#Chapter 118: Center of the Crowd

Elena was purposefully antagonizing me, by rubbing in how Asher was likely being hit on at this very moment by a slew of eligible women. I knew that, yet it was still working. Jealousy held me in a white-knuckled grip. All I wanted to do was dash out of this locker room, track Asher down, and beg him to take me back as his fake girlfriend. But I couldn’t do that. And I therefore didn’t have any right to stand in the way of any girl who wanted to try their hand at winning Asher’s heart. He deserved love… even if it wasn’t with me. But if I truly believed all that, why couldn’t I feel happy for my friend? Why did I feel so… heartbroken? “Let’s go out after we’re done here,” Nicole said, nudging my shoulder with her own. “My treat.” Knowing she was worried about me, I gave her a reassuring smile. It fell too quickly. By the end of it, Nicole only looked more concerned. “That sounds nice,” I said instead. I needed the distraction. It was the only way I’d make it through this.