Chapter 12 Elyse

T he automatic doors slide open with a whoosh as I step out of the supermarket, my arms laden with grocery bags. The cool evening air is a welcome respite from the stuffy store interior. As I make my way toward the parking lot, a figure detaches from the shadows near the entrance and approaches me with purposeful strides.

"Elyse Masterson?" The woman's voice carries an undercurrent of disdain as she stops in front of me, blocking my path.

I narrow my eyes, trying to place her face. Recognition dawns as I take in her sleek blonde bob and icy blue eyes. It's the same woman from the TV studio, who confronted Jack and me after his interview. Karina, Jack's ex-girlfriend.

"Can I help you?" My tone is polite but guarded.

Her lips curve into a humorless smile. "I just wanted to have a little chat, woman to woman." She takes a step closer, invading my personal space. "You see, I noticed how cozy you and Jack looked during and after that interview. And then at the games, you've been waiting for him like a dutiful puppy…"

I shift the weight of the grocery bags, the plastic handles digging into my palms. Her words chill me, revealing she's been watching us, but I try to play it cool. "Jack and I are friends. I don't see how that's any of your business."

"Friends?" She scoffs, her eyes flashing with a mixture of amusement and contempt. "Oh, honey, you're so na?ve. Jack doesn't have female friends. He has conquests, playthings he discards when he gets bored." Her expression reveals pain. "Then he lies about you and ruins your reputation…" She blinks, looking like she might cry. I can't tell if her emotions are genuine.

Her words hit me like a slap, and there's a flicker of doubt in the pit of my stomach. I think back to the tender moments Jack and I have shared, and the way he's opened up to me about his past. Surely, that means something, doesn't it? "You don't know what you're talking about," I say, my voice wavering slightly. "Jack and I have a connection. He's not the man you think he is."

Despite having maybe been on the verge of tears seconds ago, she throws back her head and laughs, the sound harsh and grating. "A connection? Please. I've seen it all before. Jack's a master at making women feel special, like they're the only one who truly understands him, but trust me, it's all an act." She moves closer, her breath hot against my cheek. "You're not good enough for him, Elyse. You're just a small-town girl playing dress-up in the big city. Jack will tire of you soon enough, and then he'll toss you aside like yesterday's trash."

I swallow hard, fighting back tears that threaten to spill down my cheeks. I refuse to let Karina see how much her words have affected me. "You're wrong," I say, trying to project confidence. "Jack cares about me. He wouldn't do that."

Her smile turns predatory, like a cat toying with a mouse. "Keep telling yourself that, sweetheart, but don't say I didn't warn you."

With a flick of her wrist, she upends the cup she's holding, sending a cascade of iced coffee splattering across the front of my blouse. I gasp as the cold liquid seeps through the fabric, chilling my skin.

"Whoops, sorry," she says, her tone dripping with false sincerity. "Clumsy me."

She tosses the empty cup into a nearby trash can and saunters away, leaving me standing there, drenched and humiliated. I blink back the tears, refusing to let them fall. I won't give Karina the satisfaction of seeing me cry.

With a calming breath, I gather my composure and hurry toward my car. I need to get home to change out of these ruined clothes and clear my head. Karina's words echo in my mind, taunting me with doubts and insecurities.

As I drive, unease settles over me like a suffocating blanket. What if Karina is right? What if I'm just another notch on Jack's bedpost, a temporary distraction until he grows bored and moves on to the next shiny object?

I think back to the way he looked at me during our date, and the tender vulnerability in his eyes as he shared his painful past. The way his lips felt against mine, soft and urgent, as if he couldn't get enough of me. Surely, that couldn't all be an act, could it?

By the time I pull into the parking lot of Sam and Jack's apartment complex, my mind is a whirlwind of conflicting thoughts and emotions. I grab my groceries and make my way inside, the weight of Karina's words pressing down on my shoulders like a physical burden.

As I fumble with my keys, the door to the apartment swings open, revealing a concerned-looking Sam. "Elyse? What happened? You're soaked."

