Chapter 2

Emma's Pov

"Oh my God, did you see what Jessica wore to graduation?" Ashley's voice cut through the morning chaos outside the ceremony hall.

I barely registered it. My mind was somewhere else entirely.

"Ashley, stop," I muttered, adjusting my cap for the hundredth time.

"What? I'm just saying, a neon green dress? To a graduation?" Ashley continued, gesturing wildly.

"You know how Ashley can be," Alexis said beside me, rolling her eyes but smiling. She looked elegant as always in a simple black dress under her gown.

I tried to smile back but couldn't quite manage it.

Two weeks.

It had been two weeks since that afternoon in the lecture hall, and I hadn't stopped thinking about it for a single second.

Every time I closed my eyes, I felt his hands on me. Heard his voice in my ear. Saw the dark hunger in his eyes as he—

"Earth to Emma," Ashley waved her hand in front of my face. "You good?"

"Yeah," I lied. "Just nervous about the ceremony."

The truth was so much more complicated.

I hadn't told them. How could I? What would I even say?

The ceremony passed in a blur. I sat with my class, listening to speeches I didn't hear, waiting for diplomas I didn't care about. My eyes kept scanning the faculty section, looking for him.

Professor James.

But his seat was empty.

The disappointment hit harder than it should have. What did I expect? That he'd show up just to see me graduate?

"Looking for someone?" Alexis's voice was knowing.

I turned to her too quickly. "What? No."

"Mmhmm." She didn't look convinced.

"She's looking for Professor James," Ashley whispered loudly from my other side.

"Shut up, Ashley," I hissed, heat flooding my face.

"What? You've been obsessed with him all semester."

After the ceremony, we ended up at a graduation party. The music was too loud, the house too crowded, everyone too drunk too fast.

Ashley danced with anyone who'd have her. Alexis found some guy in the corner, their bodies pressed together.

Me? I sat alone, drink after drink disappearing faster than I could count.

The alcohol wasn't helping. It just made everything feel heavier, more impossible.

Two weeks of obsessing over someone I couldn't have. Two weeks of replaying every second of that afternoon.

By the time we stumbled into an Uber, I was exhausted in every possible way.

"Best. Night. Ever," Ashley slurred.

I stayed quiet, watching the streetlights blur past.

When the car dropped me at my house, I practically fell out onto the driveway.

"Text us tomorrow!" Ashley yelled as they drove off.

The house was lit up, every window glowing. Mom was home.

I pushed open the door and immediately heard her voice.

"Emma! Oh, my baby, you're back!"

Mom appeared from the kitchen, beaming. She pulled me into a tight hug.

"Hi, Mom," I mumbled.

She pulled back, studying my face. "You look exhausted. Did you have fun?"

"Yeah, it was good."

"Well, I'm so glad you're home because I made a special family dinner." Her eyes were bright with excitement. "And there's someone I really want you to meet."

My stomach sank.

"Mom, I'm really tired. Can this wait until tomorrow?"

"No, honey, it can't wait." She gripped my hands. "Today is perfect. It's your graduation day, and I thought this would be the perfect time for you to finally meet him."

I stared at her. "Meet who?"

"It's a surprise!" She was practically bouncing. "The man I've been seeing. I know you've been resistant to the idea of me dating again, but Emma, this is important to me."

"Mom." I pulled my hands away. "I really don't have the energy for this."

Her face fell. "Emma, please. I know you said you weren't interested in meeting him because you don't want anyone taking your father's place. But honey, he's important to me. Just have dinner with us. For me."

I looked at her. She was happy. Happier than I'd seen her in years.

"You know what? Fine. I'm sorry for being difficult. You deserve to be happy."

"Thank you, sweetheart." She squeezed my arm. "He's already in the dining room."

She led me toward the dining room, my heart pounding.

Mom pushed open the door.

"Emma, I'd like you to meet—"

I looked up.

And my entire world stopped.

Sitting at our dining room table, glass of wine in hand, looking impossibly handsome in a casual button-down, was Professor James Chen.

No.

No, no, no, no—

"Emma, are you okay?" Mom's voice sounded far away.

I couldn't move. Couldn't breathe.

James—Professor James—was staring at me with the same shocked expression I must have been wearing.

"I—" My voice came out strangled. "Hi. I'm Emma."

What the fuck was I saying? He knew who I was.

Mom laughed, clearly confused. "Emma, honey, sit down. Are you good?"

"Yeah," I forced out. "I'm fine. Just surprised."

I moved to the table on autopilot and sat down across from him. My hands were shaking so badly I had to hide them under the table.

This wasn't real. This couldn't be real.

Professor James, the man who had touched me, kissed me, made me fall apart two weeks ago, was sitting at my dining room table.

Having dinner with my mother.

"Emma, this is James," Mom said, sitting beside him and taking his hand. Taking his hand. "James, this is my daughter, Emma. She just graduated today."

"Congratulations," James said, his voice carefully controlled. But I could see it in his eyes, the same shock, the same horror.

"Thanks," I whispered.

Mom looked between us. "Emma, are you sure you're alright? You're acting strange."

"I'm fine, Mom. Really. Just tired from the party."

"Well, try to be present, honey. This is important."

Dinner was a nightmare.

Mom talked. James talked. They laughed together, shared stories, held hands across the table like they'd been together for years.

And I sat there, frozen, trying not to have a complete breakdown.

Every time his eyes met mine, I felt it—that same electric pull. That same impossible want.

But now it was wrong in so many new ways.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Mom set down her fork and smiled at both of us.

"So," she said, squeezing James's hand. "We have something to tell you, Emma."

No.

Please, God, no.

"James and I have decided…" She looked at him with so much love it physically hurt to watch. "We're getting married."

The words hit me like a physical blow.

"What?" It came out louder than I meant it to.

Mom blinked. "Honey, are you okay?"

"Yeah," I said quickly, my voice shaking. "That's great. He seems like a really nice guy."

A nice guy who fingered me in a classroom two weeks ago.

The thought made me want to scream.

"Are you sure you're alright?" Mom asked again.

I pushed back from the table. "You know what? I'm really tired. The party was a lot. I just need to sleep."

"Emma—"

"Congratulations, you guys. Really." I forced the widest, fakest smile I could manage. "I'm happy for you. I just need to go upstairs."

I turned to leave, and just for a second, one devastating second, my eyes met his.

James was staring at me with an expression I couldn't read. Guilt? Regret? Want?

I tore my gaze away and practically ran for the stairs.

"Goodnight, honey!" Mom called after me.

"Night," I choked out.

I made it to my room, slammed the door, and stood there in the dark, shaking.

"What the fuck," I whispered. "What the actual fuck."

My legs gave out and I slid down to the floor.

This couldn't be happening.

The man I'd been fantasizing about for two weeks, the man who'd touched me in ways that made me forget my own name, was about to become my stepfather.

I dropped my head into my hands.

How did this happen? How did my life become this fucked up?

I closed my eyes and saw his hands on my thighs. Felt his breath on my neck. Heard his voice in my ear.

I opened my eyes again, staring at the ceiling.

"This is so fucked up," I whispered.

And the worst part?

Even knowing everything I knew now, even knowing he was going to marry my mother, I still wanted him.

God help me, I still wanted him.