Emma’s POV
The party was already loud and chaotic when I arrived, the bass thudding in my chest. Vanessa’s idea, of course. She’d been flaunting her “queen bee” status more than ever lately, making sure everyone knew she was in control. This time, it was her parents’ lake house—a sprawling mansion with floor-to-ceiling windows, perfect for showing off.
Sarah dragged me along, insisting it would be fun and just the distraction I needed.
“I still don’t know what we’re doing here,” I muttered as she parked the car.
She shrugged. “It’s just a party, Emma. Relax. You’ll have fun.”
But I’d barely stepped inside before I spotted Vanessa talking to Caleb by the drinks table. Her dazzling smile lit up the room as she leaned closer, her hand casually brushing his chest.
Something inside me snapped. My heart pounded as I marched across the room, ignoring the curious stares of the other partygoers.
“Vanessa,” I said sharply, my voice cutting through the noise.
She turned, her smile widening. “Emma! I didn’t see you there. Having fun?”
“Funny, since you seem to be everywhere I turn lately,” I shot back, my tone ice-cold. “What are you doing?”
Vanessa’s eyes sparkled with amusement. “Just saying hi to Caleb. Is that a crime?”
“It is when you’re doing it just to get under my skin. Don’t you have anything better to do?”
Vanessa tilted her head, her smile never wavering. “Oh, Emma, is that what you think? That this is about you?”
Her laughter grated on my nerves, but before I could respond, Caleb stepped between us, hands raised in mock surrender. “Ladies, let’s not cause a scene.”
Vanessa’s smile turned sly as she placed her hand on Caleb’s arm. “Don’t worry, Caleb. I’m not here to stir up trouble.”
“Could’ve fooled me,” I muttered under my breath.
“Relax, Emma,” Caleb said, his voice low but firm. “It’s not worth it.”
The words stung more than I wanted to admit. My fists clenched as the fight drained out of me. Without another word, I turned and walked away, my chest tight with frustration. I wasn’t sure I could trust Caleb anymore.
I headed to the kitchen, needing space to breathe. I needed to cool down, pull myself together—and grab a drink. Anything to take my mind off this mess.
As I poured myself a shot, Sarah appeared beside me. “Hey, you okay?” she asked, her tone gentle but probing.
I threw back the shot in one gulp, the burn matching the heat of my anger. “I hate Vanessa,” I muttered, slamming the glass on the counter.
Sarah raised an eyebrow but smirked. “You know what helps? Dancing. Come on, trust me.”
Before I could argue, she pulled me toward the dance floor. The music pounded, the bass shaking the floor as we moved with the crowd. For a little while, it worked—I let myself get lost in the rhythm, the chaos drowning out my thoughts.
But I couldn’t stop myself from glancing back. Vanessa and Caleb were still in the corner, talking and laughing. Each glance tightened the knot in my stomach.
And then it happened—something that made the ground disappear from beneath me.
It was so quick I almost couldn’t believe it. One moment, Vanessa was laughing at something Caleb said, her hand lightly resting on his arm. The next, she leaned in and kissed him like it was the most natural thing in the world.
My heart stopped. It wasn’t just a quick peck. It was deliberate, drawn-out, her hand sliding up to his neck as she leaned into him. For a second, Caleb froze. He didn’t push her away. He didn’t do anything.
That was all I needed to see.