I reached Jake's apartment in Five Points, my heart still pounding from Emily's betrayal. The Uber dropped me off, and I knocked on his door, feeling a mix of anger and determination.
"Yo, Ethan, what's up?" Jake greeted, lounging on his couch with a smirk. "King of suckers, how you holding up?"
"Real funny, man," I shot back, rolling my eyes. "Who's this Marcus guy you mentioned?"
Jake laughed and slapped his knee. "You're so gullible. It's all part of the act, bro. I made him up."
I couldn't help but grin. "Just messing with you. I got the last $5 she had."
Jake's eyes lit up. "No way! Your brain's finally working. How'd you pull that off?"
"I told her I didn't have enough for the Uber to your place. She coughed up the $5."
"Solid move," Jake said, nodding. "So, you're down to owing her $45 from that original $100."
"Hand over the $50 she gave me," I said, holding out my hand. "I'm heading back."
"You crazy?" Jake snorted. "You're not giving her that money, are you?"
"Nah, I'm just holding it," I said, but my voice wavered. "Honestly, I feel kinda bad for her. She's got that big exam tomorrow."
Jake leaned forward, his expression hardening. "Bad for her? Did she feel bad when she took your money and hooked up with that dude in Five Points? Let her flunk her test. Maybe it'll teach her that scamming's a lousy elective."
I sighed, feeling torn. "So, what's the next step?"
"Keep the money here," Jake said as he pocketed the $50. "Go home, tell her Marcus lost his debit card, and she'll have to wait until tomorrow for you to sort out the ATM glitch at the bank. Keep me posted on iMessage with any updates."
"Got it," I said, heading out. I grabbed an Uber back to my place, my mind racing with the plan.
When I walked in, Emily was pacing by the bed, her face a mix of impatience and charm. "Sweetheart, hey," I said, forcing a smile.
"Ethan, it's not cool," she snapped, arms crossed. "You've been gone all morning, knowing I need to get to Miami."
"Sorry, babe," I said, keeping my tone soft.
"So, where's the money?" she pressed. "It's already 1 p.m. I gotta go."
I launched into Jake's script, showing her the fake Chase alert. "Bad news. Marcus couldn't find his debit card. You'll have to wait until tomorrow when I go to the bank to fix the ATM issue."
Emily's face fell, her lips twisting into a scowl. She grabbed her backpack and purse, her movements sharp. "I've got an exam tomorrow, Ethan. I can't stay. I'm going to my cousin's to beg him again. Maybe he'll help."
"Why are you taking all your stuff?" I asked, my suspicion spiking.
"I'm short on time," she said, avoiding my eyes. "If I get the money, I'll head straight to the bus station. If not, I'll come back to crash here."
She stormed out at 1:20 p.m., her backpack slung over her shoulder. I tried calling her, but her phone was off. Great, I thought, slumping onto the bed. Jake and Emily screwed me over. No way I'm getting that surprise tonight. I checked her ChatNow, and there were no new chats. I updated Jake on iMessage, and he texted back, "Lock it up, man. She's gone". Assume you paid $45 for one quick hookup.
I tossed my phone aside, resigned. By 8 p.m., her number was still unreachable. Exhausted, I crashed and drifted into a restless sleep. At 9:40 p.m., a sharp knock on my door jolted me awake. "Who's there?" I called. "It's me, Emily," came her voice, soft but strained. "Open the door." My pulse quickened, a mix of hope and dread surging through me. I opened the door, and she stepped in, her face puffy, her eyes dull with exhaustion. I took her bags and guided her inside. She looked like she'd been through hell. "Emily, what happened?" I asked, my voice laced with concern. "Your phone's been off. I was worried sick." She sat on the bed, silent for a moment, then sighed. "It's been a rough day, Ethan. A lot happened, I can't even explain."
"Did you fight with your cousin again?" I pressed.
"Something like that," she mumbled, her voice flat.
"Did he not give you the money? What's going on?"
"Some things are better left unsaid," she said, avoiding my gaze. "I just can't talk about it."
"Why were you so late getting back?"
"We were sorting out our fight," she said vaguely. "And he sent me on another errand. That's what took so long."
"I'm sorry, babe," I said, softening. "How are you handling your exam now?"
"I called some friends in my department to help me out," she said. "But, Ethan, can you do me a favor?"
"What's that?"
"Can you make sure to get $300 from the bank tomorrow? I need to pay off my professor for this course. It's important."
"No problem," I said, nodding.
"And one more thing," she added, her voice hesitant. "Can you check with Marcus first, in case the bank thing doesn't work out? And please, make it early before 9 a.m."
"Sure," I agreed, but her somber mood gnawed at me. She looked defeated, nothing like the confident Emily I knew. I wanted to ask more, but her walls were up.
"I'm starving," she said, her voice small. "Is there anything to eat before I shower?"
