My blood boiled as I read Emily's ChatNow messages with Hunter_X. "I'm her pawn? Her cash machine?" The betrayal cut deep, and I was done playing the fool. I shook her awake, my voice steady despite the storm inside me. "Emily, I want you. Now."
She blinked, groggy, her eyes narrowing. "Ethan, I'm exhausted. I'm not some toy you can just use whenever you feel like it."
"I'm serious," I pressed, my frustration bubbling over. "I need this."
Her face hardened. "I'm not in the mood this morning. Just go get the money for my trip to Miami."
"So you're saying no?" I snapped, my voice sharper than intended.
"Yes," she shot back, her tone icy. "What, you think I'm only here for your money? That I'm some kind of prostitute?" Her voice rose, laced with indignation, as she grabbed her backpack and sandals. "You think I can't survive without you?"
Before I could respond, she stormed out, slamming the door behind her. I stood there, stunned, but a strange calm settled over me. "At least I got something worth my $200," I thought bitterly. I grabbed my phone and texted Jake on iMessage, updating him on the blowout. His reply came fast: "King of suckers finally growing a spine. Nice."
It was 5:10 a.m., and I lay on my bed, replaying the mess of the last few days. Just as I started to wonder how I'd face the day, the door creaked open. Emily walked in, her backpack slung over her shoulder, her face softer but still guarded.
"Ethan, I didn't come back for the money," she said, setting her bag down. "I came back because I love you."
I forced a sheepish smile. "I'm sorry about earlier, babe. I got carried away. I just… I want you so bad sometimes."
She nodded, sitting beside me. "It's okay."
She leaned closer, her voice low. "You know I came all the way from Miami just for you. Why are you acting like this?" Her words were sweet, but they rang hollow after what I'd read.
"I'm sorry," I said again, pulling her into my arms, her back against my chest. I kissed her neck, my mind screaming "liar" even as my body responded. We kissed, the heat building fast. My hands slid under her shirt, finding her skin, and she let out a soft moan. What followed was a whirlwind of passion—intense, raw, but mechanical on my end. It was a mission, not love, and by 7 a.m., we collapsed, spent, on the bed. She didn't notice my detachment, or if she did, she didn't care. We drifted off, tangled in the sheets.
"Wake up!" Emily's voice jolted me awake at 8 a.m. sharp. She was dressed, her backpack ready. "Hurry and get the money so I can leave."
I smirked, unable to hold it in. "What's so funny?" she asked, frowning.
I locked eyes with her, my voice cold. "Emily, you're not getting a dime from me."
Her jaw dropped, her eyes wide with panic. "If this is a joke, Ethan, stop it. I'm serious."
I held her gaze, unblinking. "Just kidding, babe. Wanted to see how you'd handle it."
She relaxed, but her smile was forced. "Better. So, what's the plan? I'm ready to go."
"Banks don't fix ATM issues in a day," I said, pulling out my phone. "Let me call Marcus." I stepped away, faking a call. "Yo, Marcus, thanks, man. I'll swing by with Jake to grab the cash." I hung up, turning back to her. "He's good for it, unlike Jake. Real solid guy."
"Okay, call Jake then," she said, her voice tinged with impatience.
I dialed Jake, keeping it brief. "Yo, meet me at Marcus's place to get the money." I hung up, then looked at Emily, softening my tone. "I'm gonna miss you, babe."
"Me too," she said, her eyes flickering with something I couldn't read.
"When's our next visit?"
"When you're ready to cover the trip—there and back this time," she said, half-joking. "No more delays."
I nodded, pulling her close for another kiss. "One more time, babe," I whispered, my hands wandering. She resisted at first, but when she saw my frown, she gave in. "Why are you so obsessed with this?" she teased, but her voice was wary.
"It's not that," I said, laying it on thick. "I just hate being turned down when I need you." I piled on the sweet talk, reminding her of our "future" together, how I'd propose next time to make it special. She softened, and we went at it again, a quick ten-minute round that left us both breathless but unsatisfied. She wiped down with a tissue, her movements brisk. "Now that you're happy, can you go get the money?"
I nodded, grabbing my jacket and heading out to meet Jake.
At his place, I slumped onto his couch. "Man, I can't do it. I don't have the guts to kick her out without the money."
Jake rolled his eyes. "You're hopeless. Just show her the ChatNow chats and tell her to get lost."
"I can't," I admitted, my voice low. "I'm too soft."
"You got your $200 worth, didn't you?" he said, grinning.
"Pretty much."
"Then let's finish this." Jake stood, cracking his knuckles. "I'll do the talking. Let's go."
I hesitated, my stomach churning. "You're handling it, right?"
"Man, you're not just a sucker—you're a certified pushover," he said, laughing. "Come on."
We walked back to my apartment, my nerves on edge. Emily looked up as we entered, her smile faltering when she saw Jake.
"Hey, Beautiful!" Jake said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Sorry about that robbery mess last time."
"No worries," Emily said, her voice cautious. "It wasn't your fault."
"Oh, it was his fault," Jake said, jerking a thumb at me. "If he wasn't such a pushover, I wouldn't have left my door unlocked and gotten robbed."
I shot Jake a panicked look, my heart racing, but he ignored me. Emily's eyes narrowed. "Pushover? Don't call my man that. I don't play when it comes to Ethan."
"Really?" Jake said, leaning in. "If he's not a pushover, how's he clueless that you're hooking up with some dude named Hunter in Five Points? Lumpkin Street, to be exact."
Emily's face froze. She turned to me, her voice sharp. "Ethan, you've got another girl in Athens? After all I've done for you?"
Jake laughed, cutting her off. "Nah, we're talking about you, sweetheart. We know all about your boy Hunter_X, your little sleepovers, your quick hookups yesterday."
I stood there, my mouth dry, my heart pounding as Jake took my phone and opened ChatNow, reading the chats aloud—every damning word from her confessions to Hunter_X. Emily's eyes widened, then filled with tears. "Ethan, I can explain," she stammered, turning to me. "It's not what you think."
I found my voice, shaky but firm. "There's nothing to explain, Emily. Jake's word is final."
Jake stepped forward, his voice low and menacing. "You've got ten seconds to get out, or things get ugly." He tugged at his belt for emphasis.
"Please, I'll go," Emily said, her voice breaking. She turned to me, tears streaming down her face. "Ethan, I love you. I swear I can explain."
Her sobs hit me hard, and for a moment, I wavered, my eyes stinging. But Jake's glare kept me grounded. I turned to the wall, unable to watch as she grabbed her bags and left. The door clicked shut, and that was it—the last time I saw Emily.
Two days later, she blocked me on ChatNow, Imessage and deleted my number. I called her countless times, but she never picked up. The silence was deafening, but deep down, I knew it was over. I'd been a fool, but I wasn't her pawn anymore.