Chapter 4

EMILIA

On good days, I love my best friend. On really bad days, I remind myself she means well.

But today? Today is a horrible day, and I’m furious.

She hesitates, then looks me in the eye. “Zane’s an asshole, Em. He never deserved you.”

I let out a bitter laugh. “You’ve said that before.”

“And I meant it. Do you remember when he got drafted and basically bullied you into moving to Chicago with him?”

I shake my head. “That’s not what happened.”

“But it is,” she insists. “He only got you that bakery because he thought he’d be drafted to New York. Remember our plan? If he didn’t, we were gonna split an apartment here. And when you told him you were staying with me, he threw a fit.”

I roll my eyes. “He wasn’t throwing a fit. He was hurt.”

Tess scoffs. “Yeah? So he had to hurt you too? Em, you didn’t even want to move. He kept you locked up in his apartment so he could keep an eye on you. I saw you twice a year, and that’s only when Chicago played New York.”

“That’s not his fault. I didn’t want to leave. I didn’t want a job. I was okay relying on him—”

“And never seeing me? You were okay with that too?” Her voice cracks, but she masks it quickly.

I open my mouth to say something, anything at all, but she cuts me off.

“That’s not the point. The point is that I went from barely seeing you to having you around every day. When I said you could stay as long as you want, I meant it, Em. I like having you here.”

Her words hit me harder than I expect. When was the last time someone actually said they wanted me around?

Zane never did. He tolerated me, sure. But he never wanted me.

Tess takes my hands, squeezing them gently. “I’m kinda warming you up for something that’s gonna piss you off.”

“Wha—”

“I knew Zane was getting married.” She blurts it out fast, like ripping off a bandage. “I found out a month ago. It’s literally my job to know this stuff. But you were already spiraling, and I knew if you found out, you’d do something so fucking stupid like beg for him back.”

I go stiff. She knew.

She’s right, of course. But if she had told me, I could’ve stopped it. I could’ve made him come back to me.

“That wasn’t your choice to make.” My voice shakes with anger.

She nods. “You’re right. It wasn’t. And I’m sorry, Em. But you have to understand that if he left and moved on that fast, he was never coming back.”

“You don’t know that!” I yank at my hands, but she doesn’t let go. “Let go, Tessa.”

She shakes her head. “No. Because that’s not even the thing that’s gonna make you mad.”

I stop struggling.

There’s more?

“What the hell, Tessa?”

She ignores my glare and keeps going. “He’s not coming back, Emilia. You haven’t seen their pictures together or heard how he talks about her in interviews.”

I thought the worst pain I’d ever feel was when Zane left me. I was so wrong.

Because this? This feels like my heart is caving in.

But I don’t cry. I can’t.

“Why are you telling me this, Tess?” My voice is barely a whisper. My head drops. I can’t even look at her. I’m too ashamed.

She squeezes my hands. “Because you are worth so much more than that asshole you’ve been shackled to for ten years. And if you don’t believe it, then believe this: I will never, ever lie to you, Emilia. Even if I hide the truth sometimes for your sake.”

She exhales sharply. “Remember when I told you about my PR strategy for that idiot player at my club?”

I nod slowly. I remember. I just don’t know why she’s bringing it up now.

“It’s been going great. His image is on the rise, but we need to keep it going. You know how I said he should date a pretty girl, make him look like a future family man?”

I don’t nod this time. I hate where this is going.

Tessa hesitates, then grins way too cheerfully. “On a scale of one to Hades’s asshole, how mad would you be if I said I recommended you for the job?”

“Hades’s asshole” isn’t even a high enough scale. I yank my hands out of hers, my anger so hot I actually consider shoving her off the couch—until I notice how close the coffee table is and wince.

I’m mad. But not mad enough to injure her. Yet.

“I can’t believe you!” I shoot up from the couch and storm toward my bedroom. Tessa is right behind me.

“You’re overreacting, Em. It’s not even a bad thing!”

I whip off my left slipper and hurl it at her head, but she’s got baseball reflexes from years of playing catch with her dad—and dodges effortlessly.

She glares, pointing a finger at me like she’s about to scold a misbehaving puppy. “Give me one valid reason why you’re mad, and I’ll back off.”

I hate when she does this. Puts me on the spot, makes my brain short-circuit, then steamrolls me into agreeing with her. “I just broke up with Zane!”

“Access denied.” She starts ticking off her fingers. “One, he’s a fucker. Two, you’re supposed to be moving on. Three, he’s getting married and literally invited you to his wedding. On a goddamn cruise.”

She crosses her arms, staring at me like I’m the one making decisions for her. “Emilia Janice Carter. You can’t be serious.”

I launch my second slipper at her, and this time, it lands—right on her shoulder.

“You do not call me that!” I fume. “And it’s the principle of the thing! You’re always going on about how controlling Zane is, but you’re just as bad! You should have told me he was engaged. It wasn’t your place to keep it from me, and you should’ve asked before signing me up for anything!”

“Don’t you dare guilt-trip me.” She’s fuming now too. “I didn’t sign you up for shit, I suggested something. And do not compare me to that good-for-nothing lowlife.”

She takes a breath, then pins me with a look so serious I can’t look away. “Pray tell, what’s your plan? He’s hosting a month-long wedding cruise. I know you. You’ll never reject the invite. You’ll go, torture yourself, then come home and expect me to pick up the pieces.”

I press my lips together. I have nothing to say.

She exhales, like she knew she’d win this argument. “I’m not going with you. But if you agree to my idea—because I’d never force you into anything—then not only will you have a date the entire trip, but you’ll get to rub it in his smug, asshole of a face.”

She leans in, eyes gleaming. “Just imagine it, Em. His ex-fiancée… dating his favorite hockey player.”