"There's some leftover pizza in the fridge," I said. "Go heat it."
She trudged to the kitchen; her shoulders slumped. As she left, her phone, left on the bed, pinged with a ChatNow notification. I reached for it but hit a passcode lock. I'll check it later, I thought, my curiosity burning.
She returned after eating, her face still drawn. "I'm hitting the shower," she said. "Wanna join me?"
My body reacted instantly, a rush of heat drowning out my doubts. I started to undress, but another knock came, this time on the window. "Yo, who's that?" I called.
"It's me, Tyler," came the reply. Tyler, my neighbor in the first unit of our six-apartment complex, had been in Atlanta for the weekend. He'd just gotten back, and I had to let him in through the main entrance. I stepped outside, and we chatted for fifteen minutes about his trip, the late-night traffic, and the loaf of sourdough he handed me as a souvenir.
Back in my room, Emily was wrapped in a towel, scrolling through her phone with both hands, clearly focused on something. Her face still carried whatever was bothering her. As I approached, she quickly closed ChatNow, locked her phone, and set it down on the table. "Ready for that shower?" she asked, forcing a smile. "Yeah," I said, following her to the bathroom. "Emily, what's wrong? You seem off."
"Just a stressful day," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. She dropped her towel, and my breath caught. Her curves were as stunning as ever. But as I moved closer, a faint scent lingered, one that suggested recent intimacy. I pushed it aside, my desire overriding my suspicions. We showered together, the steam and her touch pulling me into a heated moment that lasted fifteen minutes. But even as we moved together, something felt off, mechanical, distant.
Back in the bedroom, we went another round, but it was lifeless. Emily's heart wasn't in it, and her somber mood drained any spark. "Don't forget the money tomorrow," she said afterward, her voice flat. "I'm gonna sleep. Good night."
"Good night," I muttered, but sleep wouldn't come. Why was she so unhappy? Who was messaging her? What happened at her cousin's? I lay there, questions swirling, until I heard her call my name softly. I didn't respond, pretending to sleep. She got up, tiptoed to the bathroom, and I caught fragments of a whispered phone call: "Please, for the sake of what we have, forgive me. Come online on ChatNow, let's talk." She crept back to bed, her phone glowing as she typed for another forty-five minutes. I stayed silent, determined to uncover the truth.
At 4 a.m., while Emily slept, I grabbed my phone and logged into her ChatNow. The latest chat with Hunter_X hit me like a gut punch.
Hunter_X: Why are you calling me? I told you we're done. What do you want?
Emily: I can explain everything, please.
Hunter_X: Explain what? My buddy who works at the pizza shop on Lumpkin Street saw you leaving a guy's place with your bags today. Said the dude walked you to an Uber. And you went back to the same place later. That's your dad's friend, huh? Your boyfriend?
Emily: It's not what you think. Let me explain.
Hunter_X: What's there to explain?
Emily: He's my brother's friend. I was just dropping off a message.
Hunter_X: A message? My buddy saw him at the pharmacy across from his place buying condoms the day before you got here. Friday.
My stomach churned. That was me—I'd hit up the CVS across from my apartment on Friday, grabbing condoms before Emily arrived. The pharmacist, a chatty guy, had even commented on my "new catch" when I walked her to the Uber. I'd played it off, saying we'd been dating for months. He'd joked about my condoms expiring and mentioned living in Five Points, near Lumpkin Street.
Emily: I swear, I don't have anything with him.
Hunter_X: You expect me to believe that? I trailed your Uber this afternoon after our hookup. It went straight to that same address. You've been cheating on me this whole time?
Emily: Okay, I'll come clean. He's not my boyfriend. I don't love him, you're the one I love. You know I wanted to visit you in Athens, but you said you were broke. I missed you so much after three months apart, so I told this guy I'd visit him. He fell for it and sent me bus fare. I saw him for ten minutes, then came straight to you. Please understand.
Hunter_X: So, you went back to him for more money without even sleeping with him?
Emily: He's just a pawn. He's so into me, he'll give me anything. But it's you I love, Hunter. I used him to get to you. Please.
Hunter_X: What about the condoms he bought?
Emily: That's a lie. I didn't even let him kiss me. We've been together two years, and I'd never cheat on you.
Hunter_X: You're not hooking up with him tonight?
Emily: I told him I'm saving myself for marriage. He bought it. I'm just milking him for cash. If I didn't love you, would I have stayed so late at your place?
Hunter_X: I gave you some money before you left here, but you still went back to him for more. Why?
Emily: I didn't want to burden you. I love you too much to ask for anything. Please, darling, don't make this complicated.
Hunter_X: Thanks for the great sex, I guess. Tell your new boyfriend I said hi. Please don't call me again. I'm done.
I stared at the screen, my blood boiling. I'm the pawn? The idiot she's exploiting? Emily had played me for a fool, and now I was done. She wasn't leaving Athens without paying for this.