Emily's POV
The tires hummed against the asphalt as I drove through the city like a ghost behind the wheel.
My hands trembled, mascara streaks dried against my cheeks, and my breath hitched every few seconds. The silence inside the car was deafening, only broken by the occasional hiccup from my sobs.
Red lights blurred into green ones. I wasn’t headed anywhere in particular. My heart led the way, and right now, my heart was wrecked.
The sexy red dress I had been so excited to wear felt like a costume mocking me now. The heels pinched my feet, my curls were falling out of place, and my chest felt like it had been stomped on.
Eventually, the city gave way to open roads. Then trees. Then the familiar fencing of the community sports complex where I used to spend my childhood summers.
The volleyball court sat under the glow of soft floodlights. No one was around. It was late, and the whole place was asleep. Except for me.
I parked the car and stepped out, my heels clicking softly against the gravel. I walked toward the net, barely able to see through the tears that wouldn’t stop falling. The memories flooded back. My first spike. My first team win. My dad lifting me in the air after a good game.
I collapsed onto the bench by the side of the court.
And then I sobbed.
Not the cute kind you see in movies. No. This was raw. Ugly. Shaking, gasping, snot-on-your-lip kind of crying. The kind of cry that comes from deep within your soul when everything you thought you had gets ripped apart.
My parents were nowhere to be found and here was Seb, whom I thought I was going to spend the summer with, breaking my heart.
I was all alone now.
I didn’t hear the footsteps or the presence until I felt a gentle tap on my shoulder.
"Hey... Are you alright?"
I jumped and looked up, startled. A tall guy stood over her, his voice calm but laced with concern. He had messy dark hair, piercing green eyes, and wore a hoodie and joggers like he’d just left the gym.
"Do I look alright?" I snapped, mascara running, eyes swollen.
He raised his hands. "Okay, fair. Definitely not alright. But I’m asking because you look like you’re seconds away from collapsing."
I narrowed my eyes, wary. "Do you work here?"
"Nah, just came for a walk. I live a few blocks down. I usually come here to think." He paused, then motioned toward the bench. "Mind if I sit?"
I stared at him, uncertain, but then nodded.
He sat beside her but kept his distance. He gave me a kind smile and asked. "You want to talk about it, or should we just sit here and cry into the moonlight together?"
I snorted, despite herself. Then, the words came out before I could stop them.
"My boyfriend of two years cheated on me. With one of my best friends."
He blinked. "Shit. That’s... brutal."
"Brutal?" I laughed bitterly. "He had hickeys on his neck and scratch marks all over him. And she was hiding in his closet. Like some tragic soap opera."
"That sounds like a badly written porn plot."
I laughed, then covered her mouth. "Oh my God, that’s so inappropriate."
"No, that’s exactly what it sounds like," he said with a smirk. Look, I’m not saying this just because I hate the guy, but anyone with half a brain wouldn’t trade you for—what’s her name?"
"Tammy," I muttered.
"Tammy. Right. Her."
I sighed, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. "God. It hurts so bad. I didn’t see it coming. I thought he loved me. We had plans. A future."
"People suck sometimes. Especially cowards who don’t know how to appreciate loyalty.”
“I cannot believe I fell for Sebastian Hunt. God, he’s such a freaking idiot.”
I turned toward him, squinting. “Wait, you know Seb?"
His smile faltered for a second. "Actually... I do."
My brows shot up. "You do?"
"We’ve hated each other since junior high," he said casually. "He’s a selfish jerk who’s always thought with the wrong head."
I stared hard at him, my brain connecting the dots slowly. That smirk. He looked strikingly familiar now that I looked at him closely.
"No way. You’re…” I trailed off with a gasp at the realization.
He smirked. “Adam Cooper.”
“Redmond Creek’s volleyball captain?"
He grinned. “The one and only.”
If Sebastian could see me right now, he’d lose his damn mind. Talking to his mortal enemy? Yeah. He’d absolutely kill me.