Page 10 of Always Knew It Was You

There is an angry face at the end of that, which tells me she wasn’t really upset. Then again, Emma rarely ever got upset, even when she should.

Sorry, I text, feeling guilty.It was kinda impromptu.

It’s alright. I’m off with Declan now too.

Of course, she is. Emma hasn’t been far from her fiance’s side since their engagement. And I didn’t blame her. He clearly adores her and she loves him.

Her next text reads:If you’re going to be late to work tomorrow, text Yule or Grandpa and let them know. Okay?

Alright. I respond. I work part-time as a server at Emma’s grandpa’s bar, called the Tiki Bar, which he owns with Rick. Since Rick is in jail now, Emma and her grandfather solely run the place, with Emma as the manager. That technically makes her my boss, but she tries her best not to let me feel like it. Nevertheless, I try to remain professional while at work so as not to take advantage of her kind nature.

Emma’s always super understanding whenever I have last minute emergencies–like my father being passed out on the park bench–or even school obligations. And when the Tiki Bar was struggling to break even, she didn’t let me go, though she probably should have. Now that tourists are flooding into town and the bar is doing great, she even offered me a raise, which I turned down because I didn’t quite think I deserve it yet. Still she insists that the raise will be kicked in anyway by summer, whether I like it or not.

Emma’s like the sister I always wanted, and I appreciate her looking out for me. The least I can do for her is not slack off.

So I add in the text,But I won’t be late.

Anyway, there have been no new texts from Emma since then.

There are no messages from my parents either, and I doubt they even noticed I wasn’t home. With nothing else to see, I put my phone away to enjoy the morning breeze.

Last night was amazing.

I must have orgasmed like five times and Micah kept going and kept fucking me, unapologetically insatiable. Even though we didn’t have the safest sex, I can’t regret it. I will need to stop by the pharmacy to get a Plan B, but I wish I could experience this again.

I wish we had morning sex.

But that thought is exactly why I forced myself to get up and out early this morning. I didn’t even want to risk flirting with that temptation right now.

Don’t even think about it,I tell myself. Micah is definitely a one-and-done kind of guy.No need to go get yourself hooked on an asshole.

About an hour later, I’m back in town center, on my way to home. I decide to stop by the pharmacy to grab the morning-after pill while I’m at it. The door of the pharmacy tinkles and I wave at the kindly elderly pharmacist behind the counter as I walk down the aisle. I pick up the box and then slip my phone out again, to check how much I have in my account.

That’s when I see that I received a new email from my college.

I don’t think anything of it as I open it. It’s probably an alert that a professor just graded an assignment. Or some new reading materials.

But once I see the subject of the mail, the pill box slips out of my hand and drops to the floor.

Scholarship for the coming semester at risk of revocation.

CHAPTER FOUR

MICAH

I yawn and turn over in bed, automatically hitting a stretch as I lie on my back. Then I open my eyes.

I blink at silver-tiled ceilings with elaborate engravings that remind me of a cathedral in Milan. A light fixture descends from the middle of the room, not quite as large as the chandelier in the ballroom but just as intricate with crystals dotting each panel. Sunlight washes in from the French doors leading out to a balcony. The corners of the room hold vases with pink flowers that match the pink velvet walls and give off the scent of lilies.

I’m at the Pink Hotel, I realize and with that, the events of last night start rushing back to me. I instantly sit up in bed, glancing around. My muscles ache when I move, protesting the abuse I put them through last night. But I smile regardless, so fucking sated I don’t mind.

That was an insanely enjoyable night. Watching Carly come apart in my arms over and over, writhing in passion, demanding and submissive all at once… a man could easily get addicted to that.

It doesn’t take more than a quick look around to realize she’s gone. I don’t hear the shower running in the bathroom, and there’s no one on the veranda. It’s likely she just stepped out for a second but probably not. She’s gone, with no note, no phone number, nothing.

Disappointment weighs heavy in my gut.

Typically, this would be my preferred scenario. When a woman is gone by the morning of a hookup it means she understands that this is simply a one-night stand. Except in rare cases, she won’t get attached and start dreaming of wedding bells and engagement rings. She enjoys the fun for what it is, and then moves on the next day.

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