Collide (Collide #1)(151)

Falling onto the couch, she covered her eyes with the crease of her arm and tried to compose herself. There were only three days in her entire life she'd remembered feeling like this - the day her mother passed away, the day of her wake, and the day of her burial. Emily's nerves were shot and sizzled beyond comprehension. All she wanted to do was fade away.

Olivia sat down next to her, lifting Emily's legs over her lap, her voice riddled with concern. "God, Em, I can't believe he actually came here. Are you alright?"

Without removing her arm from her face, she nodded.

She sighed, rubbing her hand against Emily's leg. "Wait until Gavin finds out about this shit. He's going to freak out," she said, looking down to her watch. "It's already five. Aren't you supposed to meet him at his office soon?"

"No. I'm not going there," she choked out, beginning to cry again.

Olivia's brows knitted together. "Em, what's wrong?"

"When I got to his place this morning, Gina opened the door," she sobbed, rising from the couch. She walked into the kitchen, shaking her head, still unable to process everything. "She was barely dressed," she said, letting out a humorless laugh. "And the bastard had the nerve to call and text me all day, too."

Olivia jumped up from the couch, her eyes wide. "Holy shit, Emily! What?"

"I don't understand," she sniffled, reaching for a napkin off the counter. She blew her nose. "I feel like an * - like a complete fool. He used me." She tossed the napkin into the garbage and sat down at the kitchen table, her hands covering her face. Olivia pulled a chair up and stroked Emily's hair away from her shoulder. "I know what it was though, Liv. He couldn't have me from the beginning, and I became some sick twisted game for him to conquer."

"Have you talked to him yet?"

"Hell no, I haven't talked to him, and I'm not going to."

"Well, I'm calling the dick. I can't believe this," she huffed, rising from her seat. Setting off at a brisk pace, she yanked her purse from the couch and cursed under her breath.

"No, Liv. I don't want you calling him. He'll just come here, and I can't deal with anymore right now."

She pulled out her phone, essentially ignoring Emily's words. She glanced down at it. "Looks like I don't have to call him."

"What do you mean?" she asked, wiping her nose against the back of her hand.

"I have four missed calls and two texts from him." Olivia studied them, her eyes widening. "He's on his way here."

"What?" Emily hopped up and walked over to Olivia. She grabbed the phone from her and looked over the messages.

Gavin: I've called and left a few texts for Emily. Have you talked to her? I haven't heard back from her at all, and she should've been here already. The ever-impatient and somewhat nervous G.B.

Gavin: Forget it. I just talked to your brother, and he said Dillon flew back early. I'm on my way over to your apartment. Leaving my office now. G.B.

"I guess you're talking to him tonight, Emily."

"No. I can't deal with him right now." Starting to cry again, she paced the room. Even with the aid of the Valium working its way through her system, her nerves were no less calm than before. "Between Dillon coming here and everything that's happened today, I just can't, Olivia."

"Well, what are you going to do?" Olivia asked, her voice soft. She walked over to Emily and placed a caring hand on her shoulder. "He sent that last text twenty minutes ago. Even with traffic, he'll be here any minute now."