Hanna’s hands shook as she clutched the phone. She could feel the weight of Emily’s gaze on her, but she couldn’t bring herself to meet it.
Emily sighed, her voice a mix of sympathy and exasperation. “I hate to say it, Hanna, but I told you so. Ciara won’t just let go of Finn that easily.”
Hanna swallowed hard, trying to steady her breath. “What do I do, Em? She’s not going to stop.”
Emily looked at her thoughtfully for a moment, then shook her head. “You need to face her head-on. You can’t let her keep threatening you. If you really like Finn, you’ve got to show her that you’re not backing down.”
Hanna nodded slowly, feeling the truth in Emily’s words but also the fear that accompanied it. “I just... I miss when things were normal, you know? When it wasn’t all about this drama.”
Emily gave her a small, rueful smile. “Tell me about it. I miss having an ordinary life, too. No love triangles, no jealousy. Just... friendship.”
Hanna was about to respond when her gaze shifted past Emily. Elordi was walking toward them, his expression unreadable. Instinctively, Hanna took a step back, guilt twisting in her gut. “I should go,” she murmured. “He’s still mad at me.”
But just as she turned to leave, Elordi called out. “Hanna, wait.”
She stopped in her tracks, turning to face him with wary eyes. Elordi’s expression softened as he approached. “I... I’m sorry for how I acted earlier. I just... didn’t like being played like that.”
Hanna blinked, caught off guard by his sudden apology. “Elordi, I—”
He held up a hand, stopping her. “It’s fine. I know how Ciara took that game personally. But... we’re friends, Hanna. No matter what. And friends don’t let something like this tear them apart.” He glanced between her and Emily. “We’re supposed to stick together.”
Emily smiled faintly. “Yeah... just friends. Way better that way.”
Hanna felt a swell of relief. Maybe things weren’t perfect, but for the first time in days, they felt... manageable. She stepped forward, joining Emily and Elordi in a small, awkward hug. It wasn’t the same as it used to be, but it was a start.
The moment was short-lived, though, as Finn and his team suddenly approached, their faces beaming with excitement. Finn’s eyes locked onto Hanna, and his grin widened. “We won!” he announced, still catching his breath. “We’re having a celebration at my house—my parents are coming home for it. You three should come.”
Hanna smiled softly, but before she could answer, Ciara appeared out of the crowd. She smirked, her eyes gleaming with malice. “Yes, Hanna,” she drawled, her voice sickly sweet. “It would be lovely for you to meet Finn’s parents.”