Chapter 3

Emma's Pov

I woke up to sunlight and a splitting headache.

For one blissful second, I didn't remember.

Then it all came crashing back.

Professor James. My dining room. My mother's hand in his. "We're getting married."

"Fuck," I groaned.

I was still in my party clothes, makeup smeared, hair a disaster. I grabbed painkillers from my nightstand and dry-swallowed two.

After the longest shower of my life, I pulled on jeans and a hoodie and headed downstairs.

The smell of bacon hit me first.

"Mom, what are you making?" I called, turning into the kitchen.

Then I froze.

James was there.

They were cooking together, Mom at the stove, James cutting fruit, looking domestic and comfortable.

Like he belonged here.

"Hey, honey! You're awake!" Mom beamed. "James stayed over last night. We've been talking about the wedding, and we've made a decision!"

My stomach dropped. "Oh?"

"We're getting married in two weeks! Isn't that exciting?"

"Two weeks?" I couldn't hide the shock. "Isn't that too early?"

James went completely still, his hands frozen on the cutting board.

Mom waved dismissively. "When you know, you know. Right, James?"

"Right," he said quietly.

His voice sent a shiver down my spine.

"You know what's weird?" Mom continued. "You both went to the same college. James taught there, Emma just graduated. Strange you never crossed paths."

The air became suffocating.

"Yeah," I said quickly. "Really weird. We just never knew each other."

James's jaw tightened.

"Well, you'll have plenty of time to get to know each other now. We're going to be a family!"

The word hit me like a punch.

"Emma, honey, are you okay? You look pale."

"I'm fine. I have to go meet Ashley and Alexis."

"But I'm making breakfast—"

"I should head out now. Traffic." The excuse was pathetic. I needed to escape.

Mom sighed. "Alright. Have fun."

I grabbed my mum’s keys and ran.

****

Twenty minutes later, I was at Ashley and Alexis's apartment, hands wrapped around coffee I wasn't drinking.

"Okay, seriously, what's going on?" Alexis asked.

Ashley flopped beside me. "You look terrible."

I took a deep breath. "I need to tell you guys something. And you can't freak out."

"Oh my God, now I'm definitely going to freak out," Ashley said.

"Promise you'll let me finish."

"Okay, okay. What is it?"

I looked at both of them. "Two weeks ago... something happened. With Professor James."

Ashley's eyes went huge. "WHAT?"

"You said you wouldn't freak out!"

"Sorry! Continue."

I swallowed hard. "After our final exam, he asked me to stay behind. And things happened. Things that shouldn't happen between a professor and a student."

Silence.

Then Ashley exploded. "OH MY GOD. I KNEW IT. You fucked Professor James?!"

"No! Not exactly. But things got intense."

"Emma. This is insane" Alexis stared at me.

"I know it was insane and inappropriate, but it happened and I've been thinking about it nonstop—"

"Is that why you've been weird?" Ashley interrupted.

"It's more complicated than that."

"How?"

I took another breath. "Because last night, my mom introduced me to her fiancé. It's him. It's Professor James."

Silence.

Then—

"WHAT THE FUCK—"

"ARE YOU SERIOUS—"

"I know!" I buried my face in my hands. "It's completely fucked up."

"Your mom is marrying the guy who touched you in the classroom?" Alexis asked.

"Yes. And he's going to be my stepfather in two weeks."

"This is insane," Ashley said. "What are you going to do?"

"I don't know! I can't tell my mom, it'll destroy her. I can't avoid him, he's moving into my house."

Alexis was quiet, thinking. "Have you talked to him since last night?"

"No. This morning he was at my house cooking breakfast like nothing happened."

"You need to talk to him," Alexis said gently. "You need to address this."

"I can try to pretend it didn't happen."

"That's not going to work and you know it."

I slumped back. "I don't know what to say to him."

"You'll figure it out," Alexis said. "This is messy, but you're not alone. We're here."

"Thank you."

We spent the day watching movies, trying to distract from the chaos.

But as the sun set, my phone buzzed.

Unknown number.

*Meet me at Rushmore Park. The clearing near the old pavilion. We need to talk. - J*

My heart stopped.

"Who is it?" Ashley noticed my expression.

"No one. Just spam." I shoved my phone away. "I should head home anyway."

"Why so suddenly?" Alexis narrowed her eyes.

"I just need to deal with this. Face it head-on. I'll text you later, okay?"

They looked skeptical but let me go.

I grabbed my bag, heart pounding.

This was stupid.

Meeting him alone after everything?

But I knew it was him.

As I drove toward Rushmore Park, my hands shook on the wheel.

Worst idea ever.

But I was going anyway.