Chapter 2: Falling Short

EMMA’s POV :

"No!"I yelped and pulled away in an instant.

That was so close! Suddenly it dawned on me that I was about to kiss a random stranger in a bar.

What the hell was I thinking? I should not be doing this! I needed to be with Zach!

I knew that second glass of beer was a bad idea.Meanwhile, the guy looked at me, bewildered and
confused.

He was also still breathless from all the dancing.That look in his eyes, I couldn’t tell if he was angry or
disappointed.Or both.

"I’m sorry.I have to go," I said and turned to my heels as fast as I could.

"Hey —" I could hear him calling after me several times, but I didn’t want to turn back.

I spotted Tiff making out with Steve and I wasn’t gonna cock-block her, so I left her alone.Carrie was
still with the sorority girls, so I pulled her to the side and quickly told her my plan.

"Carrie, hey,"

"Hey, Em, where you've been?"

"I was dancing...but listen, I'm gonna go, okay? I'm gonna wait in Zach’s dorm room.He said he'll be
home soon,"I had to yell to her ears because the music was so loud.

"Okay! Don’t worry about us.We'll get an Uber and stay in a motel.I'll keep an eye out for her,"Carrie
was referring to Tiff.



"Alright, I'll see you guy in the morning,"I hugged her before we parted ways.

"Have fun! Be safe!"I heard her screaming over the music as I walked away.

The college dorm was a large was a co-ed building in the outskirts of the Emory campus.Tonight, it was
filled with drunk college freshmen fresh from orientation night.After turning down this slurring guy that
hit on me at the front door, I made my way inside the building.

People just assumed that I was a student, so I had no problem getting in.My heart was pounding in
excitement as I climbed the stairs to the second floor.My eyes went to scan the long corridor for room
no.223, Zach's room.My heart was beating faster and faster as the numbers got closer.

220...

221...

222…

"223,"I whispered under my breath as I stood in front of my boyfriend’s door.

I hoped his roommate wasn’t home.Zach should be home anytime soon, so I thought I would just sit on
his bed and wait for him.

My hand reached for the handle and I realized the door was unlocked.I pulled down the handle happily
and pushed the door open.But as soon as I saw what was inside the room, my smile fell to the floor.I
wasn't prepared to see what was happening in front of me.I could never be.

Zach was lying on his bed, naked.In front of him was a girl, also naked.She straddled him on the bed,
so I was only able to see her hair and bare back.She was humping him, all the while moaning his name
out loud.One of his hands were gripping her bare ass, clutching them tightly as she bounced and
bounced on him.The other was on gripping her bare breast, kneading her as he groaned aloud.



My jaw dropped open and I couldn't close my eyes no matter how much I wanted to.This image would
forever be etched into my memory.And suddenly, air escaped my lungs and I couldn't breathe.

"Wait — Emma?!"Out of the corner of his eyes, Zach finally noticed I was standing on his doorway.

He pushed the girl to the side abruptly as she yelped ,”Ouch!"

He scrambled for his pants on the floor and staggered over to me.The girl turned around and saw me,
but she didn't look surprised.She simply pulled the blanket to cover her chest.And then she gave me
this ugly, devilish smile.

"Emma? What are you doing here," Zach said breathlessly.

He was still panting and sweating, smelling like awful sex.I hated it.I wished I could puke my guts out.

"How could you?" my voice cracked. Tears were filling my eyes.

"I can explain..." he stammered as he stepped outside and closed the door behind us.

"Well, explain," I demanded.

"It was nothing, okay? Jenna and I — It’s just physical —" he started talking but I didn’t want to hear it.

My hand instinctively flew to his face to stop him from talking, slapping his cheek harshly.He looked
taken aback and I was shocked too, I was never this violent person.Slowly, his eyes then turned from
shock into anger.

"What was I supposed to do, Emma? You didn’t wanna have sex with me!" he roared.

"I wasn't ready, Zach.You said you're okay waiting," I reminded him.

"It's been year.How much longer was I supposed to wait?"



