Scornfully Hers by Pamela Ann Page A

someone shoved a magazine at me with Emma and Bass in his parking lot, almost kissing and smiling like they were so happy together, after practice.
    So much for telling myself that I could easily move on from her. Guess that wasn’t happening, I thought with dread as new emotions rolled off me again.
    Not wasting any time, I left the locker room and headed towards the coffee shop where the girls always hung out in between classes. I could see them right out the window. Parking next to the curb, I climbed out of my vehicle with fucking determination. Walking inside the coffee place, I saw Trista’s face light up then Amber’s and Emma’s nervous-looking glance as I approached their table.
    “Can we talk outside?” I directed towards Emma, not masking my intentions anymore.
    She gawked at me for a few seconds, possibly thinking about the shit I was going to bitch at her about after seeing that magazine.
    “All right.” She got up before she glanced at Amber and Trista. “See you ladies later,” she murmured.
    The look on those two was pretty much curiosity on how this was going to play out. They’d never seen me act like this. Well, hell, I’d never seen myself like this, and I didn’t like it one bit.
    Walking towards the doors, I guided her out. Once outside, I silently strode towards my black Escalade and opened the door for her to hop in.
    I exhaled another long breath while I spun towards the other side, my side, before opening the car door and sliding in, locking all the doors.
    The engine was running with no music playing; the silence was deafening and here I was, not sure what to tell Emma. Putting my feelings into words was a hardship I needed to get over pretty soon before she committed herself to another man.
    “I thought you wanted to talk. So, talk,” Emma commanded, apparently aggravated at my silent state.
    Give me a moment, I pleaded silently as I stared past the windshield, out at the pavement. Running my hands through my disheveled hair, I forced myself to get my shit together. Scratching my brow with my finger before facing the woman on my side, I sought those beautiful orbs.
    Blue eyes met my dark, fathomless depths. Without breaking eye contact, I spoke with evident strain and torment, “I really want you back, Emma.” Bad.
    Calmly, she responded to my declaration. “We’ve been here before. Yesterday in fact, if you don’t recall.”
    “I know. I was an idiot. I haven’t slept because every time I shut my eyes, you’re all I see. When news broke about you and Bass spending the night together, I couldn’t take it, Em. This is fucking killing me. You’re killing me and I’m going insane. I can’t think straight!”
    She leaned back against the leather headrest, looking like she was thinking, hard.
    When she finally spoke after the short stretch of silence, though, she kicked my gut again. “I can’t do that.”
    “Why the hell not? You and I were great together, Em. We were… and you know it!” I sighed heavily and stared at the car ceiling. We had only broken up a few days ago. At this point, we could still figure shit out, unless… unless she was with Bass already. Fuck me. “Are you guys dating now or something?” I rushed out. My Adam’s apple was bobbing up and down while I tried to read her. My eyes flickered back and forth, searching for the truth.
    She thought for a second before shrugging. “No. It’s not like that. The gossip you see and hear is just, well… gossip.” She nervously glanced at me, wondering. “Why are you doing this now, Carter? Is this about your pride and ego? Because I honestly don’t buy the shit you’re telling me. We both know that you’ve had some crazy wild rides around town. Sex with me isn’t exceptional. You’ve done more questionable sexual exhibitions with other women. So, what the hell is going on?”
    This was about other women again? Was Emma serious? This was between us. US, and no one else, dammit. “ Un fucking