Pretend to be mine tonight (GXG)

Chapter 2

Emily's POV

I splashed cold water on my face and rubbed some along my wrists, trying to soothe my racing pulse. The walls felt like they were closing in, making it hard to breathe. I closed my eyes, focusing on calming myself down.

Rummaging through my bag, I pulled out my anxiety medication and swallowed it before retreating to the locker room. Hugging my knees to my chest, I practiced deep breathing exercises, pushing my distressing thoughts to the back of my mind.

After a while, I stood up and dusted myself off, taking one final deep breath before heading out to find Cam. As I walked past the table, I couldn't help but glance at the brunette seated there. She looked uncomfortable and restless, her legs shaking and eyes darting around. For the first time, she had broken her gaze from her book.

Cam was waiting by the kitchen door for the order, and I quickly made my way over, feeling embarrassed about my earlier meltdown.

Cam giggled excitedly. "You'll never guess what just happened!"

Curious, I asked, "What?"

She continued, "Your 'wife' is a total savage! The guy ordered cappuccinos for both of them, and she was like, 'flat white.' It was like she was putting him in his place. It was epic!"

I corrected her, "She's not my wife," but Cam brushed it off, missing the point.

"Anyway, take this order to the table," Cam said, handing me the coffee cups and steering me toward them.

I hesitated, unsure if I wanted to hear anything that might hurt me more. "Maybe I shouldn't," I sighed, but Cam ignored me and went off to annoy Paul instead.

Reluctantly, I made my way to their table, my eyes fixed on the brunette. There was an inexplicable pull toward her—one that had caused sleepless nights and quickened heartbeats. I longed for her to notice me, even just once, before it was too late. Lost in thought, I snapped out of it when I realized I was standing right in front of them.

As if my prayers were answered, she finally looked up at me and read my name tag. After months of trying to catch her attention, I couldn't believe she was actually looking at me! Suddenly, the ground felt like it disappeared beneath me as I was caught in her gaze. Her eyes seemed to pierce through me.

She furrowed her brows in confusion and tilted her head slightly. I felt weak-kneed, mesmerized by her mysterious and captivating presence. What was it about this woman that had such a hold on me?

Then, I heard her distressed voice call out, "Emily, babe, this isn't what it looks like!"

Emily? That's my name. How did she know that? And why was she calling me "babe"? Confusion and excitement mingled in my mind, making everything feel fuzzy.

The unexpected jolt of her calling me "babe" was almost too much to handle. I tried to respond, but her calling me by my name and the intensity of the moment left me at a loss for words. Even though she said my name, my mind was in disarray.

"W... what?" I stammered, feeling like I was making a fool of myself.

"Listen, I'm just here to tell this guy that I only want you. Please don't misunderstand the situation, babe! Let me explain!" Her words were like a dream come true, but they were so unexpected that I felt overwhelmed.

My heart raced, and I could barely process what was happening. When she grabbed my wrists, every muscle in my body went numb. The coffee cups I was holding shattered, but I was too stunned to even notice the noise.

"I... I think you..." I tried to speak, but my brain was struggling to form coherent thoughts. I backed away, trying to collect myself.

Breathing felt like a foreign concept. I couldn't remember how to breathe properly. My thoughts raced as I tried to make sense of the situation. Before I could react, she wrapped her arms around my waist, pulling me closer. Her perfume was sweet with a hint of fruit, enveloping me in its scent.

I felt my entire body go into shock as she pressed her lips against mine. My eyes widened in surprise, and mixed feelings stirred within me. A few seconds ago, I had been wishing for her attention, and now her lips were on mine.

My heart fluttered, but then panic set in. Memories of a traumatic night flooded my mind, making me anxious. Despite my longing for her attention, the reality of the situation was overwhelming.

I tried to wriggle out of her arms, but before I knew it, I slapped her. Tears streamed down my cheeks as I looked at her, her hand covering her cheek in shock.

Cam's reassuring voice reached me as she enveloped me in her arms. She guided me away, her voice a calming presence in the midst of my chaos. I followed her, eyes closed, trying to regain control.

I didn't know how long Cam had been talking to me, but I could faintly hear her urging me to breathe and calm down. I focused on her voice, pushing the painful memories back into the recesses of my mind.

After a few minutes, I managed to open my eyes. My vision was hazy at first, but Cam's worried face became clearer.

"Emily..." she whispered. "It's okay. You're okay." She held her hands in front of me, trying to reassure me that she wouldn't touch me.

"Did you... did you see what happened?" I managed to ask, struggling to gather my thoughts.

"I did. Everyone did, actually. It was quite the scene," Cam said softly, her voice laced with concern. "I don't know what she was thinking."

Cam, who had been my friend for seven years and knew everything about my life, looked genuinely worried. Her expression confirmed that she understood what I had just gone through.

"I slapped her," I murmured in disbelief.

"She had it coming. She kissed you out of nowhere. Also, with this whole show she put on, it seemed like she was using you to get back at her date. If things were going badly, she could have just left," Cam said, trying to push away any lingering guilt I felt.

I wasn't sure how to feel. I hadn't kissed her back, and she hadn't tried to kiss me again. It felt exactly like Cam had described—a dramatic show. Her body had tensed slightly when her lips touched mine. Whether that was due to my reaction or hers, I wasn't sure. Everything was still blurry in my mind, and the events had happened too quickly.

"Emily," I heard my manager's voice, and I tensed, bracing myself for the worst.

"Am I fired?" I asked weakly, still recovering from the stress.

"No, you did nothing wrong. I was actually going to ask you to take the rest of the day off," Paul said sympathetically.

This day was taking unexpected turns. First, she noticed me, then she kissed me, and now Paul was being nice.

"Thanks. Can I ask for a favor?" I asked, summoning my courage.

"I guess," Paul replied cautiously.

"Can I start night shifts tomorrow instead of next week? I'm not ready to see that customer again." I didn't know where I found the courage to ask, but I was already dreading the thought of facing her again.

Paul nodded. "I can arrange that."

"Did she leave?" I asked, my heart racing.

"Yes, shortly after you and Cam left. She didn't say much. The guy she was with was furious and yelled about telling her grandfather," Paul said with a shrug.

So she had orchestrated the kiss to upset her date. I couldn't believe I had a crush on someone who would use such dramatic tactics. What was wrong with me?

I took a deep breath, my knees still shaking, and headed home. I threw myself on my bed, squeezing my eyes shut, trying to escape the stress of the day. I wished I could stay in bed all day, but eventually, I'd need to get up, clean the house, and cook dinner. I lived alone, and no one would do it for me.

Do I like living on my own? No.

Do I want to live with my dad? Also no.

My mother passed away when I was twelve, and my dad was always too busy with his growing business to care about me. Even when I moved out or was in the hospital last year, he didn't notice or ask where I was. I wanted to make it on my own, so I took a job, saved up, rented this house, and moved out. I didn't want to use his money, even though he's extremely wealthy. Luckily, I had Cam by my side.

I traced my fingers over my lips, remembering the way her lips felt on mine. A small smile formed on my lips. At that moment, I knew I was probably in deep trouble.