Emma’s POV
Vanessa had a way of making everything worse.
She didn’t just push the knife in—she twisted it, slow and deliberate, making sure I felt every second of it.
And she wasn’t letting this go.
Every time I walked through the halls, she found a way to remind me that I had lost everything—Logan, Caleb, my dignity.
And today?
She wanted to make damn sure I heard her.
“You know,” Vanessa mused loudly in the middle of the crowded hallway, “Caleb’s such a friendly guy. He just has this way of… connecting with people.”
I froze mid-step.
She caught my eye across the room, smirking like she had already won.
“Looks like you’re single again.” Her voice carried, making sure everyone within earshot heard. “Tough break.”
The hallway went quiet enough to hear a pin drop.
Laughter rippled from her group of followers, but all I could hear was the roar of blood in my ears.
I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms.
I told myself to ignore her. To walk away.
But then—
Vanessa’s gaze shifted to Caleb.
And she didn’t look away.
She tilted her head, her lips curling into a mocking pout, and I knew exactly what she was saying without saying a damn thing.
He’s fair game now.
A sick feeling crawled into my stomach.
I turned sharply, walking away before she could see the way my hands shook.
I hated her.
But I hated myself more for caring.
Logan’s POV
I wasn’t a good guy. Never had been. Probably never would be. But even I had a line. And Caleb was about to cross it.
I saw him in the gym after practice, leaning against the lockers, looking too damn comfortable after letting Vanessa drape herself over him all day.
I was already pissed off, already on edge, and the second I saw his smirk, I snapped.
“What’s your deal?” My voice echoed through the empty gym.
Caleb barely looked up. “What are you talking about?”
I stalked closer, still in my practice gear, sweat dripping down my back, my pulse pounding from more than just the workout.
“Vanessa.” I spat her name like it was poison. “You’re letting her hang all over you. Are you playing Emma again, or are you just clueless?”
Caleb’s smirk deepened, like this was all a joke to him.
“You’ve got some nerve, Reyes.”
I took another step forward, fists clenching at my sides.
“This isn’t about me,” I said through gritted teeth. “It’s about Emma. She doesn’t deserve this.”
Caleb shrugged. “Relax, man. Emma knows where I stand.”
I laughed, cold and sharp. “Does she?”
His expression flickered for half a second.
“Because from where I’m standing,” I continued, my voice dropping dangerously low, “it looks like you’re letting Vanessa make a fool of her.”
That got to him.
His jaw tensed, his body stiffening.
“Maybe you should worry about your own mess instead of sticking your nose in mine,” he shot back, his voice flat, cold.
I took a step closer, chest rising and falling too fast, every inch of me itching to swing.
“If you hurt her—”
“You’ll what?” Caleb interrupted, pushing off the lockers, his eyes going sharp and unreadable.
We were nose to nose now, the tension crackling between us like a live wire.
“You already tried to fight me once, remember?” His voice was quiet, lethal.
I clenched my jaw, muscles tight with restraint.
I shouldn’t say it.
I shouldn’t.
But then I thought about Emma walking away from me. Emma looking at me like I wasn’t worth fighting for. Emma being stupid enough to think Caleb was anything but another mistake.
And I let it slip.
“If you hurt her again,” I said, voice steady, calm, absolute, “I’ll kill you.”