m so sorry.”

“Hey, it’s fine. No harm done.”

“It’s just,” I sigh heavily. “He makes me crazy. I shouldn’t drag you into it. You’re right, we’re friends and I’d hate to ruin it.”

He grins, “No one’s ruining anything. We’re not breaking Zara’s rules if we’re doing it for his benefit, right?” I laugh and before I can respond, he cups my face and gently presses his lips to mine.

The lights seem to blur away, the noise of the crowd mixed with the heavy beats, fading out. And just for a minute, I’m lost to him. Not Kai, but Landon.

But just as quickly, reality snaps back like a rubber band.

A single cheer breaks through the hum of music and chatter, then another. And I know, before I even turn my head, that Kai saw.

My eyes flick toward his table. He’s staring right at us, one arm still casually slung around the girl beside him, but his jaw is tight, and the flicker in his eyes isn’t amusement. Not quite. It’s something sharper. Darker.

I pull back from Landon, heart hammering against my ribs. His eyes search mine, still gentle, still kind, and I hate how much I don’t deserve it.

“You okay?” he asks.

I nod, too fast. “Yeah. Yeah, just hot. I need some air.”

He lets me go without question, turning to intercept Zara as she heads toward us, no doubt with some snarky comment on her lips.

I weave through the crowd, pushing past laughing bodies and swirling lights, my pulse loud in my ears. I don’t know where I’m going, just that I can’t stay in the same room as him for another second.

Because that look he gave me? It wasn’t indifference. And I felt it burn right to my core.

Kai

I barely register the music now. Emmie’s face is still burned into my vision, even after she’s gone. Lips flushed, eyes wide. And not because of me. Because of him.

I push up from my chair, shaking off the girl trying to tuck herself closer. “Back in a sec,” I mutter, though no one’s listening. My eyes are locked on the doorway Emmie just disappeared through.

I don’t know what I’m going to say. Maybe nothing. Maybe I just want her to see me again, to remember who we used to be.

I’m halfway across the room when a figure steps cleanly into my path.

Landon.

He looks calm with his hands stuffed in his pockets, but there’s steel in the set of his jaw. “Don’t.”

I raise a brow. “Don’t what?”

“You know exactly what,” he says, voice low. “Let her go.”

I snort, taking a step to the side, which he mirrors. “You think you’re her bodyguard now?”

“No,” he says easily. “I think I’m her friend. And she’s happier without you, Kai. You heard her say it, that you were barely anything at all. So let her have something real now.”

I laugh, but it sounds wrong in my throat. “You think you’re that something?”

He doesn’t answer right away, instead looking at me as if I need saving. “I think it doesn’t matter who it is, as long as it’s not you.”

For a beat, we just stare each other down, the music thumping in the background, distant and irrelevant.

Then he steps back. Not in fear, but in quiet confidence.

I remain there for a second, rooted to the spot. The door is still open. I could follow her. I could ignore Landon and every smug word he just fed me. That used to be my thing, doing what I wanted, consequences be damned.

But suddenly, it all feels different. Off. Heavy.

I drag a hand through my hair and turn back toward my table. The girls are still laughing, draped over chairs, one of them gesturing for me to come back. They think I’m some kind of prize. A toy they all want to take a turn with. And usually, I wouldn’t mind. Usually, I’d play along.

Tonight, I slide into my seat and grab a bottle instead. I don’t bother to offer words, or even flirt, I just drink.

Seb casts me a sideways glance, nudging my foot under the table. “You good, man?”

“Peachy,” I mutter, swigging again.

He looks as if he wants to say more, but he doesn’t. Probably knows better. Because it’s obvious I’m not good at all. Seeing her laugh like that, with him , it did something. Shoved a mirror in my face and made me look.

I’ve been here two weeks, and I’ve already lost count of the names, the nights, the noise. The same girls, the same parties, the same empty buzz that fades by morning.

But Emmie?

She was never part of that blur. Not even when I tried to make her be.

And now she’s out there, moving on, dancing, laughing. And I’m sat here with nothing but cheap vodka and the feeling that maybe Landon’s right.

Maybe I should leave her the hell alone.

My thoughts are interrupted when Alex slides into the seat beside me. She eyes the bottle before taking it from me and swigging some herself. “Bad night, dear?” she asks, her voice teasing.

I scoff. “The worst.”

She stares straight ahead as my eyes trail Emmie as she pushes through the crowd and rejoins her table.

“I can’t stop thinking about that thing you did with your tongue last night,” Alex says thoughtfully.

I smirk. “Which time?”

A throaty laugh leaves her, “I’m not usually one to revisit the same dick,” she says bluntly. “But you, Kai Banks, have my attention.”

I watch as she rakes her nails along my thigh. “What do you say we take this back to mine.”

I glance over at Emmie and catch her looking over. Not much thought goes into my next move as I drag Alex closer, kissing her with the same hunger I feel for Emmie. I break the kiss and rest my forehead against hers, “Lead the way.”

Alex links her fingers with mine, her grip confident as she pulls me through the swarm of people. I follow, not really seeing the crowd. Just the look on Emmie’s face as she turned away. Was she watching to confirm I’m still the same prick she thinks I am?

The cool night air hits hard, but we make the short walk back across campus to her place. Alex fumbles for her keys while pressed against me. Her breath fogs against my neck as she mutters something about her flatmate being out. I nod like I care.

Inside, the lights are low. She kicks her shoes off and drags me to the sofa, her lips already on mine before we hit the cushions. It’s practiced. Heated. But it’s not enough.

Her hands are under my shirt, nails dragging down my ribs. I let her. I let her climb into my lap. I even kiss her back with just enough bite to keep her interested.

But my mind’s somewhere else. As always.

She pulls away, breathless. “You good?”

I blink up at her, catching a glimpse of confusion in her eyes.

“Yeah,” I lie, gripping her hips to keep the illusion going. “Just tired.”

She leans in again, kissing down my jaw. I close my eyes and let it happen. Let her do whatever she wants. It’s easier than stopping.

Because stopping means admitting that even when I’m with someone else, I’m still chasing the ghost of Emmie Carter.

And I don’t think I’m ready to face that yet.