The words swam before her eyes, blurring together. She blinked hard, trying to focus.
“Oh, fuck,” Emily whispered, her voice cracking. “He says he loves me.”
Sophia leaned in, eyes wide. “Whoa. That’s… intense.”
Emily laughed, a sharp, bitter sound. “Yeah, no shit. What am I supposed to do with that?”
She stared at the screen, her thumb hovering over the keyboard. The tequila churned in her stomach, threatening to make a reappearance.
“I can’t… I can’t deal with this right now,” she muttered, tossing the phone aside. It landed face-down on the couch cushion, the message still glowing accusingly.
Sophia wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “Hey, it’s okay. You don’t have to figure it all out tonight.”
Emily leaned into her friend, closing her eyes against the sudden sting of tears. “But what if I’ve fucked everything up? What if this is it, and I’m too scared to take the chance?”
The room spun slightly as she opened her eyes, the alcohol hitting her full force. She reached for another shot, her movements clumsy.
“Whoa, slow down there, champ,” Sophia cautioned, but Emily waved her off.
“Nope, not nearly drunk enough yet,” she insisted, downing the shot. “I need to be way more wasted before I can even think about dealing with… all of this.”
As she set the glass down, her gaze drifted back to the phone. Three little words, eight letters. How could something so small feel so monumental?
Emily ran a hand through her hair, tugging at the roots. “Fuck me, Soph. I love him too. I really fucking do.” Her voice cracked. “But how the hell am I supposed to look Lucas in the eye knowing he’s Ryan’s dad?”
She stood abruptly, swaying slightly. “I need air.”
Stumbling towards the balcony, Emily flung open the doors. The cool night breeze hit her flushed skin, carrying the faint scent of salt from the distant sea. She gripped the railing, knuckles white.
“You know,” she called over her shoulder, “I always thought I’d be ecstatic when someone said they loved me. Instead, I’m having a goddamn panic attack.”
Sophia appeared beside her, concern etched on her face. “Em, maybe we should call it a night. Sleep on it?”
Emily shook her head vigorously. “No. No, I can’t… I can’t leave him hanging like that. He deserves better.”
She fumbled for her phone, squinting at the bright screen. Her fingers hovered over the keys, trembling slightly.
“What do I even say?” she whispered. “‘Hey babe, love you too, by the way, did you know you’re fucking your son’s ex?'”
Emily let out a bitter laugh, her fingers still hovering over the phone. “Christ, this is fucked up.”
She took a deep breath, steeling herself. Her thumbs moved swiftly, almost of their own accord.
Baby Girl: I love you too, daddy.
The moment she hit send, Emily felt her stomach lurch. “Oh god, I’m gonna be sick.”
She bolted for the bathroom, barely making it in time. As she retched into the toilet, Sophia held back her hair, rubbing soothing circles on her back.
“It’s okay, Em. Let it out.”
When she was done, Emily slumped against the cool tile wall. “What the fuck am I doing, Soph?” she croaked.
Her phone buzzed in her pocket. Emily flinched.
“You don’t have to look at it,” Sophia said gently.
But Emily was already pulling out her phone, her heart racing. Lucas’ reply lit up the screen:
Daddy: Baby girl, you’ve made me the happiest man alive. But something’s still wrong. Talk to me.
Emily’s eyes welled up. “He’s so fucking sweet,” she choked out. “How is this fair?”
She looked up at Sophia, desperation clear in her eyes. “What do I do now?”
Emily’s phone began to vibrate, Lucas’ name flashing on the screen. She stared at it, frozen, her breath coming in short gasps.
“I can’t… I can’t do this,” she whispered, her voice cracking.
Sophia’s eyes darted between Emily and the ringing phone. With a decisive nod, she snatched it up. “I’ve got this,” she said, striding towards the kitchen.
Emily curled into herself on the bathroom floor, her mind a chaotic whirlwind of emotions. She could hear Sophia’s muffled voice from the other room, the words indistinct but the tone urgent.
“Fuck, fuck, fuck,” Emily muttered, rocking slightly. How had her life become this tangled mess? She’d fallen for Lucas hard and fast, his strength and tenderness a balm to her wounded heart after Ryan’s betrayal. And now… now what?
In the kitchen, Sophia’s voice rose. “Lucas, I need you to be honest with me. That man you were with in Starbucks… is he your son?”
Emily held her breath, straining to hear.
“Yes,” came Lucas’ faint reply through the phone. “Why?”
Sophia’s response was sharp and clear. “Shit. Ryan Mitchell is the bastard who cheated on Emily.”
The silence that followed was deafening. Emily’s world tilted on its axis, reality crashing down around her. She barely made it back to the toilet before another wave of nausea hit.
Emily retched, her body shaking as she emptied the contents of her stomach. The acrid taste of bile burned her throat, mingling with the salt of her tears. She slumped against the cool porcelain, her mind reeling.
In the kitchen, Sophia’s voice carried a mix of concern and frustration. “Other than that she’s drunk too much tequila, I have no fucking clue what is going through Emily’s mind right now.”
Emily dragged herself to her feet, stumbling towards the kitchen. She needed to hear this, needed to face whatever was coming next.
Sophia’s eyes widened as Emily appeared in the doorway, pale and trembling. She mouthed “Are you okay?” Emily shook her head, gesturing for Sophia to continue.
“Look, she’s freaking out,” Sophia said into the phone, her free hand reaching out to steady Emily. “And can you blame her? This is some seriously fucked up shit.”
Emily leaned heavily against the counter, her fingers gripping the edge so tightly her knuckles turned white. She closed her eyes, trying to focus on Sophia’s words.
“But Emily’s not an idiot,” Sophia continued, her voice softening. “She knows it’s not anyone’s fault. It’s not like you or Ryan knew, and it’s sure as hell not like she planned to fall in love with you shortly after Ryan cheated on her.”
At those words, Emily’s eyes snapped open. Love. Fuck. It was true, wasn’t it? Despite everything, despite this cosmic joke the universe was playing on her, she really loved Lucas. The realization hit her like a punch to the gut, leaving her breathless.
Emily’s hand shot out, reaching for the phone. Sophia hesitated, concern etched across her face.
“Are you sure?” Sophia whispered, covering the mouthpiece.