"So instead of telling me like a mature adult, you went behind my back and did this?" I knew I struck a
chord.

He was quiet. He didn’t have any good excuses.

"How long?" I asked, choking on the tears that started falling.

"Go fuck yourself," I spat before turning to my heels and left.

I ran out of there as fast as I could.

All I could feel was the gnawing pain in my chest as I sped away in my car.

Zach tried calling me several times and I blocked his number instead.

I never wanted to hear his voice or see his face again.

Ever.

I called Tiff and Carrie to see where they were, but none of them picked up.

I decided to head back to the bar, thinking maybe they were still there.

I double- checked all the corners and the girls’ room, but they were nowhere to be found.

"Hey, where the hell are you guys? Something bad happened. Please call me back,"

I said to my phone, leaving a message on both their phones.

I walked over to the bar aimlessly and took a seat on one of the stools.

I was tired.



I was hurting and alone.

Every time I closed my eyes, the image of Zach and that girl popped into my head.

I wanted to just scrape my brains out.

It was a long day and I just wanted it to be over.

"You look like you could use a drink," suddenly, a familiar voice spoke to me.

I turned to my side and I saw that guy again, the gorgeous guy that danced with me earlier.

He was leaning casually against the bar.

I wasn’t in the mood to talk, so I ignored him and turned my face back to the front.

"Rough night?" he spoke again.

I didn't respond, thinking that he'd get the hint and go away.

But he didn’t.

Instead, he was waving the bartender to come over.

"One gin and tonic please, for the lady," he said as he put down some money on the counter.

The bartender nodded and started on the drink.

"It might help," he said to me simply.

He wasn't waiting around for a response.

He gave me one last smirk before turning to walk away.



I thought I should feel relieved that he was going away.

But weirdly enough, I felt like I didn’t want him to leave.

The bartender put a tall glass in front of me, filled with ice, sliced lime, and a clear liquid inside.

I didn't know what got into me, but I suddenly felt the urge to speak out.

"Hey, wait up," I said to the guy.

He stopped his tracks and turned around, waiting for me to continue.

I grabbed the drink and downed it all at once.

The alcohol burned my throat, but I didn’t care.

The burn was better than whatever it was I was feeling.

He looked at me with eyes wide open as I slammed the empty glass back on the bar.

"You wanna get outta here?" I said again.

"Where to?" he asked.

"With you? Anywhere,"

My heart was broken and my mind was blank.

All I had now was my body and the burning inside my chest.

I strode closer to him as he stood his ground.



I stopped when I was only an arm's length away from him.

I looked at him, and he looked back at me.

He was studying my face as I bit my bottom lip and tilted my head to the side, waiting for his response.

There was a moment of silence between the two of us.

And all of a sudden, a wild smirk curved as he moved forward and his hands reached for my face.

He tilted my chin up as he leaned down, and his lips landed roughly on mine.

The impact made the fire in my chest burn greater.

I locked my arms around his neck and pulled him closer.

He kissed me with more urgency as his large hand gripped my neck, and I kissed him back.

His delicious masculine scent enveloped my nose and I felt even more intoxicated.

His lips devoured mine and he tasted like alcohol and mint.

He was absolutely a great kisser, he knew exactly just how much to give for me to want more.

My breath hitched when I felt his tongue grazing my lips, looking for a way in.

I complied and opened my mouth slightly.

He took his chance and his tongue thrust right in.

Our tongues met and they started dancing passionately, causing me to whimper.

I gripped his shirt tighter as his hands traveled down my back and stopped at my butt.



He grabbed my backside with such fervor, pushing my front side hard against his pants.

He groaned lowly as used my upper thigh to stroke his hardening groin area.

Shoot! I could feel myself getting so wet.

And suddenly, he pulled away, breaking off the kiss.

My eyes shot open in shock, and I was panting breathlessly.

He gritted his teeth as his deep brown eyes bore into mine.

Slowly, he leaned forward until his mouth touched my left ear, and he whispered with raspy voice
against my skin.

"Come with me,"


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