I brush past him, setting the grocery bags on the kitchen counter with a thud. "It's nothing. Just had a little run-in with a clumsy stranger."

Sam frowns, his brow furrowing with worry. "Are you sure you're okay? You look upset."

I force a smile, hoping it looks more convincing than it feels. "I'm fine, Sam. Really. I just need to change and maybe take a hot shower."

He nods, still looking unconvinced, but doesn't press the issue. "Okay, if you say so, but if you need to talk, I'm here."

I give him a grateful smile before retreating to my room, closing the door behind me with a soft click. I lean against it, closing my eyes and taking a shuddering breath. Karina's words replay in my mind, each one a sharp barb piercing my heart.

You're not good enough for him, Elyse.

Jack will tire of you soon enough.

You're just a small-town girl playing dress-up in the big city.

I strip off my stained blouse and toss it into the hamper, my movements mechanical and numb. As I step into the shower, the hot water cascades over my skin, washing away the remnants of the iced coffee Karina spilled on me. I tilt up my face, You're not good enough for him.

I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to block out the echo of her voice in my mind. Jack cares about me. I'm sure of it. Our relationship started with fake dating, but I'm sure our connection is real.

I can't let Karina's bitterness poison what Jack and I share. I know the real him—the one who lets down his guard around me, who trusts me enough to show his softer side.

I shut off the water and step out of the shower, wrapping a plush towel around myself. I quickly dry off and slip into a pair of yoga pants and an oversized t-shirt, my go-to loungewear.

As I emerge from my bedroom, I hear Sam's voice drifting from the living room. He must still be here. Taking a deep breath, I steel myself to face him. I need to talk to someone about this, and who better than my own brother?

Sam looks up from his phone as I enter, clearly ending a call as he gives me a look of concern. "Hey, you look like you've been through the wringer. Everything okay?"

I sink onto the couch beside him, hugging a cushion to my chest. "Not really. I, uh, had a run-in with Karina at the grocery store."

His eyes widen in surprise. "Karina? As in Jack's psycho ex? What did that witch want?"

By the time I finish recounting what happened and her scathing words, his expression has darkened, his jaw clenched with barely contained anger.

"That lying, manipulative bitch," he says harshly, slamming his fist against the arm of the couch. "Don't listen to a word she says, Elyse. She's just trying to get under your skin because she's jealous."

I chew my lip as uncertainty tightens my chest. "But what if she's right, Sam? What if I'm just another conquest to Jack? Someone he'll toss aside when he gets bored?"

Sam shakes his head vehemently. "No way, sis. I've seen the way Jack looks at you. Trust me, it's different from anything I've ever seen from him before."

He leans forward, his green eyes boring into mine with an intensity that demands my full attention. "Most of the time, I couldn't care less about his love life, but with you…" He trails off, running a hand through his tousled hair. "It's different, Elyse. The guy is head over heels for you, whether he realizes it or not."

I blink, taken aback by the conviction in his words. "Really? You think so?"

Sam nods, his expression softening. "I know so. Jack is my best friend, but you're my sister. I'd never let him hurt you if I thought for a second he was just playing games." He reaches out and squeezes my hand, his calloused fingers warm and reassuring. "Give the guy a chance, Elyse. He's been through some serious shit, but he's not the heartless bastard Karina makes him out to be."

I search Sam's face and nod slowly, the knot of tension in my chest loosening ever so slightly.

"Thanks, Sam." I lean forward to wrap my arms around him in a grateful hug. "I needed to hear that."

He returns the embrace, his strong arms enveloping me in a protective cocoon. "Anytime, sis. That's what big brothers are for."

We sit like that for a few moments, drawing strength from each other's presence. I rest my head on his shoulder. "I needed to hear this."

"Happy to help." He sighs. "I have a date, so I need to get ready. You going to be okay?"

I nod, feeling sure that I will be. Already am, even. "I'm fine. Enjoy your date."

He waggles his brows. "I will."