Chapter 43. Wannabe: pt. 2

“Nah… nah, I can’t listen to any more of this shit,” I whispered, voice cracking. I set his phone down on the coffee table, then collapsed sideways onto the couch, curling into the corner. My hands went straight into my hair, fingers twisting tight, pulling just enough to feel something other than the ache in my chest.

Emma said all of that. Every single word. She made it up—every filthy lie. I’ve only had sex with one person in my entire life, my ex from two years ago. My dad literally owns Fashion Nova. I’m not chasing anything. I don’t have to. And she knows that. She knows all of it.

Hot tears welled up faster than I could blink them away. One slipped down my cheek, then another.

”It’s okay, Betty,” Noah murmured, sliding closer. His palm settled between my shoulders, warm, slow circles. “It’s okay to be pissed. It’s okay to cry. Now you know exactly who she is. The next move is yours.”

I let out a shaky, wet laugh that turned into a sob. Zoey heard from