Page 83 of Trustfall

“Emory,” Nate starts, but I don’t let him finish.

“No. You made sure the whole school knew I was off-limits. You ensured I didn’t have a life in high school. You isolated me. You kept me so naive that when I finally got some freedom in college, I latched onto the first person who showed the slightest bit of interest. I didn’t realize what he was doing until it was too late. I hung on to his every word like the starved, pathetic little girl you made me into. I didn’t even realize that I deserved more. Maybe I would have realized. Maybe I would have stood up for myself. Maybe I wouldn’t have left with him. But you took the choice away from me. I thought he left me. All this time, I thought I wasn’t good enough forhim. Not the other way around. You thought you were saving me from a toxic relationship, but you’re just as toxic as he is.”

Nate winces. It’s a low blow, but he needs to hear it. It has been a long time coming.

“And you.” I turn to Allie. “I trusted you with everything I have.” Her eyes are red and puffy, black tears streaking down her face from her mascara. “I know why you did what you did,” I say, walking to the bench where my purse is. “But you should have come to me first. It hurts that you didn’t.” She sobs softly as Ashton puts his arm over her shoulder. She initially shrugs him off, and he waits a moment before putting it back. When she doesn’t move away this time, he gently spins her into him, encircling her with his arms. She immediately stiffens, but then something cracks in her resolve, and she melts into him. My heart sinks. She’s being vulnerable with a man, and that never happens. I know I’m hurting her, but she hurt me too. For once in my life, I’m putting myself first.

“Emory,” Nate tries again, but I glare at him to signal that we are done here. I grab my clutch from the bench and stomp out of the gazebo.

My limo is idling by the side of the house with the other cars, and I rush to get in. The driver hears my door close and looks up from his phone, startled that I’m sitting in the back of his car.

“I-I’m sorry, Ms. Caldwell. I wasn’t expecting you so early.”

“I’m not feeling well,” I say curtly. “Would you mind taking me home now?”

“Of course, Ms. Caldwell. Will the others be joining?”

“No—” I start to say when a rush of wind rustles my dress. I glance over to see the door wide open. Luke slides in next to me, clicking his seatbelt into place.

“Just us two,” he tells the driver.

“Luke, I want to be alone right now.”

“Too bad.”

“What?”

“I’ve tried the gentle approach. I’ve been patient, Emory. But your brother almost killed a man. Allie is snotting all over a guy she would dropkick under normal circumstances, and I’m holding on by a thread here. It’s time for a little tough love. We’re going home, and you are going to fucking talk to me.”

My mouth snaps shut. He’s right—he deserves an explanation after all that. As we sit in silence, guilt begins to claw up my spine. I should have made sure he was okay before running off. I’m a nurse. It’s my duty to heal the sick and injured. Yet, I just left him standing there, bleeding. Even now I should check on him, but I can’t bring myself to lift my eyes from the floor.

The rest of the car ride is silent. Halfway through, Luke puts his hand on my thigh, and I don’t move it away. I want to be angry with him because I’m angry with everyone else right now, including myself, but the truth is he hasn’t done anything but be supportive. Still, when the car slows to a stop, I thank the driver and jump out of the car, slamming the door closed behind me. I start to stomp up my walkway, but Luke grabs my wrist, spinning me around.

“Nice try,” he says.

I narrow my eyes at him, then shake him off and turn to head up his walkway instead. I knew earlier what he meant when he said we were going home. We’ve been staying at his house lately so as not to disturb Allie. He thinks of it asour home. It’s probably for the best, anyway. I don’t think I can face Allie again tonight.

As soon as I get into his house, I completely lose it. It’s like when I was little and had a bad day at school. I would try my hardest to keep it together, but when I got home, I would run into Gram’s arms and sob. I needed to feel safe before I could completely let go. She was my safe place. And now…

I look at the football blanket draped over the side of the couch and my favorite Christmas mug—the one I use year-round—sitting on the coffee table. Luke must have used it this morning.

And I just…come undone. I fall to my knees, hot tears coursing down my face. Luke drops down behind me and wraps his arms around my waist. Violent sobs wrack my body as Luke holds me.

Suddenly, the dress that gave me so much confidence earlier feels like it’s suffocating me.

“Take it off,” I yell. “Please. Take it off.”

Luke looks confused for a minute, but then understanding crosses his face. He pushes me forward and starts to undo the buttons, but there are so many of them.

“Faster, Luke. Please,” I sob.

“Almost there, baby,” he says as his hands fly across the buttons, but it’s still taking too long. I’m heaving now, gasping for air between choked sobs.

“Fuck it,” I hear Luke mutter, and then I feel a pull at my back and buttons ping to the floor. My dress falls slack against my body, and I stand up, shimmying the rest of the way out of it. He helps me out of my shoes and I’m left standing in nothing but my sheer pink strapless bra and lacy underwear.

I wanted to look sexy for tonight. For after the gala.

I was such a fool to think this relationship would be easy.

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